CHIVAS USA LOOKS TO 2010 MLS REGULAR SEASON WITH SEVERAL IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD: After another successful season in which the Red-and-White secured a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season, Chivas USA has now started preparations for the 2010 Regular Season. With Preki having left Chivas USA by mutual agreement and joined Toronto FC as the Canadian team's Head Coach, the Red-and-White are continuing the search for a new Head Coach. Meanwhile, the team has submitted its 11-player Protected Roster for the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, which takes place on Wednesday. Following the draft, Chivas USA will look toward the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, on Jan. 14 in Philadelphia. Preseason will open in late January, and the first match of the 2010 MLS Regular Season for the Red-and-White will be against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at The Home Depot Center. Season tickets for 2010 are now on sale at cdchivasusa.com and 1-877-CHIVAS-1, and fans can keep updated on the team at cdchivasusa.com, or at Dentro del Rebaņo, the official blog of the club.ZACH THORNTON CAPS AMAZING 2009 SEASON WITH THREE MLS AWARDS: Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton had one of the top seasons for a goalkeeper in league history, posting a 0.87 goals against average and 12 shutouts, both of which led MLS. His goals against average was the second best in league history, and his shutout mark was second in club history to Brad Guzan's 13 in 2007. The result of all Thornton's hard work this season is plenty of hardware; in addition to being named Chivas USA's MVP, Thornton also received MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and Best XI honors. He was the second Chivas USA player named Goalkeeper of the Year (following Guzan in 2007) and the fourth member of the Red-and-White on the MLS Best XI, following Brad Guzan and Jonathan Bornstein in 2007 and Sacha Kljestan in 2008.
2009 MLS SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE WITH RSL TOPPING GALAXY IN MLS CUP: The 2009 MLS season is now in the books, with Real Salt Lake earning its first-ever MLS Cup with a victory over the LA Galaxy on Sunday in Seattle. After a 1-1 draw through regulation and both overtime periods, Real Salt Lake captured the win with a 5-4 edge on penalty kicks, with RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando being named MLS Cup MVP after making a pair of important saves in the shootout. Real Salt Lake, who joined MLS in 2005 along with Chivas USA, wins the title for the first time.
TRIO OF CHIVAS USA PLAYERS RETURN FROM INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Three Chivas USA players spent last week on international duty with their countries, as Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan were with the United States for a friendly at Denmark, and Shavar Thomas was part of the Jamaica squad that visited South Africa. Bornstein played the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 loss to Denmark on Wednesday, while Kljestan was not named in the matchday 18, and Shavar Thomas helped Jamaica keep a shutout against next summer's World Cup hosts in a 0-0 draw with South Africa. The three players have returned from duty and are now on vacation ahead of the 2010 preseason, likely starting in late January.
YOUTH UPDATE: CHIVAS USA U-16 TEAM CONTINUES GREAT START WITH WIN OVER LAFC CHELSEA: Chivas USA's U-16 Team continued its excellent start to the 2009-10 Development Academy season with a 2-0 win over LAFC Chelsea this Saturday at Cerritos College. The victory improved the U-16's record to 6-2-2 this season, with 20 goals for and just seven against. The U-18's fell by a 3-0 score to LAFC Chelsea, and the team's record now sits at 1-8-1 so far this season. Next up for the teams is the Development Academy Showcase from Dec. 5-8, where each team will play against youth squads from the Houston Dynamo, IMG Soccer Academy, and Met Oval. The rosters and full schedule for the Chivas USA U-18 and U-16 teams, which compete in the 2009-10 U.S. Soccer Development Academy, can be found here for the U-18's, and for the U-16 Team here. More information on the Development Academy can be found at ussoccer.com.
VISIT 'DENTRO DEL REBAŅO', CHIVAS USA'S OFFICIAL BLOG: Chivas USA's official blog, 'Dentro del Rebaņo' (or 'Inside the Flock') contains updated content on the club, with audio quotes from players and coaches, to videos from inside the team. Check out the new-look blog at dentrodelrebano.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!
JOIN CHIVAS USA'S NEW SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE AT MYCHIVASUSA.COM: Chivas USA has launched MyChivasUSA.com, a social networking site designed for fans of the Red-and-White. The social network was created using the Ning platform, and allows fans to customize a profile, set up blogs, add photos and videos, send messages and chat, track matches they've attended, and much more. Several Chivas USA players, including Jonathan Bornstein, as well as members of the ChivaGirls, have already set up profiles on the page. For more information, or to make your own account, please visit MyChivasUSA.com and click on the 'Sign Up' link.
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