This Week
The San Jose Earthquakes (4-1-0, 12 pts.) are back on the road this week, heading cross country to take on the New York Red Bulls (3-2-0, 9 pts.) on Saturday, April 14. Kickoff at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT. The match will air live on Comcast SportsNet Plus, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 4/9/12
Monday, April 9 – Off
Tuesday, April 10 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Wednesday, April 11 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Thursday, April 12 – Travel to New York
Friday, April 13 – TBD – Practice at Red Bull Arena
Saturday, April 14 – 4 p.m. PT – Earthquakes at New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., LIVE on Comcast SportsNet Plus, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF
Sunday, April 15 – Return to San Jose
Injury Report
Out: Joey Gjertsen (R – knee surgery), Tim Ward (L – non-specific soft tissue injury); Doubtful: Alan Gordon (L – hamstring strain), Steven Lenhart (R – hamstring); Questionable: Sercan Guvenisik (R – hip flexor strain).
Earthquakes vs. New York Red Bulls All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 15-10-7
Home: 11-2-3 (34 GF, 16 GA)
Away: 4-8-4 (15 GF, 30 GA)
Shootout (1996-99): 2-0; Overtime (2000-03): 0-0-4
Playoffs: 1-1-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0; US Open Cup Play-In: 0-1-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 49, New York Red Bulls – 46
San Jose’s Record in April: The Quakes are 22-26-13 all-time in April in MLS play.
Opponent Info
New York Red Bulls Scouting Report
The red-hot New York Red Bulls have won three straight games in commanding fashion by an aggregate score of 13-4 since an 0-2 start to the 2012 season. Star French forward Thierry Henry tops MLS with his seven goals, and is second on the league chart with his team-best four assists. His striking partner, 6-foot-3 target man Kenny Cooper, has also made a huge impact with six goals of his own in his first season at the club after stints with FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers. Both players registered two-goal braces during a 4-1 win in the Red Bulls’ most recent match at the Columbus Crew on April 7. The duo thus duplicated their double-brace effort from another 4-1 decision for their first victory of the campaign at home against the Colorado Rapids on March 25. Overall for this three-game win streak, Henry and Cooper have accounted for 12 of the Red Bulls’ 13 goals, and 13 of 14 on the year. In a 5-2 home defeat of the Montreal Impact on March 31, Henry produced his first MLS hat trick. The 34-year-old veteran of four FIFA World Cup tournaments has earned three straight MLS Player of the Week nods, becoming the first in league history to do so. In his third season in MLS, all with the Red Bulls, Henry now has 23 goals in 42 appearances. Swedish head coach Hans Backe is in his third season in charge of New York.
Marquee Match-Ups in Week 6
The San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls both enter their April 14 meeting on identical three-game win streaks. The two teams also head into the weekend in second-place in their respective conferences, with the Earthquakes (4-1-0, 12 pts.) trailing only Real Salt Lake (5-1-0, 15 pts.) in the West, and the Red Bulls (3-2-0, 9 pts.) behind Sporting Kansas City (5-0-0, 15 pts.), MLS’ only remaining unbeaten. Week 6 on April 14 will actually also feature a top-of-the-table clash between first-place sides Sporting KC and RSL at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park (5:30 p.m. PT) in Kansas City, Kan. Following the road trip to face the Red Bulls, the Quakes will play host to Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 21 (7:30 p.m.)
History of the Quakes – New York Red Bulls Rivalry
Traditionally, the home side has had the advantage in the all-time series between two of the 10 original MLS clubs from the league’s inaugural 1996 season, when these teams were named the San Jose Clash and New York/New Jersey MetroStars … The Earthquakes had a 10-game unbeaten streak against New York from Aug. 9, 1998-July 2, 2003, posting a 6-0-4 record during that stretch … That 10-game unbeaten streak is the third-longest against a single opponent in San Jose club history … New York and San Jose had a pair of classic shootouts in 2003 and 2004 … On July 2, 2003, the Quakes and then-MetroStars tied 4-4 at Giants Stadium, with Landon Donovan tying the game in stoppage time … The following year, the two teams combined for 10 goals in a 5-5 draw at Spartan Stadium on May 8 … The two teams met in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time on Oct. 30, 2010, at Buck Shaw Stadium in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, as the Red Bulls won 1-0 on a goal by Joel Lindpere … They faced off again on Nov. 4, 2010, and the Earthquakes defeated top-seeded New York at Red Bull Arena, 3-1, with Chris Wondolowski’s 81st-minute goal assuring the Quakes of continuing their improbable postseason run that year in advancing 3-2 on aggregate to the Eastern Conference Championship … Most recently, the Red Bulls took a 3-0 home decision last April 16, with the teams playing to an entertaining 2-2 draw at Stanford Stadium on July 2 in front of 41,028 spectators, the largest single-game crowd in club history … With the league’s unbalanced schedule in 2012, the April 14 date will mark these teams’ lone meeting this year.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. New York Red Bulls
Chris Wondolowski has two goals in eight match-ups overall with the Red Bulls, including one goal (in 2010) in five games as a member of the Quakes, and one goal (in 2009) in three games with the Dynamo … Ramiro Corrales has three assists in 18 games against the Red Bulls as a Quakes player … Steven Lenhart has two career goals in five games against New York, with one in four games as a member of the Columbus Crew, and one in his only appearance as a Quakes player on July 2, 2011 … Khari Stephenson has one goal in three appearances against New York for the Quakes … Steven Beitashour has one assist in one game … Among two appearances against New York with FC Dallas, Marvin Chavez posted his only multi-goal MLS game to date, notching a brace in a 2-2 draw at Red Bull Arena on July 23, 2011 … Jon Busch is 8-5-3 with four shutouts in his MLS career against New York, and 0-2-1 as the Quakes goalie.
New York Red Bulls Leaders vs. San Jose
Forward Thierry Henry has two goals and one assist in two career games against the Quakes … Forward Kenny Cooper has four goals in five career games against San Jose, with two in three games with FC Dallas and two more in two matches with Portland a year ago … Midfielder Joel Lindpere ahs two goals and one assist in four games for New York against the Quakes Midfielder Dane Richards has one goal and two assists in six games … Defenders Jan Gunnar Solli and Teemu Tainio each have one assist in two games, while defender Roy Miller has one assist in four matches … Rookie goalkeeper Ryan Meara has yet to appear against San Jose.
Earthquakes – New York Red Bulls Connections
San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch was born in Queens, N.Y., and San Jose defender Jason Hernandez was born in New York City, N.Y. … Hernandez, who played at Seton Hall University (2001-04) in South Orange, N.J., which is less than six miles away from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., was selected by the MetroStars in the first round (No. 6 overall) of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft, and appeared in three games for the club during the 2005 season … Quakes defender and captain Ramiro Corrales played parts of three seasons for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, appearing in 56 games with five assists from 1998-2000 … Quakes forward/midfielder Simon Dawkins was born and raised in Edgware, England, an area of London, where Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry starred for Arsenal Football Club from 1999-2007 and is the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 229 in all competitions … Quakes midfielder Khari Stephenson and New York midfielder Dane Richards have both played for the Jamaican national team … Stephenson appeared in 25 matches in 2007-08 for AIK of the Swedish Allsvenskan in Stockholm, Sweden, where current Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe was in charge from 1994-95 … Quakes midfielder Sam Cronin (2005-08), Quakes defender Ike Opara (2007-09) and New York defender Stephen Keel (2001-04) all played at Wake Forest University … New York midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy attended Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Calif., and was a 2005 All-American during two seasons at Buck Shaw Stadium for Santa Clara University (2004-05) … Ballouchy and Keel played with Earthquakes defender Tim Ward on the Colorado Rapids in 2008 … Ward was selected by the MetroStars with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft and played one season with the club (2005), appearing in 13 games and notching three assists … Former Earthquakes defender and current Earthquakes Youth Development Academy technical director Chris Leitch had two stints in New York, one from 2003-05, and another from 2007-08.
Race for the Budweiser Golden Boot on Center Stage This Week
Chris Wondolowski recorded his second two-goal brace already of the 2012 season in a come-from-behind 3-1 home win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 7, increasing his team-leading total to six through five games. Wondolowski is tied with New York Red Bulls striker Kenny Cooper for second on the league scoring chart, one behind Thierry Henry, also of the Red Bulls. In fact, all three players scored two goals apiece in wins this past Saturday, April 7. Wondolowski will face off with Henry and Cooper in Harrison, N.J., this Saturday, April 14. Of his six goals, the well-rounded Wondolowski has scored three with his right foot (vs. NE, at SEA, vs. VAN), two with his left foot (at TFC, vs. VAN) and one with his head (at TFC).
On the Road Again
In taking back-to-back games on their recent two-game road stretch, marking their first road forays of 2012, the San Jose Earthquakes recorded several notable achievements that they take with them to the Big Apple this week. Having won 3-0 at Toronto FC on March 24 and 1-0 at Seattle Sounders FC on March 31, San Jose kept back-to-back road shutouts for the first time since Oct. 2 (0-0 at Columbus) and Oct. 9, 2010 (2-0 at D.C. United). The Quakes already have two road victories in 2012 after winning just three times away from home in 2011. They have back-to-back road wins for the first time since Sept. 5 (2-1 at Houston) and Sept. 25, 2010 (3-2 at Toronto FC). The Quakes won road games in consecutive weeks for the first time since Aug. 8 (1-0 at Kansas City) and Aug. 13, 2003 (3-0 at Dallas). San Jose has come out on top in its first two road games to open a season for the first time since 2003, having previously done so in 1999. The Quakes have never won their first three road games to begin a season, and have never achieved shutouts in three straight MLS road matches. Their last three-game road win streak was in 2005, when they actually won a club-record six straight MLS road contests from July 20 (2-1 at Colorado) to Oct. 15 (3-1 at LA Galaxy) en route to their only Supporters’ Shield.
Quakes in the Community
Quakes Viewing Party at the East Bay PGA Golf Tournament
Who: Earthquakes players Ellis McLoughlin and Evan Newton
What: Join McLoughlin and Newton at the Quakes viewing party, where the players will be signing autographs and mingling with fans while cheering on the Earthquakes in their road match against the New York Red Bulls.
When: Saturday, April 14, at 4 p.m.
Where: Stonebrae Country Club, 29000 Fairview Avenue, Hayward, CA 94542
Miscellaneous Notes
Earthquakes Rally for 3-1 Triumph Over Whitecaps FC
The Earthquakes stormed back from a 1-0 deficit early in the second half to post an emphatic 3-1 victory over visiting Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, April 7. It was the first come-from-behind home victory since the club rejoined MLS in 2008, or July 23, 2005, to be precise. After Sebastien Le Toux’s opener from a Jordan Harvey throw-in deep in the Quakes’ offensive third in the 49th minute, with fellow Frenchman Eric Hassli also assisting, the Earthquakes finally put an end to Vancouver’s MLS-record 427-minute streak of not conceding a goal to open a season. In the 68th minute, they returned the favor from a throw-in, as captain Ramiro Corrales’ long toss from near the halfway line took a bounce and allowed Chris Wondolowski to shield U.S. Men’s National Team veteran and ‘Caps captain Jay DeMerit from the ball before cleverly flicking a gentle left-footed shot over and through former Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon for the equalizer. That set off a flurry of Quakes offense, with Corrales again assisting on what proved to be the game-winner just four minutes later. His left-sided cross was met with a glancing header at the near post by second-half substitute Alan Gordon as he went to ground, with the ball skipping into the far netting to set off an even larger wave of emotion at sold-out Buck Shaw. A mere six minutes later, Wondolowski had clinched the full three points. Tressor Moreno, who had come on for an injured Marvin Chavez in the 38th, with the Quakes already missing Steven Lenhart through injury, whipped in a perfectly-weighted free kick from the left side, just over the head of a jumping Harvey at the back post, for Wondolowski to latch onto with the in-step of his right foot and send across the goal mouth for 3-1.
Best Five-Game Start in Club History
At 4-1-0 and 12 points, the San Jose Earthquakes are off to their best five-game start in their 15-season history. In 2003, they picked up 11 points from a 3-0-2 run for openers en route to their second MLS Cup. That year, they won their sixth game, 4-3 at home inside San Jose’s Spartan Stadium over the Columbus Crew, to improve to 4-0-2 and 14 points for their best six-game start thus far.
First Home Comeback Since 2005
In rallying from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Buck Shaw Stadium on April 7, the Earthquakes posted their first come-from-behind victory at home since July 23, 2005, and their 18th home comeback in club history. On July 23, 2005, at Spartan Stadium, the MetroStars took a 32nd-minute lead on an own goal, before goals by Mark Chung in the 33rd and Dwayne De Rosario in the 53rd for a 2-1 final.
Saturday Superlatives: Non-Wondo Edition
The 3-1 come-from-behind win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, April 7, brought with it several other achievements, milestones and notes … With his contributions on the first two goals, Ramiro Corrales produced the second multi-assist game by a Quakes player in 2012, after Sam Cronin’s two-assist effort at Toronto FC on March 24 … The assists marked No. 29 and No. 30 for Corrales’ 14-year MLS career, and his fourth multi-assist performance in MLS … Alan Gordon scored his first MLS goal since August 6, 2011, which also came via header at home inside Buck Shaw Stadium … Both of Gordon’s goals for the Quakes have either tied the game or given his side the lead … Alan Gordon’s decisive goal marked the first game-winner by a Quakes player other than Chris Wondolowski this season, with Wondolowski still pacing MLS with three winners … Tressor Moreno’s assist on the clinching goal was the first of his MLS career … The Earthquakes earned their fourth victory of 2012 on April 7, having waited until June 4 for their fourth win of 2011 … At 12 points, the Quakes are currently nine points clear of arch-rivals and defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy (1-3-0, 3 pts.) in the Western Conference.
Saturday Superlatives: Wondo Edition
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski continues to out-do himself. With a team-leading six goals over the first five matches of the 2012 season, he is in a two-way tie for second in the Budweiser Golden Boot race, one behind Thierry Henry and even with Kenny Cooper, both of the New York Red Bulls, the Quakes’ next opponent in New Jersey on April 14. Wondolowski has tallied 12 goals over the last 10 games dating back to 2011. His performance against the ‘Caps marked his second multi-goal game this season and eighth of his career, tying the club record set by Earthquakes Hall of Fame member Ronald Cerritos. Wondolowski’s 68th-minute goal snapped Vancouver’s MLS-record streak of not allowing a goal for 427 minutes to open a new season. With 43 goals in a Quakes uniform, the Danville native is steadily approaching Cerritos’ all-time club mark of 61. For all of his heroics, Wondolowski is actually on his most torrid pace to begin a season, as he had to wait until the 11th game in 2011 for his sixth goal, and the 10th game in 2010. He is currently on pace to better his 2011 total of 16 goals by the midway point of the current campaign. Since the start of the 2010 season, Wondolowski has scored 40 of San Jose’s 82 goals, an incredible 49 percent.
Yallop On the Verge of 100 MLS Victories
Eighth-year San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop is just a single win away from 100 regular-season triumphs in his MLS career, which also includes a two-year stint with the LA Galaxy in 2006-07. Yallop is currently 99-96-69 (.506) as an MLS head coach in regular-season matches. He ranks sixth on the all-time MLS chart in wins, behind Sigi Schmid (159), Bruce Arena (129), Bob Bradley (124), Steve Nicol (112) and former pupil Dominic Kinnear (102). He would be just the sixth coach in MLS history to reach the 100-win plateau.
Wondo Unkind to Neighbors From the North
In nine games against Canadian opposition as an Earthquakes player, Chris Wondolowski has tallied 11 goals. He has six strikes in six games against TFC as a member of the Quakes, and has scored more times against the Reds than any other MLS club. All six goals that Wondolowski has scored against TFC have come in his last three appearances at Toronto’s BMO Field. His other five strikes against Canadian foes have come in San Jose’s first three matches all-time against 2011 MLS newcomer Vancouver Whitecaps FC, including a two-goal brace during a 3-1 come-from-behind win over the ‘Caps at Buck Shaw Stadium on April 7. Wondolowski and the Earthquakes still face three more matches with Canadian sides in 2012, with two road trips to Vancouver and one to expansion side Montreal Impact.
Home Sellout Streak at Buck Shaw Continues
The San Jose Earthquakes remain on a club-record streak of eight straight sellouts inside Buck Shaw Stadium. The Quakes have extended their stretch of consecutive sellouts at their regular home venue in Santa Clara with capacity crowds (10,525) on hand for MLS First Kick 2012 against the New England Revolution on March 10 and for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC match on April 7. The streak dates back to San Jose’s game against D.C. United on July 30, 2011, and also includes games against Portland on Aug. 6, Colorado on Aug. 13, Chicago on Sept. 10, Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 1 and FC Dallas on Oct. 22. With an added stand on the South End, the attendance for the 2011 season finale with FC Dallas actually rose to 10,744 spectators.
Defense the Key in the Early Going
After 408 minutes, or just over four and a half games, without allowing a goal from open play to begin the 2012 season, the Earthquakes were finally beaten by a Sebastien Le Toux strike in the 49th minute of their 3-1 come-from-behind win over Vancouver at Buck Shaw Stadium on April 7. Even that goal was from a throw-in organization. Prior to that score, the only other goal the Quakes had allowed in 2012 came from a 14th-minute penalty kick by Brad Davis in the 1-0 Houston Dynamo defeat at AT&T Park on March 17. Head coach Frank Yallop’s defense has generally consisted of Jon Busch in goal, Victor Bernardez and Justin Morrow at the center back positions, Steven Beitashour at right back and captain Ramiro Corrales on the left. For the second half in Seattle on March 31, an injured Corrales was replaced by Jason Hernandez, with Morrow moving over to left back. This is still tied for the best five-game defensive start for the Quakes in club history, having previously given up two goals over their first five games to begin the 2003 season. San Jose has three shutouts through five games after producing just one over its final 15 games a year ago.
Earthquakes Reserves Fall to ‘Caps Reserves, 2-1
The San Jose Earthquakes dropped a 2-1 decision to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS Reserve League action at the Earthquakes Training Facility on a sunny Easter Sunday afternoon on April 8. Anthony Ampaipitakwong’s goal in the 77th minute, assisted by Sam Garza, cancelled out a 38th-minute opener by ‘Caps forward Long Tan, only for Vancouver’s Atiba Harris to head home what proved to be the winner just seconds later. The Earthquakes reserves (1-1-0, 3 pts.) are now idle for a month before contesting their first road match with the LA Galaxy reserves on Tuesday, May 8, in Carson, Calif. Future home dates are set for May 14, Aug. 12 and Sept. 4. All home matches are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. at the Earthquakes Training Facility. Reserve League games in San Jose are open to the public and free of charge.
Earthquakes Loan D Josh Suggs to Tampa Bay Rowdies
The San Jose Earthquakes announced last week that the club has reached a loan agreement with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (NASL) for defender Josh Suggs through Oct. 31, 2012. Per terms of the agreement, Suggs, a second-year professional out of Humboldt State who is in his first season in San Jose, can be recalled at any time, and will still join the Quakes for the remainder of their MLS Reserve League schedule. Having already traveled to Florida once last week, Suggs was on the field at left back for all 90 minutes of the Quakes reserves’ 2-1 home loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, April 8.
Weekly MLS Considerations for Quakes
Victor Bernardez earned Latino de la Jornada 4 (Latino of the Week) for his Week 4 effort at Seattle Sounders FC. Jon Busch earned consideration for Save of the Week: Week 4 from that same game, while Chris Wondolowski’s opener is up against Alan Gordon’s winner for this week’s AT&T Goal of the Week. Fans can click HERE to vote for their favorite Quakes goal from the weekend.
Earthquakes Announce Partnership With T-Mobile
The San Jose Earthquakes announced that the team has partnered with T-Mobile to launch the T-Mobile 4G Power Zone at all remaining home games for the 2012 season. The promotion gives fans the opportunity to purchase great seats for only $15 - the most affordable Earthquakes tickets available to the public. Through the agreement, T-Mobile has rebranded the Corner Flag Section 107 at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara as the T-Mobile 4G Power Zone, which made its debut during the April 7 home match with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Fans can purchase tickets with a regular day-of-game price of $24 for only $15 at 41 participating T-Mobile stores throughout the Bay Area. The vouchers can be used toward any home game, subject to availability, including the June 30 California Clasico with the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium beginning at 7 p.m. PT. The vouchers can be redeemed at Earthquakes team headquarters at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220, Santa Clara 95050, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at the stadium on the day of the game. For more information on the T-Mobile 4G Power Zone promotion and participating stores, please visit: www.sjearthquakes.com/t-mobile-4gpowerzone.
Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2012 through the Goals for Education Program. With eight goals through five games, the current donated total for the new season stands at $2,000. Thanks to 40 goals in 2011, the partnership raised $10,000 for local youth soccer and athletic development programs a year ago. After fielding dozens of applications, the Earthquakes and Wells Fargo awarded 16 grants to deserving organizations, and with Quakes midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong on hand, made special check presentations at America SCORES Bay Area and Castro Valley Soccer Club in January.
Earthquakes, Wondolowski Support Street Soccer USA
Two-time MLS leading goal-scorer Chris Wondolowski and Street Soccer USA, a non-profit organization that seeks to end homelessness through sports, have partnered to make a difference in the lives of the homeless in the Bay Area through the “One Goal at a Time” campaign. For every goal Wondolowski scores during the 2012 season, the Quakes star has pledged a $100 donation to Street Soccer USA (SSUSA), and is asking fans to join in his mission. Additionally, the Earthquakes Community Fund will match Wondolowski’s donations. Wondolowski, who has been a national ambassador for SSUSA since August of 2011, got an early start on his 2012 scoring account with a strike in San Jose’s season opener on March 10, and now has a team-leading six goals already through just five contests.
Earthquakes to Host Inaugural 5K/10K Challenge
The San Jose Earthquakes will stage the first annual Quakes 5K/10K Challenge, benefitting The Health Trust and the San Jose Earthquakes Community Fund, on Sunday, May 27. The 5K/10K Challenge begins at 8 a.m. with three options for runners of all ages. The costs of entry are $45 for the 10K, $35 for the 5K, and $10 for a Kids Fun Run. All participants get a race t-shirt, a ticket to a future Earthquakes home game at Buck Shaw Stadium, and access to a post-race celebration. The Memorial Day Weekend event will start and finish at the site of the Quakes’ planned new stadium at 1125 Coleman Avenue in San Jose. Supervisor Ken Yeager of District 4 will serve as honorary chair. More information and a registration link are available at www.quakeschallenge.com.
Following Go-Ahead on New Stadium, Two Suites Remain
The San Jose Earthquakes have already sold 10 of 12 available field-level luxury suites for its new stadium, generating over $3.5 million in revenue for the project. For more information about the remaining suites, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium, email suites@sjearthquakes.com or call 408-556-7700. The San Jose Planning Commission voted 6-0 to uphold the Earthquakes’ Planned Development Permit on Feb. 22, paving the way for the club to break ground on its new stadium at 1125 Coleman Avenue.
Quakes President Dave Kaval’s Office Hours
Earthquakes President Dave Kaval’s office hours continue during the 2012 season. Fans can drop by his office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220 in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesdays between 3 and 5 p.m. PT. Participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to follow his blog, Kaval’s Kickoff, exclusively at www.sjearthquakes.com, and new this year, follow him on Twitter at @QuakesPrez.
New Quakes Jerseys and Other Merchandise Available for Purchase
Fans can purchase new San Jose Earthquakes jerseys and other merchandise by logging on to the club’s online store at earthquakes.yorder.it, or in person by visiting team headquarters at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220, Santa Clara, CA 95050. The Quakes’ first-choice kit in 2012 features a black top with blue trim, black shorts with blue trim and black socks with white hoops. The new No. 2 kit includes a blue top with black trim, blue shorts with black trim and blue socks with white hoops. The club’s third kit features a white top with black and blue trim, white shorts with black and blue trim and white socks with black hoops.
Earthquakes Youth Academy Update
Angel Heredia Aids U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team to Fifth-Place in France
Angel Heredia, a member of the Earthquakes Youth Academy U-16s, helped the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team to a fifth-place finish among 12 teams at the 40th Mondial Minimes in Montaigu, France. The U.S. U-17 MNT edged rival Mexico, 1-0, on a 59th-minute Wesley Wade goal in the fifth-place match on April 9. Heredia was named as one of five midfielders on the 18-player roster for the tournament, with the squad traveling to France on April 1. He played all 90 minutes of a 4-0 victory over United Arab Emirates in the U.S.’ tourney opener on April 3. Following a 1-0 loss to Portugal on April 5, the U.S. earned the right to play for fifth-place by winning 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout with Japan after tying 1-1 in regulation on April 7.
Earthquakes Youth Academy Completes Play at Dallas Cup XXXIII
Two Earthquakes Youth Development Academy teams completed play last week at the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXIII. The two Quakes representatives competed in the U-15 and U-14 age groups, and were comprised of core members of the U-14 and U-16 Academy sides, as well as Pre-Academy players from throughout Northern California. The U-15 side beat Irving Elite FC of North Texas, 3-1, at Richland College in Dallas on April 2, before losing 3-2 to the Chicago Fire Youth Academy and 2-0 to Tigres of Mexico at FC Dallas Park over the following two days, to finish third in their group of four with three points. The U-14s started their involvement off with a bang on April 2, posting an 8-0 victory over Mexico’s Leon Independiente at Richland College, before falling 2-1 to New Mexico Rush Nike and 1-0 to Solar Chelsea U13 Pre-Academy of Texas at FC Dallas Park on April 3 and April 4, respectively. The U-14 side also placed third in its group with three points.
Academy U-18s and U-16s Idle
The Earthquakes U-18s and U-16s did not play this past weekend. Both academy squads continue their lengthy road stretches with a pair of divisional games in the state of Washington, April 14-15. Six members of the U-16 side did, however, gain selection to a team consisting of a collection of U-16 players in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Training Center, for a match against the Davis Legacy in Davis, Calif., on April 7. The side consisting of Amir Bashti, Cristian Cruz, Christian De Luna, Rodrigo Gonzalez, goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and Elisama “Eli” Padilla won the match, 5-1, with Padilla accounting for two of the goals. De Luna and Padilla then made the 14-player game roster for the Quakes’ MLS Reserve League match the next day in San Jose, but did not see action. De Luna had made his Reserve League debut on March 27.
