Raul Mendiola was a surprise starter for some in Saturday’s Galaxy-Columbus Crew SC game.

Mendiola was signed as  Homegrown Player in 2014. He made three appearances for first team in 2014, spent all of 2015 with Galaxy II and Saturday night he made his debut in the starting lineup in the Galaxy 2-1 victory.

Photo courtesy of LA Galaxy

“When I’m on the field, I’m going to work for my teammates,” Mendiola said. “Whatever I got to do. If you have to run back and that’s my mentality to work hard. I was really excited. i wanted to go out there and show what I could to do.”

Mendiola went 80 minutes, before being subbed for Rafael Garcia.

“He’s the kind of player that when you pick sides you’d like to take him because he’s going to battle for you,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. Saturday night. “He’s going to play through the good and bad throughout the game. He’s a real competitor and I like that.

“I decided to play him tonight because I felt we just needed a little bit more energy on the field, a little bit more competitiveness. He brings that. He’s an honest player, can play on both sides of the ball.”