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Going for MLS gold
Lackey graduate Delagarza, Galaxy play in pro soccer's championship game
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009
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Lackey graduate A.J. Delagarza and his L.A. Galaxy team play for the MLS Cup Sunday night.
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Lackey High School graduate A.J. Delagarza has risen to professional stardom with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.
And in just his rookie season, Delagarza will look to gear the Western Conference champions to a MLS Cup championship when the Galaxy take on Real Salt Lake, the Eastern Conference champion at Qwest Field in Seattle at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, a contest that will be aired live on ESPN.
Delagarza was selected 19th overall, fourth in the second round, in the MLS draft in January.
"It's pretty exciting to have a chance to win the MLS Cup rookie season after coming off a national championship at college," said Delagarza, a two-time national champion at the University of Maryland, College Park. "Most people don't even get to experience a championship game ever. We went from being one of the worst defensive teams in the league this season to being one of the best this season. I'm glad to be apart of that."
After shutting out the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference championship last Friday, 2-0 in overtime, Los Angeles will be looking to knock of a Real Salt Lake team that they tied on May 6 and lost to June 13.
"When you look we have so many good players on the roster, we have seven or eight national team players," Delagarza said, whose teammates include soccer phenoms David Beckham and Landon Donovan. "I've learned so much from the defenders to the midfielders about life and on the soccer field. It's good to be around those guys because they make you better."
He added on his next opponent: "We want to treat the last game like a regular game. We will be watching video and preparing for the players we have to face."
Delagarza has started 21 out of 22 games for Los Angeles as a rookie defender and has tallied one goal and dished out an assist this season. His lone goal came versus FC Dallas at The Home Depot Center, the Galaxy's home field, on Sept. 12. Though his team lost 6-3, it was the first MLS goal for Delagarza.
"I remember at Maryland our fan base was one of the best in the country at 20,000, but you go from 20,000 to 90,000," Delagarza said on the transition. "That makes it worthwhile with all of those fans there in the stadium."
Delagarza has been playing soccer non-stop since the beginning of his senior season at Maryland.
"I went straight from combines into preseason," Delagarza said about his road to the pros. "I haven't had a break for a year and a half. It's been tough on my body since I'm a pretty small guy, so I take a little more beating than others. This season I've been able to be stay consistent and step right in to the lineup."
"I've gotten used to A.J. playing in championships. This is like his sixth title that he's played in since he was 13," said Delagarza's father, L.A., dating back to his son's college and youth days. "We're happy for him and support him with whatever he does."
L.A. Delagarza added, jokingly: "He's just A.J. to us, not anything special. It's a lot cheaper to see on television than to fly everywhere. We just enjoy watching him play."
L.A. Delagarza said that when the Galaxy came to RFK Stadium to play the D.C. United, there were 80 family members and friends cheering on the younger Delagarza.
The Galaxy and United played to a scoreless tie on Aug. 22.
For A.J. Delagarza, it should be a special showing as many SMAC fans, family and friends will watch him move to MLS gold this weekend.
Where are they now?
If you know a former SMAC athlete or remember a SMAC athlete from years gone by and would like for us to feature that person in a future story, contact AJ Mason at 301-764-2863 or e-mail ajmason@somdnews.com.
