Hartman Is Sharp for Galaxy in Exhibition Victory

It was only an exhibition for the Galaxy when it played CD Aguila of El Salvador on Wednesday night at the Rose Bowl, but backup goalkeeper Kevin Hartman came to play for real.

Hartman, who has started only one Major League Soccer game this season while starter Matt Reis has the Galaxy three points out of first place, had three impressive saves in a 3-0 Galaxy victory in front of an announced crowd of 5,277.

Carlos Ruiz scored two goals and Gavin Glinton added another, but Hartman, the 1999 MLS goalkeeper of the year, had Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid singing his praises after the game.

“He had a huge save with the game on the line,” Schmid said.

“He probably gave Reis something to lose sleep over and gave Sigi something to think about.”

Reis and Hartman have alternated as starters the last two years, but Schmid decided to use Reis at the beginning of this season.

With the victory, the Galaxy improved to 20-8-10 in international games.

CD Aguila is the 10-time national champion of El Salvador.

The Galaxy has one more exhibition scheduled for June 26 against River Plate of Argentina.