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Galaxy's Ruiz Voted MLS All-Star Team Starter

July 17, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


PASADENA, CA (Wednesday, July 16, 2002) - Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz was voted a member of the starting 11 for the 2002 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game announced Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber today. MLS unveiled the starting 11 for the MLS All-Stars that will face the U.S. National Team in the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, August 3, at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised live on ABC Sports. Ruiz will join teammates Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas, who were named yesterday to represent the U.S. National Team.

"This honor is well deserved, Carlos' impact on the Galaxy and MLS merits his being named to MLS' starting eleven," said Doug Hamilton, Galaxy VP/GM. "We look forward to many more great performances from this sensational 22-year-old Guatemalan forward."

The MLS All-Star Team will feature five players making their first-ever All-Star appearance, including the League's top two scorers, Ruiz and Taylor Twellman. Both players lead the League with 13 goals during their first MLS campaigns. Ruiz's selection marks the second Guatemalan player in MLS All-Star history to be named to the team, joining former Galaxy midfielder Martin Machon, who was named to the World All-Stars in 1998.

"I am very happy and thrilled to have been selected to participate in the MLS All-Star Game'', said Ruiz. "It will be a very spectacular game because the U.S. National Team showed that it deserved to finish among the best eight teams in the World Cup. We (MLS All-Stars) will show the fans the high-quality soccer that is being played in MLS.''

A 2002 Discovery Player, Ruiz joined the Galaxy from CSD Municipal in February and has appeared in 16 games, all starts, and scored 13 goals for 26 points. Ruiz also became the sixth Galaxy player in history to score 10 or more goals in a season on June 1. He is the first player to accomplish this feat since 1998 and ranks in the top five all-time single season goal scorers tied with Mauricio Cienfuegos (13) and trailing Welton (17), Cobi Jones (19) and Eduardo Hurtado (21).

"It is a great honor for the Los Angeles Galaxy, but it has to be a special honor for Carlos to be recognized in his first year in the league," said Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "It is a tribute to how quickly he has adapted himself to the American style and the league."

In addition, Ruiz was named a two-time player of the Week and MLS' Player of the Month for April after totaling four goals and eight points. The 22-year-old striker is also tied for MLS' golden boot as the league game-winning goal leader with four strikes this season. Known as "El Pescadito" (The Little Fish), he also ranks fourth in points-per-game (PPG) with a 1.59 PPG average. Ruiz, who scored six goals in his first four matches, has recorded four multi-goal performances this year.

Ruiz also commented on teammates Jones and Lalas' selection by Bruce Arena to the U.S. National Team: "Cobi belongs there because he was part of the World Cup Team and I'm also very happy for Alexi's call to the national team because it confirms the excellent season he is having with the Galaxy."

All-Star reserves for the MLS roster will be named on Tuesday, July 23, by Head Coach Frank Yallop in conjunction with Major League Soccer. In addition, MLS Commissioner Don Garber will select two players to round out the roster of 18 players that will face the U.S. National Team on August 3.

The 2002 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game offers four levels of ticket pricing, ranging from $27 to $55 for individuals, and $22 to $45 for groups of 20 or more. For Group Sales information, call D.C. United at 703-478-6600; or go online at www.dcunited.com.

The L.A. Galaxy will take the field this coming Saturday on "Korean Night" when its plays host to the Kansas City Wizards (Kickoff 7:00 p.m. ET). For more information regarding Los Angeles Galaxy tickets for the club's next home game, please call the Galaxy toll free at (877) 3GALAXY.

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