This Week
Fresh off of their first stretch of three games in eight days this season, the first-place San Jose Earthquakes (7-2-1, 22 pts.) await Western Conference rival Chivas USA (3-6-0, 9 pts.) for a Mother’s Day tilt this Sunday, May 13. Kickoff at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara is slated for 4 p.m. PT. The match will air live on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish). It marks the Quakes’ 2012 national television debut, as Spanish-language Galavision will also broadcast the contest.
Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 5/7/12
Monday, May 7 – Off
Tuesday, May 8 – 11 a.m. – MLS Reserve League – Earthquakes at LA Galaxy in Carson, Calif.
Wednesday, May 9 – Off
Thursday, May 10 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Friday, May 11 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Buck Shaw Stadium
Saturday, May 12 – 10:15 a.m. – Practice at Earthquakes Training Facility
Sunday, May 13 – 4 p.m. PT – Chivas USA at Earthquakes, Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., LIVE on Comcast SportsNet California, Galavision, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF
Injury Report
Out: Victor Bernardez (L – MCL sprain), Marvin Chavez (L – hamstring strain), 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. Chivas USA All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 3-6-4
Home: 2-3-1 (10 GF, 7 GA)
Away: 1-3-3 (7 GF, 10 GA)
Playoffs: 0-0-0; US Open Cup: 0-0-0; US Open Cup Play-In: 0-0-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 17, Chivas USA – 17
San Jose’s Record in May: The Quakes are 28-28-13 all-time in May in MLS play.
Opponent Info
Chivas USA Scouting Report
Chivas USA (3-6-0, 9 pts.), like the Earthquakes, is coming off of a last-minute defeat over the weekend. The Goats dropped a tough 2-1 decision of their own against the Chicago Fire on Friday night when Marco Pappa struck a 93rd-minute winner for the visitors at The Home Depot Center. Veteran Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel had opened the scoring for the home side with a 23rd-minute penalty kick, marking his first goal on the year, before the Fire equalized through Austin Berry just two minutes later. Chivas USA, a loser of three straight following back-to-back road victories, has managed just five goals over nine games so far this year, tied with Philadelphia for the league low. Angel, Nick LaBrocca, Oswaldo Minda, Alejandro Moreno and Casey Townsend have tallied one goal apiece, while Englishman Ryan Smith has two assists. The Chivas USA goalie is Dan Kennedy (1.22 GAA, 33 saves, two shutouts), who earned MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 6. Chivas USA is 3-1-0 on the road in 2012 while a still-winless 0-5-0 at home.
History of the Quakes – Chivas USA Rivalry
The Earthquakes are 3-5-4 all-time against Chivas USA, including 2-3-1 at home and 1-3-0 inside Buck Shaw Stadium … The two teams met for the first time on April 9, 2005, at Spartan Stadium, playing to a wild 3-3 draw … During the 2005 season, San Jose and Chivas USA met on three additional occasions: a 1-1 draw on June 12 at The Home Depot Center, a 3-0 win for the Earthquakes on Sept. 10 at Spartan Stadium, and a come-from-behind 2-1 Quakes victory on Sept. 17 in Carson in which Alejandro Moreno notched the 93rd-minute winner against his current club … Following that four-game unbeaten run by San Jose to begin the all-time series between the sides, Chivas USA has held the edge since the Quakes’ return in 2008, posting a 6-1-2 record over nine matches … The Quakes’ lone win during the stretch came on Oct. 20, 2010, when Chris Wondolowski posted a hat trick over 17 minutes after only coming off the bench in the 40th minute, for a 3-0 result at Buck Shaw … Chivas USA got an 85th-minute winner from Mariano Trujillo for a come-from-behind 2-1 win in the last meeting at Buck Shaw on April 23, 2011 … Wondolowski had given the Quakes a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, with Moreno leveling the score for the Goats in first-half stoppage time … Chivas USA went on to sweep the 2011 season series with a 2-0 home shutout on July 6.
Earthquakes Leaders vs. Chivas USA
Chris Wondolowski has five goals in nine career appearances (five with Quakes), with all five coming in four games for the Quakes over the last two seasons … Wondolowski had scored in three straight games (all five goals) against Chivas USA prior to the 2-0 shutout loss last July 6, including his second career hat trick on Oct. 20, 2010, at Buck Shaw Stadium … Wondolowski’s five strikes against Chivas USA trail only his six goals apiece against Canadian sides Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC … Steven Beitashour (three games) scored the lone goal of his career in San Jose’s 3-2 road loss on Apr. 24, 2010 … Marvin Chavez scored once in three games for FC Dallas, the lone goal in the 26th minute of a home win on July 31, 2011 … Khari Stephenson has one assist in his only game … Ramiro Corrales has one assist in eight games … Jon Busch is 4-3-0 with three shutouts against Chivas USA, including 1-2-0 with one shutout in a Quakes uniform.
Chivas USA Leaders vs. San Jose
Forward Alejandro Moreno has five goals and three assists in 15 games against his former team, including one goal in his lone appearance as a Chivas USA player, the first-half stoppage-time equalizer during a 2-1 Goats victory last April 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium … Forward Juan Pablo Angel has one goal in six all-time meetings, for the New York Red Bulls in 2009 … Midfielder Nick LaBrocca has one goal and one assist in seven games, including one goal (7/6/11) in two appearances with Chivas USA … Midfielder Ben Zemanski has one goal in three games … Defender Heath Pearce has three assists in five games, including one assist (4/23) in two match-ups a year ago for Chivas USA … Midfielders Blair Gavin (two games) and Michael Lahoud (four) each have one assist from 2010 … Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy is a perfect 3-0-0 with two shutouts, all with Chivas USA.
Earthquakes – Chivas USA Connections
Quakes defender Jason Hernandez made 50 appearances for Chivas USA from 2006-07 … Chivas USA forward Alejandro Moreno produced eight goals and four assists in 31 games for San Jose during the Supporters’ Shield season of 2005 … Moreno was teammates with Quakes forward Alan Gordon on the LA Galaxy in 2004, forward Chris Wondolowski in Houston in 2006-07, forward Steven Lenhart in Columbus in 2008-09 and midfielder Shea Salinas in Philadelphia in 2010 … Gordon played for the LA Galaxy with Chivas USA assistant coach Greg Vanney in 2008, and scored one goal in nine appearances for Chivas USA during the 2010 season … Chivas USA defender James Riley made 24 appearances for San Jose in 2008 before being selected by Seattle Sounders FC during the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft … Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic played with the Canadian national team from 2004-06 and the LA Galaxy from 2006-07 under current Quakes head coach Frank Yallop … Jazic was teammates with Gordon on the LA Galaxy from 2006-08 … Quakes midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong played with Chivas USA midfielder Blair Gavin at the IMG Academy in Florida in 2005 and at the University of Akron from 2007-09 … Ampaipitakwong also played at Akron with Chivas USA midfielder Ben Zemanski (2007-09) … Quakes midfielder Sam Cronin played with Chivas USA midfielder Nick LaBrocca at Toronto FC for part of the 2010 season … LaBrocca was also a member of the 2008 Colorado Rapids with Quakes defender Tim Ward … Quakes midfielder Marvin Chavez played with Chivas USA defender Heath Pearce for FC Dallas in 2009-10 … Chivas USA assistant coach Carlos Llamosa played for two seasons with Jason Hernandez at Chivas USA (2006-07) … Hernandez and Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy were briefly fellow members of the 2005 New York/New Jersey MetroStars … Kennedy (2001-04) and Quakes rookie midfielder Sam Garza (2010-11) both played at UC Santa Barbara … Lenhart and Kennedy are both natives of Yorba Linda, Calif. … Garza (No. 6) and Chivas USA rookie forward Casey Townsend (No. 5) were selected one pick apart in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft … Quakes midfielder Jacob Hustedt (2008-10) played with reserve Goats goalkeeper Patrick McLain (2007-11) at Cal Poly, with Garza and McLain opposing each other in the Big West Conference the past two seasons … Llamosa, Quakes midfielder Tressor Moreno and Chivas USA players Juan Pablo Angel, Jose Erick Correa and John Valencia were all born in Colombia … Moreno (32) and Angel (33) have each earned caps for Colombia, and played previously for Medellin outfit Atletico Nacional … Moreno and Valencia have each played for Independiente Medellin in their native country … Chivas USA midfielder Michael Lahoud played at Wake Forest with Cronin (2005-08) and Quakes defender Ike Opara (2007-08), with the trio guiding the Demon Deacons to the program’s first national title together in 2007 … Opara and Chivas USA defender/midfielder Jorge Villafaña were both members of the 20-player U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in late March … Quakes midfielder Simon Dawkins (Edgware) and Chivas USA midfielder Ryan Smith (Islington) are two Englishmen who were born in areas of London.
Quakes in the Community
Get Earthquakes Fit Presented by Kaiser Permanente Opening Ceremony Assembly
Who: San Jose Earthquakes
What: Kicking off Get Earthquakes Fit presented by Kaiser Permanente at Castro Elementary
When: Monday, May 7, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Mariano Castro Elementary School, 505 Escuela Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94040
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 in their 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.
XFINITY Youth Soccer Clinic Series
Who: Earthquakes players Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Rafael Baca, Ellis McLoughlin and Khari Stephenson
What: Earthquakes club ambassador Kelly Gray will run the 60-minute clinic with Earthquakes players for 100 kids on the first stop of the 2012 XFINITY Youth Soccer Clinic Series at Watson Park in San Jose
When: Friday, May 11, check-in from 4:45-5:45 p.m., clinic from 6-7 p.m., autographs from 7-7:30 p.m.
Where: Watson Park, North 22nd Street, San Jose, CA 95112 (Jackson Street)
Details: The first of five XFINITY Youth Soccer Clinics for the 2012 season. This free clinic is open to 100 children in San Jose and will be run by Earthquakes club ambassador Kelly Gray. All the participants will receive a free soccer ball and a ticket to the upcoming Earthquakes game on Sunday, May 13.
Earthquakes 4v4 Presented by Wells Fargo Tournament
Who: Earthquakes players Jean-Marc Alexandre and Steven Beitashour
What: Signing autographs
When: Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Overfelt High School, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose, CA 95122
Details: Visit sjearthquakes.com/4v4 for more information.
Miscellaneous Notes
Quakes Atop the Western Conference
The San Jose Earthquakes (7-2-1) share the top spot in the MLS Western Conference with Real Salt Lake (7-3-1), equal on 22 points still with one game in hand. Seattle Sounders FC is third at 19 points from a 6-1-1 start with two games in hand over the Quakes. San Jose and RSL also lead the race for the 2012 MLS Supporters’ Shield, as Sporting Kansas City (7-2-0, 21 pts.) suffered a 2-0 home defeat to expansion side Montreal on Saturday. Real Salt Lake and Seattle are both in midweek action at the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas, respectively, on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. PT, before facing off in Seattle on Saturday (7 p.m. PT).
Quakes Pacing MLS in Offensive Categories
Through nine weeks of the 2012 MLS season, the Earthquakes lead the league with 21 goals scored and 24 assists. D.C. United (20) and the New York Red Bulls (19) of the Eastern Conference are closest in the goals category. With 11 scores conceded, the Quakes also have the top goal differential in MLS, at +10.
Wondolowski Named MLS Player of the Week
Chris Wondolowski was voted by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) on Monday as the MLS Player of the Week for Week 9 after scoring three goals in two matches to move atop the Budweiser Golden Boot standings with 11 on the year. Wondolowski followed up strike partner Steven Lenhart’s Player of the Week honor for the previous week. He now has three weekly MLS awards for his career.
Wondolowski Earns Third Career MLS Player of the Month Honor
Chris Wondolowski was named last Wednesday morning as the MLS Player of the Month for April, as voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). Wondolowski produced four goals and two assists in guiding the Quakes to an undefeated 3-0-1 month and the top spot in the Western Conference. He received eight of 21 first-place votes, one more than Sporting Kansas City defender Aurelien Collin. It was Wondolowski’s third career monthly honor following back-to-back torrid October run-ins to the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. He celebrated the award by posting his third brace already of 2012 just hours later, including his league-leading fourth game-winner, to lead the Quakes over D.C. United, 5-3.
Race for the Budweiser Golden Boot
Chris Wondolowski begins the week alone in first-place in the 2012 Budweiser Golden Boot race with 11 goals through 10 games. Thierry Henry of the New York Red Bulls is second at nine goals, with the French striker forced to miss his team’s 1-0 victory at the LA Galaxy on Saturday through injury. Henry’s strike partner, Kenny Cooper (7), and the D.C. United forward tandem of Maicon Santos (6) and Chris Pontius (5) round out the top five on the leaderboard.
Buck Shaw Success
The Earthquakes next face back-to-back games inside Buck Shaw Stadium for the first time this season, with a May 19 match-up with the Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m.) following Sunday’s nationally-televised date with Chivas USA (4 p.m.). San Jose is a perfect 4-0-0 at Buck Shaw thus far on the year, outscoring opponents by a count of 12-5. The Quakes are undefeated at Buck Shaw through their last seven (6-0-1) dating back to 2011, and had a club-record streak of eight straight sellouts at the venue snapped on April 21. This mini-homestand will take San Jose into its season-long four-game road stretch through the month of June, beginning with the season’s first California Clasico at The Home Depot Center on May 23, and leading up to the highly-anticipated June 30 clash with the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium.
Take Advantage of the Mother’s Day 4 Pack
The Earthquakes play host to Western Conference foe Chivas USA at Buck Shaw Stadium this Sunday, May 13, Presented by County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste with a special afternoon kickoff time of 4 p.m. The club is offering a Mother’s Day 4 Pack. For $120, fans get four tickets to the match and a rose for mom. All mothers in attendance are also encouraged to participate in the pregame rally tunnel. Click HERE to take advantage of this offer.
First XFINITY Soccer Clinic Date Set for May 11
The Earthquakes kick off their 2012 XFINITY Youth Soccer Clinic Series this Friday, May 11, at Watson Park in San Jose. Registration is free and open to all boys and girls, ages 8-12. Parents can register their children by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com/xfinity. The clinic series returns for its third consecutive season. The Quakes will host four more clinics after May 11 at locations around the Bay Area, with dates to be announced at a later time. Over the last two years, the club has partnered with XFINITY to coordinate a total of 10 free soccer clinics to enrich the lives of local youth players. Earthquakes players are a part of each clinic. Participating children receive a soccer ball, ticket to an upcoming home game and the chance to meet Quakes players during an exclusive autograph session following the clinic.
Earthquakes, Wells Fargo to Kick Off 4v4 Series May 12
For a second straight year, the Earthquakes and Wells Fargo have teamed up to host a series of youth and adult soccer tournaments in the Bay Area. In addition to events in San Jose, East Palo Alto and Hayward, the 2012 series will also include a stop in San Francisco. Following a successful inaugural run a year ago, the first of four Earthquakes 4v4 Presented by Wells Fargo tourneys is set for this Saturday, May 12, at San Jose’s Overfelt High School. All participants receive an Earthquakes ticket, event t-shirt and sponsor gifts. For more information, and to sign up, visit sjearthquakes.com/4v4.
Earthquakes Reserves Play at LA Galaxy on May 8
Following an idle month, the San Jose Earthquakes (1-1-0, 3 pts.) will take on the LA Galaxy (0-1-0, 0 pts.) in their first road match of the 2012 MLS Reserve League season in Carson, Calif., this Tuesday, May 8, at 11 a.m. (Follow live @LAGalaxy). The Quakes are coming off of a 2-1 home defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 8, while the LA Galaxy dropped a 4-2 decision to Chivas USA on April 2 in their lone Reserve League contest thus far on the year. Future home dates for the Quakes 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.
Josh Suggs Recalled from Loan
First-year Quakes defender Josh Suggs was recalled on April 29 from his loan to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. The product of Humboldt State who is in his second professional season had yet to make an appearance for the Rowdies since the loan agreement had been finalized back on April 5. Per the arrangement, Suggs could be recalled by San Jose at any time. He rejoined training with the Quakes on April 30.
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.). Hurry, as seats on the bus have sold out. For more information about the trip, click HERE.
A Look Back at Week 8 MLS Honors and Considerations for Quakes
In addition to Steven Lenhart’s MLS Player of the Week award, Lenhart and Marvin Chavez were each named to MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week for Week 8, while Justin Morrow earned honorable mention. Frank Yallop was chosen as Manager of the Week for the second time in 2012. Chavez was nominated for Latino de la Jornada 8 (Latino of the Week 8) by FutbolMLS.com for the third time this year.
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 21 goals through 10 games, the donated total for this season already stands at $5,250. 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 league-leading 11 goals through just 10 contests.
Inaugural Earthquakes 5K/10K Challenge Less Than Three Weeks 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 Broaden Partnership with Kaiser Permanente
The San Jose Earthquakes have broadened their 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-16s Earn 2-0 Shutout Victory
The Earthquakes Youth Development Academy U-16 squad blanked host California Development Academy, 2-0, in a Northwest Division match-up at Oakmont High School in Roseville, Calif., on Saturday. Fourth-place San Jose (10-12-3, 6-6-1) got goals by Juan Velasquez in the 28th minute and Roberto Mendoza in the 63rd. Remi Prieur and JT Marcinkowski combined on the clean sheet, with Marcinkowski replacing Prieur after 61 minutes.
Academy U-18s Play to 2-2 Draw
The Earthquakes Youth Development Academy U-18s played to an eventful 2-2 draw with California Development Academy on Saturday in Roseville. Two goals by Luis Navarro in the 39th and 42nd minutes got the Quakes (10-12-3, 5-6-2) out to a 2-0 advantage by the interval, before a pair of late goals by the home side determined the final outcome. Both academy sides wrap up their regular seasons against Santa Cruz Breakers Academy at the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex on Saturday, May 12.
National Recognition for Academy Trio
Midfielder Amir Bashti (Cupertino, Calif.) and goalkeepers JT Marcinkowski (Alamo, Calif.) and Remi Prieur were recognized last week by TopDrawerSoccer.com. They were selected No. 14, No. 48 and No. 148, respectively, in the national online soccer publication’s Boys Club Soccer Players to Watch National Top 150 Rankings. All three are members of the Quakes Academy U-16 squad this season.
