Seahorses draw record crowd in game against LA Galaxy Home team forges tie for 75 minutes against the MLS stars
LA MIRADA, Calif. (May 2, 2007) – The Southern California Seahorses battled the Los Angeles Galaxy to a tie through 75 minutes before Galaxy forwards Gavin Glinton and Mike Randolph combined on two goals in the final 13 minutes to pull out a 3-1 victory Wednesday night at La Mirada High School’s Goodman Stadium.
The match drew a crowd of 1,449, the most in the Seahorses’ seven seasons in the USL Premier Development League. The record turnout was not disappointed as the professional Galaxy and amateur Seahorses played an entertaining contest featuring spectacular goalie saves and wide-open scoring in the second half.
The teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half. Seahorses goalkeeper Andrew Raroff (Highland, CA) kept the match scoreless despite eight shots on goal by the Galaxy in the first half.
Seahorses forward Steven Lenhart (Azusa Pacific) nearly put the home team ahead in the first minute of the second half with a header from close-in, but it was knocked just outside the post. The Galaxy responded with a goal from 10 yards by Glinton (Randolph assist) in the 48th minute for a 1-0 lead.
Both teams had strong scoring chances during the next 20 minutes but couldn’t break through until the 75th minute, when Lenhart took a cross from forward Takashi Yamada (Japan) and booted it into the lower right corner of the goal past Galaxy goalkeeper Lance Friesz. The 1-1 tie did not last long.
Two minutes later, Glinton worked free on the left side, took a pass from Randolph and drilled it past Seahorses goalkeeper Vincent Licciardi. Randolph scored on a breakaway in the 87th minute for the final goal.
Friesz finished with six saves against nine Seahorses shots on goal. The Galaxy produced 12 shots; Raroff tallied both of the Seahorses’ saves.
It was the second consecutive year the Galaxy played the Seahorses in an exhibition at La Mirada. In last year’s contest, the Galaxy rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to win, 3-2, on a Josh Gardner goal in the final minute of extra time.
The Seahorses begin their regular season Sunday against the Fresno Fuego at La Mirada High School at 2 p.m.
The Southern California Seahorses play in the USL Premier Development League, the only national league giving elite amateur players a professional experience within United Soccer Leagues while retaining their amateur status. Founded in 1983 as a club, the Seahorses have traveled to more than 30 countries. They draw many of their players from local colleges, clubs and international soccer programs.
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