This Week
The first-place San Jose Earthquakes (6-1-1, 19 pts.) head into their first two-game week of the 2012 season to conclude a stretch of three matches in eight days. The Quakes first play host to D.C. United (4-2-3, 15 pts.) on Wednesday, May 2. Kickoff at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT, with the debut of Dollar Dog Wednesdays. The match will air live on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish). San Jose will then travel north for its second meeting of the year with Western Conference foe Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4-2-2, 14 pts.) on Saturday, May 5. That match at BC Place is slated for a 4 p.m. PT start (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 1590 KLIV, 1370 KZSF).
Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 4/30/12
Tuesday, May 1 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Buck Shaw Stadium
Wednesday, May 2 – 7:30 p.m. – D.C. United at Earthquakes, Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., LIVE on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF
Thursday, May 3 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Friday, May 4 – Travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Saturday, May 5 – 4 p.m. PT – Earthquakes at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, BC Place in Vancouver, BC, LIVE on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF
Sunday, May 6 – Return to San Jose
Injury Report
Out: Victor Bernardez (L – MCL sprain), Joey Gjertsen (R – knee surgery), Alan Gordon (L – hamstring strain), Shea Salinas (L – fractured clavicle), Tim Ward (L – non-specific soft tissue injury).
Earthquakes vs. D.C. United All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 15-11-6
Home: 7-3-6 (23 GF, 20 GA)
Away: 8-8-0 (25 GF, 32 GA)
Shootout (1996-99): 3-0; Overtime (2000-03): 0-0-2
Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0; US Open Cup Play-In: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 48, D.C. United – 52
San Jose’s Record in May: The Quakes are 27-27-13 all-time in May in MLS play.
Opponent Info
D.C. United Scouting Report
D.C. United (4-2-3, 15 pts.) outlasted the Houston Dynamo, 3-2, at RFK Stadium on Saturday night behind a two-goal brace by Maicon Santos. The Brazilian striker headed in the game-winner in the 70th minute from a left-sided cross by defender Daniel Woolard to keep United in second-place in the East. Woolard had also assisted on Dwayne De Rosario’s first goal of the season that gave the home side a 2-1 edge in the 54th. Santos opened the scoring in the 11th minute off assists by Chris Pontius and Brandon McDonald, with his performance giving him a team-leading six strikes on the year. Pontius is behind him with four scores, while De Rosario has provided a team-best four assists. First-round draft choice (No. 7, Louisville) Nick De Leon has been a revelation in midfield with three goals and three assists. Joe Willis has been D.C. United’s first-choice goalkeeper of late, over 2011 starter Bill Hamid.
History of the Quakes – D.C. United Rivalry
San Jose leads the all-time series, 15-11-6, and holds a 7-3-6 advantage at home … San Jose and D.C. United are two of the 10 original MLS teams from the inaugural 1996 season … San Jose beat D.C. in MLS’ historic inaugural match, 1-0, on April 6, 1996, before 31,683 fans at Spartan Stadium … In 2005, the Quakes were blanked by D.C. United at RFK Stadium, 3-0, on July 15, prior to reeling off a run of 11-0-3 en route to the franchise’s first MLS Supporters’ Shield … Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored a brace in a 2-0 win at D.C. United on Oct. 9, 2010, a result that clinched San Jose’s first MLS Cup Playoffs berth since the club rejoined the league in 2008 … The teams split their two meetings a year ago, which each winning on the opponent’s turf … In the first meeting on June 11, the Earthquakes won at RFK Stadium, 4-2, behind Steven Lenhart’s first MLS hat trick, with Lenhart also assisting on Simon Dawkins’ game-winner early in the second half … D.C. United returned the favor at Buck Shaw Stadium on July 30 as a Dwayne De Rosario brace gave the visitors a 2-0 victory … The result snapped a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) for the Quakes against D.C. United dating back to June 22, 2008.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. D.C. United
Chris Wondolowski has two goals in six appearances, with five of those games as a member of the Quakes … Both of Wondolowski’s goals came in a 2-0 win at RFK Stadium on Oct. 9, 2010 … Steven Lenhart has three goals and three assists in five matches, with all three goals and one assist coming in his lone appearance as a Quakes player … Alan Gordon has two goals in 11 matches (one with SJ), both coming with the LA Galaxy … Simon Dawkins (June 11, 2011) and Ike Opara (July 3, 2010) each have one goal in one appearance … Khari Stephenson has one assist in four appearances (three with SJ) … Steven Beitashour has one assist in two games … Sam Cronin has one assist in six games (four with SJ) … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 9-7-6 with six shutouts in 22 career appearances against D.C. United, including 2-1-1 with one shutout over the past two seasons in a Quakes uniform.
D.C. United Leaders vs. San Jose
Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario has five goals and three assists in eight games against his former club, with two of those goals coming in his lone appearance as a D.C. United player last July 30 in Santa Clara … Midfielder Andy Najar has two goals and one assist in three appearances … Forward Chris Pontius has two assists in five games … Forward Josh Wolff has three goals and three assists in 20 appearances, with one assist in his lone game for D.C. United on June 11, 2011 … Forward Maicon Santos has one goal in four games, none with D.C. United … Defender Chris Korb has one assist in his lone appearance last June 11 … Midfielder Stephen King has made six appearances, with one assist in three games as a D.C. United player … Goalkeeper Joe Willis has yet to play against San Jose … Goalkeeper Bill Hamid is 1-1-0 with one shutout.
Earthquakes – D.C. United Connections
United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario competed for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2001-05, playing for current Quakes head coach Frank Yallop from 2001-03 … De Rosario also played with Chris Wondolowski in San Jose in 2005 and for the Houston Dynamo from 2006-08, and with Quakes midfielder Sam Cronin at Toronto FC in 2009-10 … Yallop coached De Rosario with the Canadian national team from 2004-06 … D.C. United assistant coach Pat Onstad played in San Jose for three years from 2003-05, for Yallop in 2003 as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and an MLS Best XI selection for the MLS Cup champions, with current Quakes captain Ramiro Corrales in 2003-04, and with Wondolowski in 2005 … Onstad also played with Wondolowski from 2006-09 in Houston … D.C. United defender Brandon McDonald made 58 appearances for San Jose from 2009-11, prior to being traded to D.C. on June 27, 2011 … McDonald played college soccer at the University of San Francisco (2004-07) … Quakes midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong played with D.C. United defenders Perry Kitchen (2010) and Chris Korb (2007-10) at Akron, with the trio leading the Zips to the program’s first NCAA championship in 2010 … Kitchen, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and Quakes defender Ike Opara were all members of the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team during CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in late March, occupying the starting goalkeeper and center back spots together for all three group-stage games, against Cuba, Canada and El Salvador … D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar was also involved in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, leading Honduras to the London Games this summer … Quakes midfielder Sam Garza and D.C. United goalkeeper Joe Willis were members of the University of Denver men’s soccer team in 2008-09, with both earning all-conference distinction together in 2008 … Garza (2010-11) and D.C. United forward Chris Pontius (2005-08) each played at UC Santa Barbara … Pontius is a native of Yorba Linda, Calif. … Garza and rookie D.C. United midfielder Nick DeLeon were teammates on the adiPure side at the 2012 MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. … Garza (No. 6) and DeLeon (No. 7) were selected one pick apart in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft … Wondolowski and D.C. United midfielder Danny Cruz were teammates with Houston during the early part of the 2009 season … Garza (Denver) and Cruz (UNLV) played against each other in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 2008 … Opara and Cruz were teammates for the U.S. at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt … Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and D.C. United midfielder Stephen King were teammates for the Chicago Fire in 2008 … Yallop (52), assistant coach Mark Watson (78), De Rosario (66) and D.C. United defender Dejan Jakovic (11) have all earned caps for the Canadian men’s national team, with Jakovic having played under Watson at the U-23 level during 2008 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.
Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 1-0-2
Home: 1-0-1 (5 GF, 3 GA)
Away: 0-0-1 (1 GF, 1 GA)
Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0; US Open Cup Play-In: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 6, Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 4
Opponent Info
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Scouting Report
Vancouver Whitecaps FC travels to Commonwealth Stadium to take on FC Edmonton in the Amway Canadian Championship on Wednesday, prior to welcoming San Jose on Saturday. The ‘Caps sit in third-place in the MLS Western Conference at 4-2-2 (14 pts.). Vancouver won in shutout fashion, 1-0, at Columbus on Saturday thanks to a 25-yard free-kick goal by South Korean defender Young-Pyo Lee in the 74th minute. With former Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon in the net, Vancouver is tied with San Jose as the third-best defensive side in MLS at the moment, allowing just 0.75 goals per game. The ‘Caps have kept six clean sheets among their eight games thus far. The leading scorer for Whitecaps FC through eight weeks has been Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux with three goals. Brazilian Camilo has added a pair of strikes.
History of the Quakes – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Rivalry
The Quakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC drew in each of their first two all-time meetings a season ago … The teams tied 1-1 at Empire Field in Vancouver on May 11 as Chris Wondolowski scored a 39th-minute goal on a back-heeled flick that earned MLS Goal of the Week consideration, with Ryan Johnson assisting … The ‘Caps equalized in second-half stoppage time when Davide Chiumiento scored for a share of the points … The return fixture inside Buck Shaw Stadium on July 20 ended in a 2-2 tie with dueling braces by Wondolowski and Vancouver’s Eric Hassli as San Jose was unable to hold on to a pair of one-goal leads … In the first of three meetings in 2012 back on April 7 at Buck Shaw, the ‘Caps took a 1-0 lead early in the second half through a Sebastien Le Toux strike, only to see the Quakes storm back for three goals within a 10-minute span from the 68th to the 78th … Wondolowski tallied two more around what proved to be a game-winning header from second-half substitute Alan Gordon in the 72nd from a Ramiro Corrales cross.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Chris Wondolowski has five goals in three match-ups … Wondolowski scored all three goals that the Quakes registered in two match-ups with Vancouver last season, in a 1-1 road draw on May 11 and a 2-2 tie in Santa Clara on July 20, prior to his brace on April 7 … Ramiro Corrales has two assists in three games … Simon Dawkins (two games), Steven Lenhart (two) and Tressor Moreno (one) have one assist apiece … Marvin Chavez had a goal and an assist in two meetings with the ‘Caps as a member of FC Dallas a season ago, including the 35th-minute game-winner in a 2-0 home victory on Oct. 15 … Another Quakes newcomer, Jean-Marc Alexandre, had his best offensive day as a three-year member of Real Salt Lake on June 4, 2011, scoring his first MLS goal as the game-winner in the 32nd minute and adding the assist on a 79th-minute clincher in a 2-0 home triumph … Jon Busch is 1-0-2 with nine saves.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Leaders vs. San Jose
Forward Eric Hassli has two goals and one assist in three match-ups with San Jose … Forward Sebastien Le Toux has one goal in one appearance for the ‘Caps … Le Toux also tallied one goal against the Earthquakes as a member of the Philadelphia Union, providing the lone score from the penalty spot in the 76th minute of a 1-0 home victory on April 30, 2011 … Le Toux has one assist in eight total games against the Quakes, while playing for Seattle in 2009 … Midfielder Davide Chiumiento has one goal and one assist in three matches … Defender Jordan Harvey has one assist in six games, coming in his lone match for Vancouver on April 7 … Goalkeeper Joe Cannon is 1-5-4 with two shutouts in 10 career appearances against his former team, and is 0-1-1 with four saves as a member of the ‘Caps.
Earthquakes – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Connections
Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon played for San Jose from 1999-2002 and 2008-10 … He also played under current Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop with the LA Galaxy in 2007 … Cannon played his college soccer at Buck Shaw Stadium as a former All-American at Santa Clara University (1995-97) … Cannon grew up in Los Altos Hills and graduated in 2003 from Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif. … Yallop spent part of his youth in Vancouver from age 10-16, later earning 52 caps for the Canadian men’s national team before serving as its head coach from 2004-06 … Earthquakes assistant coach Mark Watson is a native of Vancouver … Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011 after being selected by the club during the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft … Salinas was traded from Vancouver to San Jose on Nov. 30, 2011, in exchange for allocation money … Salinas and Vancouver defender Jordan Harvey played together with the Philadelphia Union in 2010 … Harvey is a California native (Mission Viejo) who attended UCLA … Whitecaps FC midfielder John Thorrington was a teammate of Quakes players Jon Busch (2007-09) and Tim Ward (2009-10) with the Chicago Fire … San Jose defender Justin Morrow and Vancouver defender Greg Klazura were teammates at Notre Dame from 2007-09 … San Jose midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Vancouver midfielder Michael Nanchoff were teammates at Akron for four years from 2007-10, leading the Zips to their first national championship in 2010 … Ampaipitakwong also played with ‘Caps rookie forward Darren Mattocks at Akron as a senior in 2010 … Mattocks and Earthquakes midfielder Khari Stephenson are both Jamaican nationals … Earthquakes midfielder Sam Garza and Vancouver defender Michael Boxall played together at UC Santa Barbara during the 2010 season … Boxall and Earthquakes goalkeeper coach Jason Batty were both born in Auckland, New Zealand, and have represented their country at the senior international level … Earthquakes midfielder Simon Dawkins (Edgware) and Vancouver midfielder Matt Watson (Bromsgrove) are both natives of England … Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch (1994-96) and Vancouver midfielder Floyd Franks (2002-05) both played at UNC Charlotte … NBA All-Star Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC ownership group, played basketball at Santa Clara University.
Quakes in the Community
Opening Ceremony - Get Earthquakes Fit Presented by Kaiser Permanente
Who: San Jose Earthquakes
What: Kicking off Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente at Barrett School
When: Monday, April 30, 1 p.m.
Where: Barrett Elementary School, 895 Barrett Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Details: Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente is a fun, five-week program designed by Earthquakes head athletic trainer Bruce Morgan and the Santa Clara County Office of Education to increase physical activity in the classroom and at home. This spring, 12 local schools will be incorporating this program into their 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.
Closing Ceremony - Get Earthquakes Fit Presented by Kaiser Permanente
Who: Earthquakes defender Jason Hernandez
What: Closing ceremony for Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente at Slonaker Elementary
When: Monday, April 30, 1:40 p.m.
Where: Harry E. Slonaker Elementary School, 1601 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose, CA 95122
Details: Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente is a fun, five-week program designed by Earthquakes head athletic trainer Bruce Morgan and the Santa Clara County Office of Education to increase physical activity in the classroom and at home. This spring, 12 local schools will be incorporating this program into their 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.
Opening Ceremony - Get Earthquakes Fit Presented by Kaiser Permanente
Who: San Jose Earthquakes
What: Kicking off Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente at Goss Elementary
When: Tuesday, May 1, 1:45 p.m.
Where: Goss Elementary School, 2475 Van Winkle Lane, San Jose, CA 95116
Details: Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente is a fun, five-week program designed by Earthquakes head athletic trainer Bruce Morgan and the Santa Clara County Office of Education to increase physical activity in the classroom and at home. This spring, 12 local schools will be incorporating this program into their 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.
Miscellaneous Notes
Quakes Atop the Western Conference
The San Jose Earthquakes head into a second straight week with at least a share of the top spot in the MLS Western Conference. The Quakes (6-1-1) and Real Salt Lake (6-3-1) are equal on 19 points, with San Jose having two games in hand. Seattle Sounders FC is lurking in fourth-place at 13 points from a 4-1-1 start with two games in hand over the Quakes. San Jose also picked up more ground in the race for the 2012 MLS Supporters’ Shield, moving three points closer to idle Sporting Kansas City (7-1-0, 21 pts.).
Lenhart Voted MLS Player of the Week
Steven Lenhart was voted by the North American Soccer Reporters on Monday as the MLS Player of the Week for his dramatic brace off the bench to lift San Jose to a 2-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. Lenhart, who earns the first Player of the Week distinction for the Quakes in 2012, opened the scoring at PPL Park in the 76th minute, before heading home the winner in the final minute of stoppage time. He needed just 30 minutes on the field to grab the honor for Week 8. This is Lenhart’s second career MLS Player of the Week award, following his Week 13 hat trick at D.C. United a year ago.
Earthquakes Unveil Dollar Dog Wednesdays
Beginning this Wednesday night against D.C. United, the Earthquakes will host Dollar Dog Wednesdays for the 2012 season. Per the promotion, fans can buy $1 hot dogs at Buck Shaw Stadium for each of the club’s three Wednesday matches. When the Quakes welcome D.C. United to town this Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) on Police & Fire Night, local police and fire departments will participate in a hot dog eating contest featuring five-time defending Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion and San Jose resident Joey Chestnut as a guest judge. The contest begins at 6:45 p.m. inside the Epicenter fan zone.
Two Hottest Sides in MLS
The San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United enter their one and only match-up of the 2012 season on the two longest unbeaten streaks currently in MLS. D.C. United is undefeated in its last seven since two straight losses to begin the new campaign, going 4-0-3. San Jose has not lost in its last six since its only defeat of the year, 1-0 to Houston. The Quakes are 5-0-1 since that result at AT&T Park on March 17. This stretch matches the six-game unbeaten run that San Jose posted a year ago from May 11-June 11 (4-0-2). A Quakes win or a tie on Wednesday would mean the club’s longest such stretch since a nine-game run in 2008 between July 12-Sept. 13.
Schedule Specs
This week’s home meeting with D.C. United marks the first of six mid-week games on a Tuesday or Wednesday this season for the Quakes. San Jose went 0-3-1 in such games in 2011. The Quakes are also in the midst of their first multi-game week, with three matches over an eight-day span that began Saturday in Philadelphia. San Jose travels north to take on Western rival Vancouver on May 5. The Quakes face six matches in all for the busy month of May, after having played four each in March and April.
Return of DeRo
Wednesday night’s meeting with D.C. United marks the return to the South Bay of Dwayne De Rosario. The midfielder starred for the Quakes for five seasons from 2001-05, producing 27 goals and 31 assists over 108 appearances. De Rosario aided the Quakes to both of their MLS Cup titles in 2001 and 2003, and led the squad in both goals (nine) and assists (13) in 2005 as San Jose earned its first MLS Supporters’ Shield. He remains No. 4 on the club’s all-time goals and assists charts. De Rosario is the reigning Volkswagen MLS MVP, and edged out Chris Wondolowski for the 2011 Budweiser Golden Boot on account of the assists tiebreaker, 12-3.
Dueling Hat Tricks
The players who have accounted for four of the five three-goal hat tricks in San Jose club history will be involved when the Earthquakes take on D.C. United on Wednesday night. Chris Wondolowski (Sept. 25, 2010 vs. TFC and Oct. 20 vs. CHV) has turned in two of them, with one each by Quakes strike partner Steven Lenhart and current D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario (Sept. 27, 2003 vs. DAL). Lenhart’s hat trick actually came against D.C. United in a 4-2 Quakes victory at RFK Stadium on July 11, 2011. San Jose’s other hat trick was produced by Landon Donovan (Sept. 20, 2003 vs. KC).
Eight-Game Superlatives
At 6-1-1 and 19 points, this is the best eight-game start to a year in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 15-season club history. In 2001, 2002 and 2010, the Quakes trotted out to a 5-2-1 start for 16 points. They were 4-2-2 (14 pts.) in 2003 before going on to lift the franchise’s second MLS Cup. With just six goals conceded thus far, this is the franchise’s best eight-game defensive start. San Jose allowed seven goals over its first eight matches in 2010 and eight in 2002. At 3-0-1 for 10 points over their first four road dates, the Quakes are also off to their best four-game road start. They were 2-1-1 for seven points following their first four road forays in 2001, 2003 and 2010. The Quakes’ 15 goals fall one short of their best eight-game output of 16 from 2004. They also tallied 15 goals through eight games in 1998.
Race for the Budweiser Golden Boot
Chris Wondolowski begins the week alone in second-place in the 2012 Budweiser Golden Boot race with a team-leading eight goals. New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry moved into sole possession of the top spot with his ninth of the campaign in the seventh minute of his side’s 1-0 home win over New England on Saturday, before having to leave the game with an apparent hamstring injury.
Lenny Opens Scoring Account
Quakes forward Steven Lenhart scored his first two goals of the 2012 season at Philadelphia on April 28. They were his first goals since the 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Stanford Stadium on July 2, 2011. Lenhart’s stoppage-time winner marked goal No. 20 for his five-year MLS career. He now has seven strikes in 20 appearances in a San Jose uniform.
Join the 1906 Ultras for a Road Trip to Los Angeles
Quakes fans can sign up to stand and sing with the 1906 Ultras supporters’ group in Los Angeles for the season’s first California Clasico against the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday, May 23 (7:30 p.m.). For more information about the trip, click here.
Quakes Look to Continue Strong Home Attendance
The San Jose Earthquakes saw their club-record streak of eight straight sellouts inside Buck Shaw Stadium come to an end against Real Salt Lake on April 21, with an announced attendance of 10,202. The Quakes had 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 dated back to San Jose’s game against D.C. United on July 30, 2011, and also included 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.
A Look Back at Week 7 MLS Honors and Considerations for Quakes
Steven Beitashour was named to MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week for the first time for Week 7, following his two-assist performance against Real Salt Lake. Justin Morrow and Khari Stephenson earned honorable mention, while Tressor Moreno was nominated for Latino de la Jornada 7 (Latino of the Week 7) by FutbolMLS.com.
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 15 goals through eight games, the donated total for this season currently stands at $3,750. 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 eight goals already through eight contests.
Inaugural Earthquakes 5K/10K Challenge Less Than a Month Away
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.
Earthquakes Announce Partnership with Kaiser Permanente
The San Jose Earthquakes announced last week that the club has broadened its partnership with Kaiser Permanente to promote healthy living and active lifestyles for Bay Area youth. The signature program of the joint venture is Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente. Designed by long-time Quakes head athletic trainer Bruce Morgan, Get EQ Fit encourages students to engage in 20 minutes of physical activity each day for five weeks. It is targeted toward underserved schools and schools lacking a physical education department due to budget cuts. In 2012, at least 25 Bay Area schools will be incorporating this program into their third- and fourth-grade curriculum. For more information on Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente, and to nominate a school for the program, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/community/get-fit.
Earthquakes Partner with Alaska Airlines
The San Jose Earthquakes are partnering with Alaska Airlines to give fans the opportunity to win trips to Cabo San Lucas, Hawaii, Reno/Tahoe and Los Angeles through the “Score a Direct Kick” sweepstakes. The Quakes will select three winners from four separate drawings, one for each location. Winners will receive two tickets to a San Jose home game, where they will participate in a halftime contest, with the grand prize a trip courtesy of Alaska Airlines. Entries are currently being accepted. For more information about the contest, complete rules, and to enter to win, visit alaska.sjearthquakes.com.
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.
Earthquakes Youth Academy Update
Academy U-18s and U-16s Fall
The Earthquakes Youth Development Academy U-18 squad dropped a 1-0 decision at local Northwest Division rival De Anza Force in Cupertino on Saturday, falling victim to an 82nd-minute goal. The U-16 team lost to the same club in a high-scoring affair, 5-3. Eli Padilla scored two goals while Claudio Celis grabbed the other for the Quakes. Both academy sides finally conclude their lengthy road stretches against divisional foe California Development Academy at Oakmont High School in Roseville on Saturday, May 5.
