Which is about time because Pasadena native Pete Vagenas has only been in camp a month or so – and has already seemed an integral part of the Goats’ squad.

The other signings: San Diego striker Cesar Romero, 22, who most recently played for Murcielagos FC de Guamuchil in Mexico’s second division, and defender Rauwshan McKenzie, 25, who Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser was familiar with from his stint at Real Salt Lake where he made nine starts over the last two seasons.

Romero is perhaps the biggest prize of the three.

“He is a young player who has come in and done quite well in pre-season,” Fraser said. “He’s got good pace, he’s got a good nose for the goal, he has proven to make himself difficult to be marked by opposing defenses and we think that he has a bright future.”

Romero most recently played indoor soccer with Revolucion Tijuana where he scored 33 goals in four games, including a nine-goal outburst in one game.

Chivas USA play an exhibition game in San Diego tonight against Mexican top tier team Club Tijuana.

Club Tijuana fans cheer on Sunday during a 3-1 home loss to Santos Laguna, but they’re mainly just happy to have a team in the highest echelon of Mexican futbol (Photo courtesy Club Tijuana).

There is no doubt that Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente has aspirations of drawing Americans soccer fans over the border and giving MLS a run for its money in this part of the world.

The effort is in its nascent stages in terms of marketing and reaching out to fans.

I’m told, for instance, that there are chartered buses Southern California residents can take to games; I’ve discovered finding out the details of these trips is a little more challenging (so if anyone knows let me know).

Seeing a game in Tijuana is a completely different cultural experience from one at Home Depot Center – not necessarily better, IMHO, despite the comments of fans in the column. But it’s more than simply seeing a sporting event and something MLS could learn from.

It helps too that the city is seeing something of a renaissance culturally including an influx of gourmet restaurants and well-known chefs, a friend who grew up in the city and accompanied me on the trip observed. Crime is way down as well, with the drug violence plaguing some parts of Mexico having moved elsewhere in comparison to a few years ago.

During prohibition the city was the place for Americans to party, especially at the horse racing track the soccer stadium is now built on in part. Now, 80 or so years later, American soccer fans have another excuse to visit, party and watch some of the best players in the world up close (long-time Mexican international goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez was between the posts for Santos for Sunday’s game, for example).

All in all it’s an experience I recommend and one I plan to repeat.

Read more here in today’s column.

Golden girls: UCLA product Sydney Leroux and Diamond Bar’s Alex Morgan celebrate one of the numerous goals the U.S. scored Sunday against Guatemala (AP Photo).

Having scored an incredible 27 goals in its first two Olympic qualifiers, the U.S. shifts its attention today to sturdier prey: Mexico.

The USWNT is talking revenge for that infamous World Cup qualifying defeat, but really the motivation for winning should be more about avoiding Canada in the semis.

Still, at least the location – chilly Vancouver, B.C. is apt; after all isn’t revenge a dish best served cold? AP Sports Writer Joseph White has the preview for the game that will air at
7:30 p.m. on the Universal Sports Network:

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Heather Mitts remembers the feeling walking off the field in Cancun, having been a part of the first and only loss the U.S. women’s soccer team has ever suffered in a qualifying match for the World Cup or Olympics.

“It was awful,” Mitts said. “It was obviously for us a real wakeup call. We definitely weren’t
prepared. We weren’t prepared, and they came out and they played great against us.”

Final score: Mexico 2, United States 1. It was Nov. 5, 2010. Mexico had punched its ticket to the World Cup. The Americans would have to play three more games to get there.

The opportunity for payback has arrived. The U.S. plays Mexico on Tuesday for first place in their group in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the London Olympics.

“That’s obviously the game that’s been marked on our calendars this entire tournament,” forward Abby Wambach said.

And, yes, the teams have met once since the game that many consider to be among the biggest upsets in soccer history, but it was an exhibition in New Jersey last June, a warmup for the World Cup won 1-0 by the U.S.

That hardly counted as revenge.

“No. Absolutely not,” Mitts said. “That was a friendly. This is Olympic qualifying. It doesn’t
matter if we’re playing Mexico or not; we still have to win these games to get to the next step.
I think it does add to it that we are playing Mexico — and the revenge factor does help.”

Beyond having a score to settle, the game is a vital one. The region only gets to send two teams to London, and four remain in the hunt. The winner of the U.S.-Mexico game will draw an easier match against Costa Rica in the do-or-die semifinals, while the loser has to play the more formidable Canada.

Coach Pia Sundhage and her players spent much time contemplating what went wrong in Cancun 14 months ago. Sure, the Mexicans had home-field advantage — the rowdy crowd spent the game chanting and throwing cans, bottles, paper and other objects toward the field — but it’s a brutal fact that the Americans were so used to winning that complacency had settled in.

“I definitely think taking a team for granted — and maybe thinking we were better than what we were — had a lot to do with it,” forward Lauren Cheney said.

Cheney also said many of her a teammates were simply exhausted. The Cancun tournament, and the camp that preceded it, had come at the end of the long Women’s Professional Soccer league season.

Sundhage takes the blame for that. She said the team wasn’t sharp during the entire
tournament.

“When I think back, I made a mistake having them together too long,” Sundhage said. “I learned my lesson.”

For the Olympic qualifying, the team had a shorter camp in California before arriving in
Vancouver. It’s hard to judge the results thus far: The Americans have won by scores of 14-0 and 13-0, but their opponents were so overmatched it wouldn’t have mattered much how the U.S. prepared. The most helpful result of the blowouts is an overwhelming goal differential that means a draw against Mexico will be enough to win the group.

Mexico also has been cruising through the tournament, winning 5-0 and 7-0 against the same teams the Americans have played. The lopsided scores have allowed both teams to rest key players to keep them fresh for Tuesday’s showdown.

While the Americans cite the loss in Cancun as more evidence of a growing parity in women’s soccer, Mexico coach Leonardo Cuellar said his country has far to go to catch up with its counterparts to the north.

“They’re obviously the best in the world,” Cuellar said. “You see the U.S. and Canada, they basically have national teams that if they’re not living together, they are dedicated to a national team. For us we still have players that go to school, go to work. We’re at a different level, so it’s a big challenge for us.”

Tigres Triumph: Tigres’ players, seen here celebrating their team’s league title after beating Santos de Torreon Dec. 11, begin their championship defense this weekend as the Mexican league begins anew (AP Photo).

If it isn’t enough that American soccer fans will experience the longest MLS season ever this year, while Galaxy fans are keeping tabs on the EPL (where Landon Donovan is plying his trade) and the Bundesliga (ditto Omar Gonzalez) U.S. players are increasingly making a breakthrough south of the border, too, (an out of shape Eddie Johnson aside, who is apparently incapable of playing for any team any where in the world these days).

The Mexican league cranks up again this weekend with relegation-threatened Tijuana (who trained in Oxnard during the preseason and are seeking to capture Southern California-based Mexican futbol fans’ hearts that just don’t flutter when it comes to Chivas USA) facing Morelia at 6 p.m. on KAZA.

To get you primed, here’s the Associated Press season preview:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tigres’ determination to defy the odds by winning back-to-back titles in the Mexico Clausura saw them sign Mexico international right winger Elias Hernandez.

Tigres last month won their first title in 29 years but aren’t sitting on their laurels.

The other front-runners in the Clausura should be the four traditional powers — Chivas, Pumas, Cruz Azul and America — with Morelia, Monterrey and Santos Laguna there or thereabouts.

Unlike many other foreign leagues, the Mexican first division is unpredictable: Eight different teams have won the last 11 championships and no team has won consecutive titles since Pumas in 2004.

At the other end, Atlas, Estudiantes Tecos and Club Tijuana are set for a relegation battle that will see one team drop to the second division when the regular season ends in late April.

The season kicks off on Friday with Morelia against Club Tijuana, with the other first-round games set for Saturday and Sunday.

Tigres have kept together a stingy defense, and have added Hernandez as they also prepare to play in Latin America’s biggest club tournament — the Copa Libertadores.

Tigres Passion: Fans will be hoping the club can repeat their title triumph.

“I think defending the title adds an extra ingredient,” Tigres’ Argentine captain Lucas Lobos said. “Becoming champions again would be something beautiful.”

Tigres have lost only attacking midfielder Danilinho, who has been loaned to Atletico Mineiro in his native Brazil.

“The challenge will be to maintain what the team showed last season,” added Tigres midfielder Carlos Salcido, who signed five months ago from English Premier League club Fulham.

Tigres’ city rival Monterrey signed the top scorer from the Clausura 2011, Angel Reyna, who was unwanted at America. Reyna made critical comments several months ago about America defender Aquivaldo Mosquera, and was subsequently dropped from the first team.

“They were off-the-pitch things that are now in the past,” Reyna said. “I’m totally determined and motivated for the current season and already thinking about the first game.”

Reyna’s former club America — one of the most popular in Mexico — has undergone a major overhaul including a new coach in Miguel Herrera, who moved from Atlante.

Herrera has signed Venezuelan defender Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, as well as goalkeeper Moises Munoz, forward Christian Bermudez and midfielder Jose Maria Cardenas, as America seeks to improve on its poor 17th-place finish in the Apertura.

Like most Latin American countries, Mexico divides its season into two parts: Apertura (Opening) and Clausura (Closing).

America’s big rival, CD Guadalajara, was quiet in the transfer market and is set to
challenge for its 12th title, again relying on players from the club’s youth academy. Chivas fields only Mexican players.

Clausura 2011 champion Pumas will also go with youth. The Mexico City side has not made new signings, and has lost experienced forward Francisco Palencia, who retired at the end of last season.

Santos, runners-up last season, have opted for continuity after reaching three of the last four finals. The only addition is American international striker Herculez Gomez from Estudiantes Tecos.

Cruz Azul has not managed to lift the league trophy since 1997, despite regularly getting close. The club has signed experienced striker Omar Bravo, who was playing for Sporting Kansas City in MLS.

Morelia hope to be stronger with the signings of defender Oscar Razo and defensive midfielder Christian Valdez.

Relegation in Mexico is based on results across three years with one team being relegated every year. Tijuana, Atlas and Estudiantes Tecos are tightly bunched at the foot of the relegation table and have added to their squads hoping to avoid the drop.

Tijuana has signed Colombian Duvier Riascos, American Edgar Castillo and Jose Alfredo Gonzalez, while Atlas has brought in seven new players, including Venezuela international Giancarlo Maldonado from Atlante.

Financially strapped Estudiantes Tecos have brought in five new players, but lost Gomez and Argentine Jorge Zamogilny, who moved to relegation rivals Atlas.

Jaguares, San Luis, Pachuca, Toluca, Atlante, Queretaro and Puebla all have an outside chance at the title, but aren’t considered contenders.

On Saturday it’s Queretaro vs. Club America (2:55 p.m. Telefutura), Cruz Azul vs. Tigres (3 p.m. KAZA), Monterrey vs. Jaguares (2:55 p.m. Galavision), Chivas vs. Atlante, Santos vs. Pachuca (4:55 p.m. Telefutura), San Luis vs. Pumas (6:30 p.m. Galavision). On Sunday: Puebla vs. Atlas (10 a.m. KAZA), Toluca vs Estudiantes (9:55 a.m. Univision).

Sammy Ochoa, the former U.S. Under-20 forward, is set to return from Mexico to the U.S. – and could join Chivas USA, 100 Percent Soccer has learned.

Chivas USA remain atop the MLS allocation order and the 24-year-old who is from the Los Angeles area and living in Corona would seem the type of young Latino player that should form the backbone of the club.

“Ochoa will be signing with MLS tomorrow and will be assigned a team on Friday,” said a source close to the player. “We are about 90% there, Sammy is putting pen to paper today and we are sending all documents to MLS.”

Ochoa made more than 20 appearances for Estudiantes Tecos since signing for the club in 2006, but has never quite made the breakthrough to become an established member of the first team.

Money conscious Chivas USA has made developing youngsters from Southern California a club priority and is revamping its youth academy.

Pairing a promising 6-0 prospect with a veteran and mentor like Juan Pablo Angel would seem a logical move for the club.

Ochoa trained with the Seattle Sounders earlier thissummer; he previously played for Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid on the U.S. U-20 team.

He is the younger brother of Jesus Ochoa, 29, who is currently with the LA Blues of USL Pro and was previously with the Galaxy and Chivas USA.

Updated:

It should be noted, however, that while the allocation process is for USMNT “pool players,” it’s unclear whether that term applies to the former U.S. youth international.

MLS often attempts to take the preferences of teams and players into account when assigning players to clubs.

Marked man: David Beckham trains Friday at Home Depot Center ahead of today’s game against former club Real Madrid at the Coliseum (AP Photo).

*Staff Writer Phil Collin scored an exclusive interview with David Beckham as the former England international and the Galaxy prepare to face Real Madrid today. And yeah, as of yesterday tickets starting at $50 were still available.

*But with all due respect to the Galaxy, here’s the link fans heading to the game need to check on this Carmageddon weekend and although traffic is light so far most soccer fans have yet to hit the freeways and there are ominous warnings about gridlock on the Harbor (110) Freeway.

The game is also live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

*Good luck to those of you heading to the Coliseum. I’m opting for a competitive game closer to home (surface streets only for me today) at Home Depot Center where Chivas USA play the New York Red Bulls and new signing Frank Rost at 7:30 p.m. (live on Prime and Galavision).

*Meanwhile future Galaxy opponent Manchester City is in the Bay Area today taking on Club America (live at 5 p.m. on KFTR).

*Lastly, Diamond Bar’s Alex Morgan is enjoying new-found fame in the wake of her goal against France in the World Cup semifinal.

New York Red Bulls-Chivas USA, 4 p.m. Galavision live, 5 p.m. on Prime

Bulls brain trust: Thierry Henry, coach Hans Backe, and Rafael Marquez meet the press in Montreal before New York’s midweek friendly for the Frenchman’s French-Canadian fans against the Impact (AP Photo).

*Will Chivas USA catch the Eastern Conference leaders at a vulnerable moment after a long road trip?

*Chivas USA fans will keep their eye on New York’s Mexican icon Rafa Marquez, who has his eye on another World Cup appearance.

*With a road win Chivas USA can close the gap with the teams above them in the Western Conference after Portland and Seattle could only manage a 1-1 tie Saturday in the long-anticipated Pacific Northwest derby.

*Chivas USA midfielder Marcos Mondaini learned today he will be suspended for a total of four games – so that’s three additional games in addition to the automatic one-game ban for being ejected – for his tackle last Saturday that left Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales with two broken bones and torn ligaments in his left ankle.

The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee called Mondaini’s tackle “reckless and endangered the safety of his opponent.” He was also fined $1,500.

*Call it the selling of the Galaxy — to the students of Cal State Dominguez Hills.

*The Washington Post today seconded the report last week in the San Diego Union Tribune that Real Madrid will play CD Guadalajara July 20 at Qualcomm Stadium four days after the Spanish giants play the Galaxy at the Coliseum.

*Chivas USA has scheduled youth academy tryouts in the next couple of months in Bell Gardens and Simi Valley.

Hitman Herc has struck:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — American forward Herculez Gomez entered as a second-half substitute and scored his first two goals of the Clausura season in Pachuca’s 3-0 win over Chiapas on Saturday night.

Gomez came in in the 62nd minute and scored in the 70th and 78th to give Pachuca a 2-0 lead.

A member of last year’s U.S. World Cup team, he signed with Pachuca last May and scored one goal in 14 appearances during the Apertura season.

Last year, he scored 10 goals during the Clausura season and became the first American to win or share the Mexican league’s regular-season scoring title.

Tweeted Herc:

Thanks for never loosing faith. I know this is just the beginning for us. Feels great to score but it feels even better to win at home.

Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser became the latest coach to give up on former Galaxy striker Alan “goalless” Gordon when the club traded the Long Beach native to Toronto for midfielder Nick LaBrocca.

“Nick is an extremely intelligent, efficient player who will give us options and depth in the midfield,” Fraser said. “He’s proven himself in this league, and we’re excited to welcome him into the team.”

Here’s more on LaBrocca from the Chivas USA press release:

LaBrocca, 26, has played 89 games (81 starts) in his MLS career, scoring five goals and adding six assists, and will meet the team in Texas ahead of tomorrow’s exhibition with FC Dallas.

LaBrocca has established himself as a durable central midfielder in the past three seasons in MLS, and set a career high in assists in 2010 with Toronto FC, notching six helpers in his 28 matches (24 starts). Prior to 2010, he was with the Colorado Rapids, where he played 59 of the team’s 60 MLS games in 2008 and 2009, scoring twice in each season. He joined the Rapids in 2007, playing two MLS matches and helping the club’s reserve squad to a league championship, after a standout four-year career at Rutgers University.

In addition, Chivas USA announced today that the club has declined its contract option on Jess Padilla, a forward from San Jose who had been on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara since Aug. 2009. Padilla scored seven goals in 24 starts for the club.

He was the second-highest scorer for the club last year behind Justin Braun, perhaps prompting fans to wonder just where the goals will come from this year.

Gordon, however, was never likely to provide many.

He had one goal in nine games for Chivas USA after signing from the Galaxy, where he had just 16 goals in 99 games over seven seasons.

It doesn’t sound like even Toronto expects to see Gordon on the scoresheet much.

“Alan is a good, strong striker and can be a leader on the pitch. He is a player that wants to win,” said Toronto Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter.