Josh Saunders

The season was only three months old when Major League Soccer paused for its international break in June. Yet for the defending-champion Galaxy, the season appeared all but over. The team was last in the Western Conference standings, had gone five weeks without a win and played its final match before the break without its starting goalkeeper, its best defender and its top two scoring threats in Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan. But rather than throwing up his hands, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena rolled up his sleeves.

Few teams had more reason - or opportunity - to pack it in and play for next season than the Galaxy did this year. Nearly halfway through the Major Soccer League season, the team, missing four of its starters, was buried in the conference cellar. The Galaxy climbed out to finish fourth in the Western Conference, then had to win a wild-card game just to get into the playoffs. And once there it found itself trailing time and again. Yet the Galaxy never quit and Saturday that resilience was rewarded one more time when the team rallied from a one-goal halftime deficit to beat the Houston Dynamo, 3-1, and win its second consecutive MLS Cup before a record crowd of 30,510 at the Home Depot Center.

SEATTLE - When the final whistle sounded on Major League Soccer's Western Conference final Sunday, it was hard to tell the victors from the vanquished. On one side of the field the Seattle Sounders, 2-1 winners, saw their livid captain Osvaldo Alonso charge the officials, earning a red card. On the other side, Galaxy players embraced, pumped their fists and generally went wild, celebrating a title and collecting a trophy they won despite losing. Welcome to the MLS postseason, where things aren't always what they seem.

The Galaxy lost a veteran forward Friday when it traded Edson Buddle to the Colorado Rapids. But it also gained a veteran midfielder and a solid goalkeeper, selecting Houston's Colin Clark and Columbus' Will Hesmer with its first two picks in Major League Soccer's reentry draft. Under the rules of the reentry draft teams are allowed to select players who are out-of-contract or have had their options declined by their current teams. Teams pick in reverse order of their finish in the most recent season.

Goalkeeper Josh Saunders will be lost to the Galaxy for an indefinite period after being enrolled in Major League Soccer's substance abuse treatment program. The Galaxy was informed last Friday that Saunders would be unavailable to play until he completes a treatment protocol. Team officials insisted Tuesday that Saunders did not fail a league-administered drug test but have been evasive in explaining his absence. Saunders missed last Saturday's tie with FC Dallas and is unavailable for Wednesday night's match in Seattle, with Coach Bruce Arena saying only that the keeper was missing for “personal reasons.”   FOR THE RECORD: Galaxy goalkeeper: An earlier version of this story said that New England Revolution player Shalrie Joseph was suspended for six weeks in 2010 for being in a substance abuse program. Although Joseph missed six weeks that season while he was in the program, Major League Soccer said that he was not suspended.

Goalkeeper Josh Saunders will be lost to the Galaxy for an indefinite period after being enrolled in Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program. The Galaxy was informed Friday that Saunders would be unavailable to play until he completes a treatment protocol. Team officials insisted Tuesday that Saunders did not fail a league-administered drug test but have been evasive in explaining his absence. Saunders missed Saturday's tie with FC Dallas and is unavailable for Wednesday night's match in Seattle, with Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena saying only that the keeper was missing for "personal reasons.

Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who left the team a month ago to enroll in Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program, was back on the training field Tuesday. But it's unclear how long it will be before he can play again. Saunders, who held the Houston Dynamo scoreless in last November's MLS Cup final, said he was not being treated for drug or alcohol abuse, attributing his absence to personal issues. "I was under some stress," said Saunders, 31, who started this season as a starting keeper for the first time in his eight-year MLS career.

When: 5. Where: Home Depot Center. On the air: TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes; Radio: 1150, 1330. Records: Galaxy 3-4-1, New York 4-3-1. Update: The Red Bulls figure to be missing as many as a half-dozen starters to injury and suspensions but the Galaxy won't be 100% either — goalkeeper Josh Saunders is out indefinitely after entering the league's substance abuse treatment program while captain Landon Donovan, who is coming off a five-day span in which he played two full games, could be rested.

At PUERTO RICO ISLANDERS When: 5 p.m. PDT. Where: Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, Bayamon, Puerto Rico. On the air: TV: Fox Soccer, Univision Deportes Dos. Records: Galaxy 2-0 in CCL, Puerto Rico 0-2. Update: With a win Wednesday in Puerto Rico, the Galaxy would all but guarantee itself a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, which begin next spring. But it will have to do that with a split squad. With the Galaxy also locked in a tight race for a berth in Major League Soccer's playoffs, Coach Bruce Arena elected to leave half his regular lineup home meaning the team will be playing Wednesday without David Beckham, Robbie Keane, keeper Josh Saunders and defenders Omar Gonzalez and Sean Franklin.

El Toro boys' soccer goalkeeper Josh Saunders, a four-year starter and a two-time All-Sea View League selection, signed with Cal State Fullerton, El Toro Coach Ken Sjobom said. Saunders had eight shutouts this season. He was selected third-team All-Southern Section Division I this season.