A native of El Salto, Jalisco, Mendoza joined the Chivas Guadalajara youth system after a tryout in 1999. He then came to Chivas USA in 2005, and is, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan, one of only two players from the 2005 season still on the team's roster. Mendoza, who primarily plays on the left side of midfield, has 5 goals and 12 assists in his three MLS seasons.

Chivas USA also announced today the signing of defender Eric Ebert, who has been training with the Red-and-White throughout preseason, playing mainly as a right-sided defender. Ebert's rights were acquired in a trade with the Houston Dynamo, in exchange for Chivas USA's natural first-round selection in the 2009 Supplemental Draft.

Ebert, an Irvine, Calif. native, was drafted by Houston in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, and was a regular for the Dynamo's reserve division team during the 2007 season. In four years at the University of California, Ebert scored 12 goals and added five assists in 80 career games (64 as a starter). Ebert's father, Don Ebert, played professional soccer in the United States for several teams, including the New York Cosmos, and was the captain of the 1980 United States Olympic Team.

Chivas USA kicks off its 2008 MLS season on March 30 at FC Dallas before playing its 2008 Home Opener against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 5 at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.