Los Angeles Misioneros - History

History

After acquiring the PDL franchise rights the Springfield Storm franchise that used to play in the PDL out of Springfield, Missouri, the team began life as Los Angeles Storm under head coach Chris Volk, and made their debut in PDL competition in 2006, one of several teams joining the Southwest division as it expanded to nine teams. Playing at Citrus Stadium on the campus of Citrus College in Glendora, California, Storm made an inauspicious start, tying 1-1 with the San Fernando Valley Quakes, but quickly recovered to register impressive back-to-back victories over Fresno Fuego and Bakersfield Brigade. However, Storm's mid-season form proved to be their downfall, as the team slumped to five defeats in six games (including a humiliating 0-4 to the eventual divisional champions Southern California Seahorses), ending their first season playoff hopes. A morale-boosting 5-0 win over Bakersfield Brigade in their penultimate game was a positive, but eventually they finished sixth in the table. David Niemeyer was the Storm's top scorer in their freshman year, scoring 7 goals in his 15 games, while MLS-bound Mexican midfielder Erasmo Solorzano was the assist king with 3. Goalkeeper Lance Friesz was also a standout - so much so, that he was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy in the offseason.

The Storm's sophomore year began in terrible fashion, suffering a 5-0 defeat to the San Fernando Valley Quakes on the opening day of the season. They didn't register their first victory - 2-1 over new boys San Jose Frogs - until their third game, and from then on the Storm's season was one of see-sawing inconsistency. Back-to-back 3-1 wins over Orange County Blue Star and Lancaster Rattlers was followed by a 1-5 disaster at home to Fresno Fuego, which was followed by a 5-1 thrashing of Bakersfield Brigade... and so it went. By the end of the season, Storm were struggling to pick up wins wherever they went, but at least they started seeing some consistency; however, the four ties in their last six games ultimately consigned them to 5th place in the table, outside the playoffs for a second year. Ross Schunk was by far their outstanding goalscorer, tallying goals 10 in a season which included a hat trick at home to Lancaster Rattlers. Alex Bengard registered 5 assists.

2008 saw a name change, with Storm becoming Los Angeles Legends following a merger between two local youth soccer organizations, and a coaching change, with Azusa Pacific soccer coach Phil Wolf taking over the reins from Chris Volk. The Legends started the season in magnificent form, downing Orange County Blue Star 1-0 in their opening game, and then registering two back-to-back 5-0 home victories over Lancaster Rattlers and San Fernando Valley Quakes, the first of which featured a hat-trick from striker Davis Paul. Legends' blistering early-season success saw them qualify for their first ever US Open Cup, where they faced USL2 side (and eventual quarter-finalists) Crystal Palace Baltimore at home in Azusa. Sadly for the Legends their foray into the Cup was a short one, as they were beaten 2-1 off a late winner by Baltimore's Pat Healey. Legends continued the year as high scoring entertainers: they put six past Orange County Blue Star in mid-June, then conceded six away at Fresno Fuego in the very next game. However, as the season wound down, the team's early season form deserted them, as four defeats in their last five games left them out of playoff contention. Legends ended the year a comfortable mid-table 6th; Davis Paul was top scorer, knocking in an impressive 10 goals, and contributing five assists for his strike partner, Ross Schunk.

Legends relocated from the San Gabriel Valley to East Los Angeles in 2009, hired a new head coach in the shape of ex-Chivas USA striker Brent Whitfield, and signed ex-Los Angeles Galaxy defender Mike Randolph to lead a new-look team; the change in fortunes on the field as a result was remarkable. Despite losing their opening two games of the season 3-2 to Lancaster Rattlers and 3-0 to Fresno Fuego, the team bounced back magnificently, and embarked on a 12-game unbeaten run through the middle of the season which kept them in the hunt for the divisional title throughout the year. Legends were the division's high-scoring entertainers; they put six past Lancaster in the return game, hammered Fresno 7-1 on the road, beat Ogden Outlaws 5-0, and overcame Orange County Blue Star 4-3 in a seesaw game in early July. Each of these four games was highlighted by hat tricks from player/coach Brent Whitfield, who would eventually go on to score 14 goals in his 9 appearances for the Legends, good for third nationally. Legends briefly topped the division as the regular season wound down, but a 2-0 loss to Fresno in their penultimate game handed the division to the Hollywood United Hitmen, with whom they had previously been involved in an astonishing 0-0 tie which featured seven red cards. The Legends secured second place in the division, and a first trip to the postseason, with a 1-0 win over Ventura County Fusion, but Fusion got their revenge in the divisional playoff semifinal with a 2-1 victory which ended Los Angeles' title hopes at the first hurdle.

During the 2009-2010 offseason the Legends were bought out by the owners of the long-standing Los Angeles-based amateur side LA Blues, and re-branded themselves as the Los Angeles Azul Legends. The team's new logo was unveiled on their new website in April 2010.

During the 2010-2011 offseason the team re-branded themselves again, this time as the Los Angeles Misioneros. The team's new logo was unveiled on their new website in January 2011.