Inglewood resident Jose Villarreal, 18, who still lives at home with his parents, has become the first South Bay native to join the South Bay-based Galaxy from the club's youth academy. He spent his first day on the job Monday, not so much overawed by training on the same field

American girl: Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan is emerging as the new face of U.S. women's soccer (AP Photo). Staff Writer Larry Morgan headed out to the USMNT camp at Home Depot Center to chat with former WPS top draft pick Alex Morgan, expected to become an ever-more influential figure on

*Where are you going to watch the Galaxy's Landon Donovan and his U.S. international teammates face Spurs and U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel? Kickoff is at 11:30 a.m. on Fox Soccer. A preview is here. Tweeted LD: "Getting excited for the Tottenham game Wednesday! Won't be easy...3rd game in 7 days.

Clearing up a few odds and ends before the weekend (that would have posted hours sooner had our soon-to-be-replaced blogging software not freaked out): *Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens, Chivas USA's Jorge Villafaña (formerly Flores) and UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe were named today to the U-23 camp set for Sunday through

Catching up on the weekend highlights:

*Lawndale's Kei Kamara is now just three goals away from last year's career high of 10 when he scored a cooly taken winner for Kansas City Saturday in the 1-0 win over D.C. United.

Watch:

*And while I didn't see a Daily Mail reporter in the press box Saturday in Carson watching the action on the field between the Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes highlighted by the perfectly written script of one Robert Kean, the English tabloid was moved to check out what was going on off the field in today's edition.

Palos Verdes Estates' Christen Press (magicJack) was named Rookie of the Year, while Rolling Hills Estates Whitney Engen (Western New York Flash) received the Defender of the Year honor in Women's Professional Soccer.

Engen, 24, led the regular season champions to a 13-2-2 record and missed just one game (while on national team duty) all season; Press, the reigning 2010 MAC Hermann trophy winner out of Stanford, scored eight goals for magicJack - almost one-third of the team's total - and just two behind former LA Sol striker Marta, who took the Golden Boot Award despite playing in just 14 games.

Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser, Jimmy Conrad and Chivas USA General manager Jose Domene yuck it up during the loosest retirement press conference in MLS history (Photo courtesy Chivas USA).

Like fans, journalists like to watch great players; players capable of fantastic quotes, we love even more.

Missing star: Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, arguably the club's biggest star - and box office draw - won't play against the Galaxy later this month. The forward, who wants to exit the club, is seen here training with Argentina at Copa America (AP Photo).

*The Galaxy have released the squad for Manchester City's U.

*U.S. Soccer announced today an 8 p.m. Sept. 2 friendly against Costa Rica at Home Depot Center that will air on ESPN2.

Tickets go on sale July 15 starting at $20.

It's a rare non-January friendly in Southern California against a Latin American team, which U.S. Soccer officials customarily attempt to avoid because of their fan support here.

*According to several different sources, former D.C. United Coach Curt Onalfo is replacing Cobi Jones as an assistant coach at the Galaxy. There's been no confirmation from the Galaxy and no reply to an e-mail inquiry I made this morning.

*Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan looks to be headed to a Russian team from his current Danish club.

Three days after Galaxy icon Cobi Jones announced he was leaving the club where he had spent virtually his entire career, the new employee of the New York Cosmos spoke with journalists today about his role with the club.

For now he plans to remain in Los Angeles, albeit doing plenty of traveling between the youth academies the Cosmos, who have ambitions of entering MLS as early as 2013, have established on each coast.