Los Angeles Force

Last updated

Los Angeles Force
Los Angeles Force.png
Full nameLos Angeles Force
Nickname(s)LA Force
Founded2019
Stadium Veterans Memorial Stadium
Capacity11,600
OwnerBob Friedland
Head Coach Dekel Keinan
League NISA
2024 Western Conference: 1st
Playoffs: Champions
Website www.losangelesforce.com
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Los Angeles Force is an American professional soccer club based in Long Beach, California that plays in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

Contents

History

On August 2, 2019, the National Independent Soccer Association announced the addition of Los Angeles Force ahead of the league's inaugural 2019 Fall Showcase. The club is affiliated with NISA Nation side FC Golden State Force. [1]

On October 19, 2024, the Force hosted 405 derby rivals Irvine Zeta FC in the 2024 NISA Championship at Veterans Memorial Stadium, with an attendance of 1,477. The Los Angeles Force opened the scoring in the 26th minute thanks to Josue Cartagena, but Irvine found an equalizer in the 55th minute through George Almeida. After 90 minutes and the score at 1-1, the game went to extra time with no one scoring within extra time. In penalties, the Los Angeles Force beat Irvine Zeta 3-2 in penalties, with goalkeeper Seth Torman saving the first two Zeta penalties, crowning the Los Angeles Force the 2024 NISA Champions, the first for the club. [2]

Los Angeles Force was the fifth club confirmed for the 2025 NISA Pro Cup. [3]

Stadium

For the 2019 NISA Fall Showcase, the team played its home matches at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, California. Starting with the 2020 Spring season, the team moved to Los Angeles, and is using the newly renovated stadium on the campus of California State University - Los Angeles.

During the 2021 fall season, the Force primarily used Valley High School's facility in Santa Ana, except for two matches at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine. For the 2022 season, the Force used 6 different stadiums, including Championship Stadium (1 match, plus another at Great Park's turf field 10 adjacent), one match at Garey High School in Pomona, one at Yates Field in Chino, two at Covina District Field in Covina, and 4 at LA Harbor College's stadium.

During the 2023 season, the Force primarily used Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine.

In 2024, the Force announced that they will be playing at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Long Beach City College.

Players and staff

Roster

As of December 22, 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Erick Villatoro
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Aydan Bowers
4 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Garrett Hogbin
6 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ronaldo Lomeli
7 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Justin Jovel
8 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alex Juarez
9 FW Flag of Belize.svg  BLZ Michael Salazar
10 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Beto Alvarenga
11 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Moja Hale
12 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Dante Brigida
13 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sebastian Ascencio
16 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ronaldo Pineda
17 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Josue Cartagena
18 FW Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Victor Blanco
19 FW Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX José "Chila" Montes de Oca
20 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Oscar Delgado
21 DF Flag of Israel.svg  ISR Dekel Keinan
No.Pos.NationPlayer
23 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bryan Ortega
24 FW Flag of Cameroon.svg  CMR Ayuk Tambe
25 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Joel Quist
28 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ahmed Shaibu Jr.
29 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alex Thompson-Hill
30 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Seth Torman
44 FW Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Mouhamadou War
77 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Josue España
80 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ivan Hernandez

Staff

As of December 22, 2024

Executive Staff

Robert Friedland - Owner, President

Alex Lujan - Vice President, General Manager

Logan Dahler - Assistant General Manager, Director of Soccer Operations

Coaching Staff

Dekel Keinan - Head Coach

Juan Carlos Garcia - Assistant Coach

Kris Guerra - Goalkeeper Coach

Support Staff

Kuvaal Patel - Team Administrator

Leo Freese - Team Manager

Statistics and records

Season-by-season

SeasonLeagueDivPWDLGFGAPtsPositionPlayoffs U.S. Open Cup NISA Independent CupTop Scorer
2019–20 NISA Fall 632187141st, West Coast Conference Final Cancelled N/A Flag of the United States.svg Alvaro Madrigal-Zavala
Flag of Colombia.svg Marvin Merlano
2
Spring 20111317thCancelledN/A
2020–21 NISA Fall 32015561st, Group B Fall Semifinials Cancelled N/A Flag of the United States.svg Christian Chaney 6
Spring 8602116182nd Spring Final N/A
Fall 2021 NISA 187922014303rdN/A Cancelled Champions

(West Coast Region)

Flag of the United States.svg Christian Chaney 6
2022 NISA 11245714107th*DNQ Round 2 Champions

(West Coast Region)

Flag of the United States.svg Edwin Rivas Jr.5
2023 NISA 2413563321443rd Quarterfinals Round 2 Champions

(Pacific Region)

Flag of the United States.svg Francis Avoce7
2024 NISA 1814224012441st, West Conference Final, Champions Round 2 Champions

(West Region)

Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Ortega

Flag of Belize.svg Michael Salazar

3

*In the 2022 NISA season, from March 26-August 27, Los Angeles Force finished 4th in the West Division. After the withdrawal of Bay Cities FC from NISA, the league changed the format from two divisions to an 8 team table, where the Los Angeles Force finished 7th.

    Honors

    References

    1. "NISA Announces Los Angeles Club". NISA. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
    2. "La Force Win First Ever Nisa Championship in Club History".
    3. "2024 NISA Champions Los Angeles Force Confirmed for the 2025 NISA Pro Cup".