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The season hasn’t gone well for Chivas USA, but none of that compares with what the club now faces.

The captain of the Chivas U-18 team Julio Chavez was killed in a car wreck Monday night in his hometown of Modesto, CA, according to a statement released by the club.

A three year veteran of the Chivas USA Youth Academy, the defender had successfully recovered from a torn ACL to make 13 appearances this past season, recovering ahead of schedule and captaining the squad into the playoffs.

The team statement described Chavez as “talented, always smiling and a great teammate.”

The U-18 squad is still in the midst of the playoffs and will continue to push towards their goal of a national championship. The senior Chivas squad will honor Chavez by wearing a black armband with his name and number, and will hold a moment of silence in his honor before the kickoff of their match against the L.A. Galaxy on Sunday.

Chavez is survived by his parents Francisco and Isabel Chávez, and four siblings, Francisco, Claudia, Rafael and Cecilia.