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After Pivotal 2016, McBean Ready to Rise

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 01/24/17, 1:28PM EST

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USL All-League selection had transformative year, resulting in return to Galaxy


Photo courtesy Robert Mora / LA Galaxy II

CARSON, Calif. – The 2016 preseason provided a springboard for then-LA Galaxy II captain Jack McBean.

Now, the Galaxy’s Homegrown forward is hoping for more of the same as he prepares for the upcoming MLS campaign.

“I’m taking this training camp day by day. I want to get through preseason healthy and score a couple of goals to take that into the regular season,” McBean told LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano as the Galaxy opened training camp on Monday. “I want to make the most of my opportunities and control what I can control.

“This is my seventh year with this club, and I’ve never been more excited in a preseason. I feel like a lot more of a mature player.”

The 22-year-old McBean is coming off a pivotal year in his young career. After finding the back of the net regularly in the Galaxy II’s preseason in 2016, he continued his form into the regular season. McBean scored 15 goals in 17 regular-season contests to finish tied for second in the USL and earn All-League First Team honors.

That form saw McBean sign his second Homegrown Player deal with the Galaxy midseason. Now, after a loan stint with English League 1 club Coventry City FC, he returns to find himself elevated on the Galaxy’s forward depth chart this preseason with the departures of Robbie Keane and Alan Gordon.

McBean gave credit to Gordon, who signed this week with the Colorado Rapids and whose shoes McBean could be asked to fill, in the development of his game.

“I learned a lot from Gordo because he’s the same type of player as me,” McBean told Serrano. “He made a good living off his skills, but with him leaving, it puts more pressure on players like myself, Ari [Lassiter], and Jose [Villarreal] which I think we’re ready for.”

McBean, Lassiter and Villarreal have all played starring roles for Los Dos over the past two years, including helping the side claim the 2015 USL Western Conference Championship. That side was led by Curt Onalfo, who this offseason was appointed as Bruce Arena’s successor as the Galaxy’s Head Coach. The understanding that comes with having worked with Onalfo previously has McBean confident going into the new season.

“Curt has faith in us,” he told Serrano. “He realizes that when he was a young player that guys are going to make mistakes and it’s how you respond. You just have to have a good work ethic and focus on getting better every day. If you can do that, then it’s going to be good.”

With a strong platform to build on from the past 12 months, McBean is eager for what lies ahead.

“I don’t like to set goals,” McBean told Serrano. “I like to score them. Wherever and whenever.”

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