Los Angeles Storm - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Los Angeles Misioneros is an American soccer team based in Inglewood, California

Inglewood, California

Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League

USL Premier Development League

The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...

(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid

American Soccer Pyramid

The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...

, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.

The team plays its home games in the stadium at Morningside High School

Morningside High School

Morningside High is a public high school in Inglewood, California.-History:In 1951, the first two classes of students came to the Morningside Park area of Inglewood to attend the new Morningside High School. Incoming 9th graders came from the surrounding junior high schools, and a class of 10th...

, where they have played since 2011. The team's colors are blue and white.

The team has a sister organization, the Los Angeles Legends Women

Los Angeles Legends (W-League)

Los Angeles Legends was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2008. The team folded after the 2009 season. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...

, who play in the women's USL W-League.

History

After acquiring the PDL franchise rights the Springfield Storm

Springfield Storm

Springfield Storm were an American soccer team, who played in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid for one season, in 2005, after which the franchise was relocated to Glendora, California to become the Los Angeles Storm.They played...

franchise that used to play in the PDL

USL Premier Development League

The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...

out of Springfield, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri

Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...

, the team began life as Los Angeles Storm under head coach Chris Volk, and made their debut in PDL competition in 2006, one of several teams joining the Southwest division as it expanded to nine teams. Playing at Citrus Stadium

Citrus Stadium

Citrus Stadium is a 10,000-capacity multi-use stadium located in Glendora, California.The stadium, which features a running track, serves as home to American football, athletics, and soccer for Citrus College and the USL Premier Development League side Los Angeles Storm.It is also the home stadium...

on the campus of Citrus College

Citrus College

Citrus College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendora, California; the Citrus Community College District which supports the school includes the communities of Glendora, Azusa, Charter Oak, Claremont, Monrovia, and Duarte. The school is the oldest public community...

in Glendora, California

Glendora, California

Glendora is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the population of Glendora was 50,073....

, Storm made an inauspicious start, tying 1-1 with the San Fernando Valley Quakes

San Fernando Valley Quakes

San Fernando Valley Quakes was an American soccer team based in Calabasas, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...

, but quickly recovered to register impressive back-to-back victories over Fresno Fuego

Fresno Fuego

Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...

and Bakersfield Brigade

Bakersfield Brigade

Bakersfield Brigade was an American soccer team based in Bakersfield, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...

. However, Storm's mid-season form proved to be their downfall, as the team slumped to five defeats in six games (including a humiliating 0-4 to the eventual divisional champions Southern California Seahorses

Southern California Seahorses

Southern California Seahorses is an American soccer team based in La Mirada, California, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home...

), ending their first season playoff hopes. A morale-boosting 5-0 win over Bakersfield Brigade

Bakersfield Brigade

in their penultimate game was a positive, but eventually they finished sixth in the table. David Niemeyer was the Storm's top scorer in their freshman year, scoring 7 goals in his 15 games, while MLS-bound Mexican midfielder Erasmo Solorzano

Erasmo Solorzano

Erasmo Solórzano is a Mexican soccer player, who plays midfielder for Bakersfield Brigade in the USL Premier Development League, having been waived by CD Chivas USA of Major League Soccer at the end of the Major League Soccer 2007 season-References:* at the Major League Soccer website* at the...

was the assist king with 3. Goalkeeper Lance Friesz

Lance Friesz

Lance Friesz is a football goalkeeper, currently playing for amateur team Pateadores in the United States.-Early life and career:...

was also a standout - so much so, that he was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy

Los Angeles Galaxy

The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...

in the offseason.

The Storm's sophomore year began in terrible fashion, suffering a 5-0 defeat to the San Fernando Valley Quakes

San Fernando Valley Quakes

on the opening day of the season. They didn't register their first victory - 2-1 over new boys San Jose Frogs

San Jose Frogs

San Jose Frogs was an American soccer team based in San Jose, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its...

- until their third game, and from then on the Storm's season was one of see-sawing inconsistency. Back-to-back 3-1 wins over Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...

and Lancaster Rattlers

Lancaster Rattlers

Lancaster Rattlers is an American soccer team based in Lancaster, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division.The team plays its home games...

was followed by a 1-5 disaster at home to Fresno Fuego

Fresno Fuego

, which was followed by a 5-1 thrashing of Bakersfield Brigade

Bakersfield Brigade

... and so it went. By the end of the season, Storm were struggling to pick up wins wherever they went, but at least they started seeing some consistency; however, the four ties in their last six games ultimately consigned them to 5th place in the table, outside the playoffs for a second year. Ross Schunk

Ross Schunk

Ross Schunk is an American soccer player who last played for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...

was by far their outstanding goalscorer, tallying goals 10 in a season which included a hat trick at home to Lancaster Rattlers

Lancaster Rattlers

. Alex Bengard

Alex Bengard

Alex Bengard is a retired American soccer player.-College:Bengard played one year of college soccer at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to California State University, Dominguez Hills...

registered 5 assists.

2008 saw a name change, with Storm becoming Los Angeles Legends following a merger between two local youth soccer organizations, and a coaching change, with Azusa Pacific soccer coach Phil Wolf taking over the reins from Chris Volk. The Legends started the season in magnificent form, downing Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star

1-0 in their opening game, and then registering two back-to-back 5-0 home victories over Lancaster Rattlers

Lancaster Rattlers

and San Fernando Valley Quakes

San Fernando Valley Quakes

, the first of which featured a hat-trick from striker Davis Paul

Davis Paul

Davis Paul is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

. Legends' blistering early-season success saw them qualify for their first ever US Open Cup, where they faced USL2 side (and eventual quarter-finalists) Crystal Palace Baltimore at home in Azusa

Azusa, California

Azusa is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 46,361 at the 2010 census, up from 44,712 at the 2000 census. Though sometimes assumed to be a compaction of the phrase "everything from A to Z in the USA" from an old Jack Benny joke, the place name "Azusa"...

. Sadly for the Legends their foray into the Cup was a short one, as they were beaten 2-1 off a late winner by Baltimore's Pat Healey

Pat Healey

Pat Healey is an American soccer player currently playing for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College:...

. Legends continued the year as high scoring entertainers: they put six past Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star

in mid-June, then conceded six away at Fresno Fuego

Fresno Fuego

in the very next game. However, as the season wound down, the team's early season form deserted them, as four defeats in their last five games left them out of playoff contention. Legends ended the year a comfortable mid-table 6th; Davis Paul

Davis Paul

Davis Paul is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

was top scorer, knocking in an impressive 10 goals, and contributing five assists for his strike partner, Ross Schunk

Ross Schunk

Ross Schunk is an American soccer player who last played for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...

.

Legends relocated from the San Gabriel Valley

San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...

to East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles, California

East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...

in 2009, hired a new head coach in the shape of ex-Chivas USA striker Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield is an American soccer player currently playing for Hollywood United Hitmen in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

, and signed ex-Los Angeles Galaxy

Los Angeles Galaxy

defender Mike Randolph

Mike Randolph

Mike Randolph is an American soccer player currently playing for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...

to lead a new-look team; the change in fortunes on the field as a result was remarkable. Despite losing their opening two games of the season 3-2 to Lancaster Rattlers

Lancaster Rattlers

and 3-0 to Fresno Fuego

Fresno Fuego

, the team bounced back magnificently, and embarked on a 12-game unbeaten run through the middle of the season which kept them in the hunt for the divisional title throughout the year. Legends were the division's high-scoring entertainers; they put six past Lancaster in the return game, hammered Fresno 7-1 on the road, beat Ogden Outlaws

Ogden Outlaws

Ogden Outlaws is an American soccer team based in Ogden, Utah, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference....

5-0, and overcame Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star

4-3 in a seesaw game in early July. Each of these four games was highlighted by hat tricks from player/coach Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield is an American soccer player currently playing for Hollywood United Hitmen in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

, who would eventually go on to score 14 goals in his 9 appearances for the Legends, good for third nationally. Legends briefly topped the division as the regular season wound down, but a 2-0 loss to Fresno in their penultimate game handed the division to the Hollywood United Hitmen

Hollywood United Hitmen

Hollywood United Hitmen is an American soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division, having switched from the...

, with whom they had previously been involved in an astonishing 0-0 tie which featured seven red cards. The Legends secured second place in the division, and a first trip to the postseason, with a 1-0 win over Ventura County Fusion

Ventura County Fusion

Ventura County Fusion is an American soccer team based in Ventura, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games in...

, but Fusion got their revenge in the divisional playoff semifinal with a 2-1 victory which ended Los Angeles' title hopes at the first hurdle.

During the 2009-2010 offseason the Legends were bought out by the owners of the long-standing Los Angeles-based amateur side LA Blues, and re-branded themselves as the Los Angeles Azul Legends. The team's new logo was unveiled on their new website in April 2010.

During the 2010-2011 offseason the team re-branded themselves again, this time as the Los Angeles Misioneros. The team's new logo was unveiled on their new website in January 2011.

Current roster

As at May 28, 2011.

Notable former players

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Joe Barton

Joe Barton (soccer)

Joe Barton is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-College:Barton played college soccer at Point Loma Nazarene University and California State University, Northridge, where he was named Big West Goalkeeper of the Year in 2002. and captured two First Team All Conference awards...

Tony Beltran

Tony Beltran is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...

Alex Bengard

Alex Bengard is a retired American soccer player.-College:Bengard played one year of college soccer at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to California State University, Dominguez Hills...

Kraig Chiles

Kraig Chiles is an American soccer player, currently playing for the San Diego Sockers.-Youth and College:...

Gabriel Farfan

Gabriel Farfan is an American soccer player currently playing for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...

Michael Farfan

Michael Farfan is an American soccer player currently playing for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...

Lance Friesz

Lance Friesz is a football goalkeeper, currently playing for amateur team Pateadores in the United States.-Early life and career:...

Erlys García

Erlys García Baro is a Cuban footballer currently playing for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-Cuba:...

Maxwell Griffin

Maxwell Griffin is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes on loan from Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...

Lester Moré

Lester Moré is a Cuban soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Azul Legends in the USL Premier Development League.-Club:...

Kyle Nakazawa

Kyle Nakazawa is an American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...

Raul Palomares Davis Paul

Davis Paul

Davis Paul is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

Mike Randolph

Mike Randolph is an American soccer player currently playing for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...

Eders Roldan Ross Schunk

Ross Schunk

Ross Schunk is an American soccer player who last played for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...

Erasmo Solorzano

Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield is an American soccer player currently playing for Hollywood United Hitmen in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Regular Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
2006	4	USL PDL	6th, Southwest	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2007	4	USL PDL	5th, Southwest	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2008	4	USL PDL	6th, Southwest	Did not qualify	1st Round
2009	4	USL PDL	2nd, Southwest	Divisional Semifinals	Did not qualify
2010	4	USL PDL	6th, Southwest	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2011	4	USL PDL	8th, Southwest	Did not qualify	Did not qualify

Head coaches

Chris Volk (2006–2007) Phil Wolf (2008) Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield

Brent Whitfield is an American soccer player currently playing for Hollywood United Hitmen in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...

(2009) Salvador Moran (2010) Lloyd Kinnear (2010) Marlon Iván León (2011–present)

Stadia

Citrus Stadium
Citrus Stadium
Citrus Stadium is a 10,000-capacity multi-use stadium located in Glendora, California.The stadium, which features a running track, serves as home to American football, athletics, and soccer for Citrus College and the USL Premier Development League side Los Angeles Storm.It is also the home stadium...

; Glendora, California
Glendora, California
Glendora is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the population of Glendora was 50,073....

(2006–2007)
Cougar Stadium; Azusa, California
Azusa, California
Azusa is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 46,361 at the 2010 census, up from 44,712 at the 2000 census. Though sometimes assumed to be a compaction of the phrase "everything from A to Z in the USA" from an old Jack Benny joke, the place name "Azusa"...

(2008)
Keegan Stadium at Bishop Mora Salesian High School; East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...

(2009–2010)
Ayala Stadium; Chino, California
Chino, California
Chino is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the western end of the Riverside-San Bernardino Area and it is easily accessible via the Chino Valley and Pomona freeways....

1 game (2009)
Stadium at Crenshaw High School
Crenshaw High School
Crenshaw High School is a secondary school located in South Los Angeles, California.The school first opened in 1968 and currently enrolls an average of 2,600 students. Its address is 5010 11th Avenue, near the corner of 50th Street. The school colors are blue and gold, and its mascot is the...

; Crenshaw, California 4 games (2010–2011)
Stadium at Morningside High School
Morningside High School
Morningside High is a public high school in Inglewood, California.-History:In 1951, the first two classes of students came to the Morningside Park area of Inglewood to attend the new Morningside High School. Incoming 9th graders came from the surrounding junior high schools, and a class of 10th...

; Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...

(2011–present)

Average attendance

Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.

2006: 338
2007: 512
2008: not yet available
2009: 155
2010: 716

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.