Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, February 17, 2012

Tis but a flesh wound, Omar argues

An optimistic mindset was on the face of Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, who was sidelined with a torn ACL. The unexpected optimism surprised even the journalists on hand to watch the most recent training session for involving Bruce Arena's club.

“Everything has been pretty easy actually,” Gonzalez told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “I’m keeping my spirits up and just thinking of it as if it happened for a reason.

“I’m thinking more of a long-term career thing here, I’m not thinking about just this season. If I’m back sooner than that, great. If I’m not, it’s going to be for the best. I’m not really trying to put too much pressure on myself.”

Preseason slump over as Galaxy outlast Chivas 3-2

The young guns for LA shined as Los Angeles ended a three-game losing streak in preseason action, defeating Chivas USA 3-2.

Pat Noonan opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Adam Cristman made it 2-0 10 minutes later and Dan Keat recorded the game-winner in the 39th minute of play. The Galaxy had to hold on for the victory.

 “There was a sense of urgency,” Galaxy rookie Bryan Gaul told Bueno. “You could tell the first 15 minutes when we came out, we were pressuring really hard, we were working as a team and we were working really hard as a unit.”

Noonan, a veteran with experience, understands that the team's performance was lacking in their losing streak.

“We’re at the point now where we’re around three weeks away from the first game in Toronto [in the CONCACAF Champions League],“ Noonan said. “We need to start getting results, we need to start getting sharper and more focused both in trainings and in games.”

”We’ve got a lot to learn but it was a good building block for us,” Keat added. ”The result’s really not what’s important in preseason, but you take a win over Chivas every day.”

Stephens called up to U.S. Under-23s

Michael Stephens is one of 15 MLS players that will be on the U.S. Under-23 men's national team roster.

The Under-23s will take on Mexico on Feb. 29 at FC Dallas Stadium (10 pm ET/7 pm PT, Univision), while CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying begins on March 22.

This is the roster for the U.S. Under-23 men's national team.

GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

DEFENDERS (7): Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafaña (Chivas USA)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mikkel Diskerud (Gent), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy)

FORWARDS (8): Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia)