Daniel Steres An Important Cog In LA Galaxy II’s Wheel

May 29, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste (35) goes up for a ball with Wilmington Hammerheads defender Daniel Steres (5) during the first half of the game at Jeld-Wen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Happy Friday on The View From Avalon, your LA Galaxy II and USL news and current events site on the FanSided Network. Central defender Daniel Steres is the engine that keeps Los Dos’s wheel going. He and Curt Onalfo’s LA Galaxy II will need an inspiring performance against Preki’s Sacramento Republic this Saturday at Bonney Field in Sacramento, Calif.

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A former Wilmington Hammerhead, Daniel Steres is a local product and hails from Burbank, Calif. He spent his college days with the San Diego State Aztecs and was selected by Chivas USA in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft and the Seattle Sounders in the 2012 MLS Waiver Draft.

“At San Diego State, I had a few older guys that led by example,” said Steres to LAGalaxy.com. “And you always see on TV, the guys who lead their team are usually in the back or the middle. So you always want to try to lead and help in the best way possible, especially when you have a young team like this.

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“From San Diego State to Seattle into the MLS was quite a jump. I don’t think I took it as well as I could have, or should have, but going to Wilmington and seeing the grind that you go through in USL, especially in a place where they don’t have the resources. And then coming here where they have the resources, and it’s a big great organization, and just trying to excel to push on to the next level again.

“The first year I was there [in USL], you could get away with having some older players, and playing some direct balls, and just winning games on defense like that. Now there is a lot more talent, you’ve got to get a lot better. The coaches are better; the teams are coached much better. So it’s just better all around, and a lot tougher.

“In USL there have been a few good awards I’ve gotten, but not even close. I’m looking at the first team guys, and MLS, just trying to push my way up as far as I can. So it starts with doing well in USL and winning, we got to the semifinals last year and it wasn’t good enough.

“So we’ve got to win that championship this year, you win things and you never know what happens. But I’ve got to help lead these guys, and hopefully it will help push me onto the next level.”

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Next: Juninho's Role Vital For LA Galaxy Against Seattle

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