GALAXY UPDATE: MATHIS COMES WITH PRICE HIS SIGNING MEANS GALAXY MIGHT LOSE SHOT AT MEXICAN NATIONAL PLAYER.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

PASADENA - Major League Soccer announced Tuesday that Galaxy striker Clint Mathis has signed a multiyear contract, a move that could hurt the chances of the Galaxy acquiring Mexican national-team player Luis Hernandez.

Terms were not disclosed, but Mathis is believed to have signed a three-year contract with an option year. He and his Galaxy teammates play an exhibition tonight at 7:30 at the Rose Bowl against Mexican club team Chivas Rayadas De Guadalajara.

``We consider Clint to be one of the most exciting talents in our league and we are delighted that he has chosen to continue his development here,'' MLS Executive Vice President Ivan Gazidis said. ``Keeping young American players in our league is certainly a priority.''

Mathis, 23, has been mentioned in trade rumors recently involving the San Jose Earthquakes, who will receive MLS' next major foreign allocation, which could be Hernandez.

The Galaxy would love to have Hernandez, but San Jose wants Mathis in exchange for that allocation. The Galaxy might have been willing to deal Mathis before his signing, fearing that he would sign a deal overseas after the season.

Now that Mathis has signed a multiyear deal, the Galaxy might not be willing to part with him.

``Looking into the future, there are a number of guys I would like to protect,'' Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said. ``You can't protect them all, but certainly Clint is a player we covet.''

Mathis, who has three goals and an assist, has been instrumental during the Galaxy's 4-0-2 start. He's a midfielder turned striker and Schmid says he's finally developing a striker's mentality.

``In my opinion, his future lies at forward,'' Schmid said, ``and he's starting to show all the good traits of a great forward. He's constantly looking for openings, he sniffs out opportunities around the goal and he hangs around at the other team's end to constantly apply pressure.

``This is a good signing for the league and us. Clint will be able to stay here and develop, and he's only going to get better with time.''

The Galaxy also filled a vacant foreign spot, signing Haitian national team standout Sebastien Vorbe, an exciting 23-year-old midfield/striker.

Vorbe fills a roster spot that came open when Steve Jolley was traded to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars last week for their 2001 second- round draft pick.

Vorbe trained with the Galaxy during the exhibition season and scored a goal in an exhibition in Argentina.

``He's a guy who fits what we have,'' Schmid said. ``He's technical, has good one-one-one skills, passes the ball well and is fairly athletic in the box.

``He still has to work on his fitness, but he's someone we expect to provide plenty of minutes for us.''

GALAXY VS. CHIVAS

--Time: 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl.

--TV/Radio:: No TV; KTNQ-AM (1020 Spanish).

--Update: Chivas, one of Mexico's most popular club teams, has a strong following in Los Angeles, with arguably more fans in Southern California than the Galaxy. Chivas, famous for its roster-filled teams of Mexican- only players instead of high paid foreigners, has won 10 Mexican league championships and boasts a 6-3-6 record in the Mexcian league standings. Oswaldo Sanchez, Benjamin Galindo, Paulo Cesar Chavez, Noe Zarate and Alberto Coyote are stars on the roster. The Galaxy (4-0-2) unbeaten after six games, will be without Cobi Jones and Robin Fraser, who are in Moscow with the U.S. National team for an exhibition against Russia today.

- Fred J. Robledo

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Box: Galaxy vs. Chivas (see text)