Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/494191
26 PRONUNCIATION: del-ah-GAR-za POSITION: Defender HEIGHT: 5' 9" WEIGHT: 150 lbs. JERSEY NUMBER: 20 BIRTH DATE: 11-04-1987 BIRTHPLACE: Bryans Road, MD CITIZENSHIP: United States/Guam LAST CLUB: -- STATUS: Senior Roster spot HOW ACQUIRED: Selected by the Galaxy in the second round (19th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. MLS HIGHLIGHTS 2014: DeLaGarza played in every position for a Galaxy backline that allowed an MLS-low 35 goals en route to winning their fifth MLS Cup. For his season, DeLaGarza was named LA Galaxy Defender of the Year honors, the second time he has been recognized as such (2012, 2014). In total, the defender played in 29 MLS matches during the regular season and started in four of the Galaxy's five MLS Cup Playoff matches, including the 2-1 MLS Cup victory over New England. DeLaGarza was also named MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year. 2013: In total, DeLaGarza made 28 MLS appearances and five CONCACAF Champions League appearances, all of which were starts. In the Champions League Semifinals against CF Monterrey (Apr. 3), DeLaGarza scored his debut goal in the tournament after burying an assist from Mike McGee in the 28th minute with a right-footed strike. After missing time due to injury, he came off of the bench as a substitute in Galaxy's Champions League finale against Isidro Metapán and the Western Conference Semifinal Series against Real Salt Lake. 2012: DeLaGarza secured his position as one of the top tier center backs on the LA Galaxy squad as he started in all of his 30 league appearances. Pairing with Omar Gonzalez following his return in July, DeLaGarza helped the squad go undefeated for seven straight games, from August 25th to September 31th. In a game against Colorado Rapids (Sept. 30), DeLaGarza left the game early for the first time since July 4, 2011 due to a torn his ligament in his left knee, which kept him out of the selection for the remainder of the season. Despite his injury, DeLaGarza's stable presence in the back line was recognized by the club as he was honored LA Galaxy's Defender of the Year award at the end of the season. 2011: Set new career-highs by starting in and appearing in 30 regular season games and playing 2,627 minutes, which were the second most on the team. An important figure in the Galaxy's success all season long, DeLaGarza appeared in 42 games in all competitions, with LA keeping a clean sheet in 20 of those matches. In addition to his 30 regular season appearances, DeLaGarza also started all four of the club's postseason games, six CONCACAF Champions League games and both games in the U.S. Open Cup. He had one assist in those 42 games, setting up Adam Cristman's goal in the 2-0 win vs. Motagua on 8/16. He was forced to leave the 0-0 draw with Seattle on 7/4 with a head injury and missed the 2-1 win vs. Chicago five days late, but was back on the field for the U.S. Open Cup loss at Seattle on 7/13. He was used primarily in central defense during the season, though he did see some time at right back. 2010: One of the most versatile defenders on the squad, DeLaGarza appeared in 17 games during his second season in MLS, starting at left back, right back and in central defense. The Galaxy were 11-2-1 in the 14 games that he started, keeping a clean sheet in half of those games. He scored his first goal of the season in the 3-1 win vs. Philadelphia on 5/1, tallying just 51 seconds into that win. That goal was the fourth fastest goal in club history and also broke Edson Buddle's streak of having scored the club's first seven goals of the year. Over the final month of the regular season and into the postseason, DeLaGarza was used in central defense alongside Omar Gonzalez in place of the injured Gregg Berhalter. He started all three of the club's playoff games, while also playing in three Open Cup and Champions League games. 2009: The Galaxy's second round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, DeLaGarza made an immediate impact during his rookie season, appearing in 22 games at both right back and left back. He made his debut in the season opening 2-2 draw vs. D.C. United on 3/22, playing the full 90 minutes at left back. In late May he became the club's starting right back following an injury to Sean Franklin and went on to start 16 consecutive games for the club at that position before suffering an injury himself vs. FC Dallas on 9/12. Before going off injured in that game, DeLaGarza scored the first goal of his MLS career, sliding home a rebound to tie the score at 2-2 just before halftime. The 22-year old recorded the first assist of his career two months earlier, crossing for Edson Buddle to head in the only goal of LA's 1-0 win at Chivas USA on 7/11. He was one of two Galaxy players to play the full 90 minutes against both AC Milan and Barcelona in the club's summer friendlies. In the postseason, he replaced the injured Todd Dunivant for the Western Conference Championship vs. Houston, playing the full 120 minutes as the Galaxy won 2-0 in extra A.J. DELAGARZA