The plan of defense for the U17/U18 Los Angeles Galaxy goes something like this:  

Eric Shannon by land; Billy Thompson by air, and the anticipatory James Stroud, reacting to plays only he can see.

Now determining when to employ each is an entirely different matter all together, and a dilemma for commander-in-chief Bill Swartz to decide.

And what a dilemma it is.

Each week, the three uniquely skilled Galaxy goalkeepers - all perfectly capable of nailing down the starting position – head into practice with a clean slate and no knowledge of their coach’s plans for playing time.

That’s because there isn’t a hard and fast plan. The playing time is determined by that week’s practice performance.

May the best keeper win.

JAMES STROUD

“It’s super-competitive every week,” said Stroud. “You never really know what’s going to happen and you know that if you fall off you’re probably not going to play much. I like it, I enjoy the competition.”

For Stroud, a 6-foot-2 product heading to Chico State next year, fighting for a spot is nothing new.

Having moved to California from South Carolina as a freshman in high school, Stroud remembers the uphill battle of establishing himself in a new environment. His Torrey Pines High School team features much of the same crowded positional battle, where he duels for time on the pitch with the likes of standout Blake Hylen.

Stroud distinguishes himself from the competition with great instincts, and a fearless style of play.

“I rely on trying to be fast and sure about anything that I do,” he said. “I have good reaction in the box and in coming out to test the shooter and force them to make decisions.”

ERIC SHANNON

While Shannon is the smallest in stature of the bunch – standing 6-foot-even – he’s known as the technician.  

“I would say that I’m a good shot stopper and my distribution is good,” said Shannon. “My weakness used to be crosses with me being the smallest of the three but I’ve been able to learn from those guys and improve in that area.”

Shannon will attend the University of San Diego (San Diego) this fall, and he’s hoping that the atmosphere of the Galaxy can help him make a seamless transition to the college game.

“In practice you definitely feel the tension in fighting for a spot,” he said. “When I first came into tryouts I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. There was a three-week tryout and I could only make the last day. Coming in I knew that I would have to be sharp if I wanted to compete and that hasn’t changed.”

BILLY THOMPSON

Thompson is a game-changer with his height and athleticism. At 6-foot-6, he’s the most physically gifted of the three and is an intimidating presence.

New to the Galaxy this year by way of Albion SC, Thompson also knew fairly early on that he was in for a serious challenge at his position.

“A couple of weeks into training is when I noticed. It was kind of like, ‘oh, so this is how it’s going to be,’ ” he said. “I just took it as a challenge and day in and day out it pushes me to never be lazy.”

Thompson will head to Loyola Marymount next year, and at the moment he’s working towards taking his fitness to a new level.

 But first, he must prove he’s fit for the week-to-week contest that exists on his own club team.

“It’s the most competitive team I’ve been a part of and the hardest I’ve had to work to earn playing time, but it pushes me to be the best that I can be, and I love it,” he said.

MOVING FORWARD

Despite the healthy internal struggles between them, Stroud, Shannon and Thompson still remain close on and off the field.

The goalkeepers union remains intact with each doing whatever he can to help the other two succeed.

“We point out stuff to help each other get better,” Thompson said. “One thing I’ve picked up from the two of them is they never get down on themselves. I’ve been told I have a tendency to pout. That’s something I’ve tried to address by watching them.”

At 8-10-2, the Galaxy probably isn’t where it wants to be but the team is currently adjusting to its third head coach this year.

Offensive players like Dersu Abolfathi and James Rochlitz offer hope of a turnaround, as do the tag-team unit in net.

“I could have more playing time, sure, I think we all could,” Stroud said. “But I think the way we earn minutes is the best way to do it.

“We need each other.”