The LAFC-Chelsea BU16 Gold team is destined for Premier after being crowned League Champions by CSL in an undefeated league campaign. The cornerstone of the team’s success was a very disciplined approach relying on possession and quick passing and a suffocating defense, conceding only 9 goals in 11 league games. Coach Louie announced the game plan to win Gold before the season started and the team delivered…Best of luck in Premier!

The U.S. Soccer Federation has selected two LAFC players for its under-17 residency program. Stevie Rodriguez and Martin Arrieta will live at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. for much of the winter and spring (The Academy takes its name from the famous sports agency). Rodriguez and Arrieta join 38 of the best U-17 American players, who will train with leading coaches and compete against national teams from other countries in preparation for the next U-17 World Cup.

U.S. Soccer, the governing body of the sport in this country, created the Residency program in 1999 to develop players for U.S. national teams. Residency alumni include stars Landon Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley. Selection is among the highest honors for junior players.

Rodriguez is an attacking midfielder for LAFC. Arrieta plays striker. Both players have shone through their creativity and feel for the game. A third LAFC player, Jovanny Gomez, was asked to try out for the Residency program after appearing in a showcase tournament late last year. It is a credit for any club to see one of its players chosen for the Residency program. It is rarer and more remarkable when two are chosen and others considered.

Rodriguez and Arrieta will train in the morning under Wilmer Cabrera, a two-time World Cup participant and respected coach, and other national coaches. They will attend classes in the afternoon at the Bradenton Academy. They will have access to IMG’s state-of-the-art fitness training complex, which includes two swimming pools, and practice on one of three Bermuda grass fields, or in a domed turf facility on campus. “It’s very significant that LAFC has been able to repeatedly cultivate such talented players,” said Ted Chronopoulos, the vice president of soccer operations. “Other players in our club can see through Stevie and Martin and Jovanny what’s possible when they combine their talent with hard work and determination. We look forward to seeing these players and others climb to the elite ranks of U.S. players.”

Casey Cousineau (‘94, GU14 Chronopoulos), and Elayne Ranir (‘96, GU13 Hruska) have recently been selected to the 2009-2010 ODP Winter Pools. The girls will train for a month before competing in the US Youth Soccer ODP Region IV Championships in Phoenix, Arizona, January 16-19, 2010.

The LAFC Chelsea Boys U15 team have had a successful start to the 2009-2010 season. Starting with the Coast Soccer season in September the boys have been training hard under coach Juan Sanchez and the results are following. The team took home the championship in the Coast Soccer League Gold division with a 9-2 record in a very difficult group.

Congratulations to Stevie Rodriguez and Jovanny Gomez, both U15/16 LAFC Academy Players. After being selected to participate in a US National Select Team to play in the Arizona Showcase, both have been called to take part in a 1 week training camp at Bradenton, Florida. This is a GREAT opportunity for both to obtain residency and be part of the US National Team.

Our own LAFC Chelsea Silver Elite Team, coached by Jarda Hruska, has won their CSL bracket! The girls have had an exciting season, with 10 wins, 2 losses and two ties, and will now be playing GU14 at the Gold level. Congratulations to the team, and have a great season in Gold!

The LAFC BU13 has completed another fantastic league season, taking the championship in the highest bracket for the fifth year in a row. They have only lost 3 league games in 5 seasons and one of those was a forfeit as they participated in a tournament in Mexico!

Now considered to be not only the best team in Southern California but also #1 in the Nation, their discipline and consistency has been key in their development. They play wonderful attacking soccer that many people across the country appreciate, most recently the team was invited to Alliance Cup which will play just outside of Washington D.C.

Coach Barry Ritson is proud of their achievements and congratulates all the players that have contributed to the success of the team. They are a remarkable group of boys that share a common goal - to develop their game to the best of their ability. Winning is a by-product of their development and their journey over the past 5 years.

LAFC Chelsea’s GU17 Premier team closed the Fall 2009 season by clinching the Championship title in the top flight of Nomad’s Thanksgiving College Showcase Tournament. LAFC Chelsea edged out twenty-four teams in the GU17 Nike Mercurial flight to claim the 1st place spot, while showcasing the team’s talent in front of onlooking college coaches.