Head Coach: Dekel Keinan
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium
2023 Regular Season: 13-7-4, 44 pts, 3rd in NISA Table, 2023 NISA Playoffs: Lost to Flower City Union in quarterfinals
2023 Season Recap: The LA Force started the 2023 season without a head coach. Assistant Coaches Bruno Costa and Salvador “Chava” Moran took over coaching duties for their first three matches. Matt Morse was appointed the club’s new Head Coach last April and agreed to coach the club through the end of the season. Morse turned a club with only two wins the previous season and improved the club’s win total to 13 in 2023. The Force went from a 7th place finish in NISA in 2022 to moving up to 3rd place this past season and qualified for the NISA Playoffs for the first time since the 2020-2021 season. After the LA Force were stunned at home in the quarterfinals of the 2023 NISA Playoffs, losing 4-2 to eventual champion Flower City Union, the club made changes to its roster this offseason and has found its next head coach as Dekel Keinan will lead the club for the 2024 season.
Offseason Recap
The Force made significant changes to their roster, has a new head coach, and has found a new home venue this season, where the club will play its matches at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, California. Last year, the Force played its home matches at Championship Stadium in Irvine.
Key Departure
Leopoldo Hernandez made his professional debut last year and played one season with the LA Force in NISA. The 24-year-old midfielder made 21 appearances for the Force, recorded 1,473 minutes, and added one assist during the 2023 season. Hernandez signed with the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Jan. 22.
Key Returnees
Some key pieces from last year’s team will be back this year with midfielder Alex Jaurez, defender Ivan Hernandez, and midfielder Justin Jovel. Erick Villatoro, another critical piece to the Force’s backline, is also returning. During the 2023 NISA season, Villatoro started 19 matches and made 22 appearances. In his career with the Force, Villatoro has made 62 appearances for the club, adding two assists, and logged 3,881 minutes on the pitch.
Key Arrivals
There are lots of big names to talk about here, as the Force are going for it all this time around after getting eliminated early on in the playoffs last October. Former MLS player Michael Salazar signed with the club this offseason after playing with the Miami FC in the USL Championship. The club has also added 2023 NISA Champion Josue Cartagena from Flower City Union, Garret Hogbin from the Michigan Stars FC, NISA Best XI Aydan Bowers from Chattanooga FC, and Victor Blanco from Club de Lyon FC.
Player to Watch
There are many players, but I’m going with midfielder Beto Alvarenga. He played with former NISA side Chattanooga FC the previous season. He made 22 appearances for the boys in blue, scored two goals, and added two assists across all competitions. Alvarenga is an experienced NISA veteran who spent time in Chattanooga, played with Cal United Strikers FC, and can be a game-changer for the Force this season. I’ll be curious to see how long it will take to get this chemistry for this team to gel, but make no mistake; the Force will definitely be a championship contender this season.
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