A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of October 17, 2005 ...
GALAXY AND EARTHQUAKES SET TO DUKE IT OUT IN WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: One of the most bitter rivalries in Major League Soccer comes to the fore at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills on Sunday, October 23 at 12 pm (PT) when the Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes open their Western Conference semifinals series. The meeting in Carson, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2 is the first leg of a home-and-home, aggregate-goals series in the MLS Western Conference semifinals. The second game in the series will be played at Spartan Stadium in San Jose on October 29 at 7 pm (PT). The meeting in Carson will mark the seventh time that the clubs have met in the MLS Cup Playoffs, but the first since the 2003 postseason. Overall, the Galaxy have won three of the first six all-time playoff matches between the sides, most recent among them a 2-0 win on November 1, 2003 at The Home Depot Center, thanks to goals from Sasha Victorine and Carlos Ruiz.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW TO CATCH THE GALAXY-QUAKES BATTLE SUNDAY: Tickets for the Galaxy-Quakes battle are already on sale. Galaxy fans looking to buy tickets for this encounter between the two Western Conference foes will be able to do so by one of three ways: calling the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY, through TicketMaster or at the box office at The Home Depot Center. Additionally, the Galaxy is offering its fans a special package for the playoff meeting. For as low as $100, fans will get four (4) great seats to the Western Conference Semifinal playoff match and four (4) Galaxy Gold knit caps. Playoff 4-Packs are already on sale and great seats are moving fast, so be sure to reserve one today by visiting lagalaxy.com or by calling 1-877-3GALAXY.
GALAXY RESERVES WRAP UP FIRST SEASON WITH 2-2 TIE: The Los Angeles Galaxy reserves and the San Jose Earthquakes reserves battled to a 2-2 tie on Sunday morning at the Track & Field Stadium at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. The Quakes reserves opened the scoring just before halftime on left-footed shot from Chris Wondolowski that just eluded a diving Steve Cronin in the Galaxy goal. After a number of chances from the Galaxy reserves, it was Josh Gardner who hit home for the hosts to tie the score in the 77th minute, putting home the rebound of a Mamba Chisoni effort. The Quakes re-took the lead just three minutes later when Will Weatherly's shot found the back of the net after a Julian Nash pass. Just when it seemed the Galaxy were headed for defeat, Paulo Nagamura drilled a free kick into the upper corner of the goal in the 87th minute to earn them the hard-fought tie. It was Nagamura's MLS Reserve Division goal. Overall, the Galaxy reserves finished with a 4-5-3 record in their first season.
SOCCER ... IT'S VAN-TASTIC RAFFLE CONTINUES AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: Earlier this year, five local artists were commissioned to express their creativity on five unique cars. These rolling works of art are a celebration of L.A.'s culture and personalities. The cars appeared at events all over Los Angeles and at the end of the summer, four of the five cars were presented to L.A. charities to utilize as fundraisers. The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation generously donated the "Soccer Mom" vehicle as a prize to be raffled off. Raffle tickets will be sold at the front desk of The Home Depot Center, Monday - Friday (9 -5pm) as well as at booths located near the Northwest and Southwest Entrances and at the Galaxy Foundation booth on the Main Concourse of The Home Depot Center during the first half of the Galaxy's Western Conference semifinal match on Sunday. The van is available for display on game days near the Southwest Entrance of The Home Depot Center. Raffle tickets are priced at the following: One (1) ticket for $20.00 or Three (3) tickets for $50.00. Proceeds shall benefit the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation with a portion of the proceeds going to the Del Amo Rotary Club of Torrance.
ALLISON CONKRIGHT IS CROWNED MISS L.A. GALAXY 2006, PRESENTED BY COVER GIRL: Allison Conkright from Santa Monica is the winner of last Saturday's Miss L.A. Galaxy 2006 contest, presented Cover Girl. Conkright, who enjoys coaching and playing sports, earned a $1000 prize and a makeup prize from Cover Girl. She defeated ten other finalists in the contest, held on the main concourse of The Home Depot Center prior to the Galaxy-Quakes match.
MAS GALAXY THIS AND EVERY WEDNESDAY: Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-Language radio talk show, will focus on the entire MLS Cup Playoff picture. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago, the Spanish-language voice of the Galaxy alongside www.MLSnet.com reporter and local soccer journalist Rene Romano, features an in-depth look at the Galaxy and their opponent(s) each week. Remember Galaxy fans, for the latest news on your favorite team, tune in every Wednesday night to Más Galaxy, only on KMXE 830 AM.
GALAXY DEPORTIVO BREAKS DOWN ALL THE ACTION SATURDAY: Galaxy Deportivo, The weekly, half-hour Spanish language television show devoted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, can be seen this Saturday, October 22 at 3:30 p.m. on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo, hosted by Los Angeles area personalities Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco, can be seen at the same time each and every Saturday on Channel 22.
Galaxy Weekly Training Schedule
Date: Time/LocationTues. Oct. 18: 10 am - T4 Wed. Oct. 19: OFF Thurs. Oct. 20: 10 am - Track & Field Fri. Oct. 21: 10 am - Track & Field Sat. Oct. 22: 10 am - TBA Sun. Oct. 23: 12 pm - Galaxy vs. Earthquakes - The Home Depot Center Mon. Oct. 24: TBD
NOTE TO MEDIA: All practice times are listed in Pacific Time and are subject to change without notice.
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT - Ben Benditson (sports hernia) DOUBTFUL - QUESTIONABLE - PROBABLE -
Did you know ... The San Jose Earthquakes only have one win all-time at The Home Depot Center, last Saturday's 3-1 defeat of the Galaxy?
