Jack Skahan, the Earthquakes’ 27-year-old attacker, has a knack for making history in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The last couple years, one thing you can bank on is the Memphis native finding the back of the net during the tournament.
Recently, in this year’s Round of 16 match vs. the Portland Timbers, Skahan broke a scoreless tie by scoring the game-winning goal in the 116th minute.
But his Open Cup heroics even predate that night. In the 2022 Open Cup Round of 32, the Quakes faced Seattle Sounders FC at Starfire Sports Complex. Skahan opened the scoring after converting a penalty kick past the reach of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.
After a 2-2 tie, the game went to a penalty shootout, and while Matt Bersano stole the show with his performance that night, Skahan converted his second penalty kick to help lift the Quakes to the next round.
Let's go back even further to 2021 when the Quakes hosted Bay Cities in the Third Round of the competition and it was the first (and only) meeting between the two teams. In the 25th minute, Skahan took a free kick with finesse and sank it right into the top right corner to catalyze San Jose’s 5-0 win.
Skahan seemingly has a clutch gene, with memorable moments in MLS play, namely his game-tying stoppage-time goal on the road in Toronto FC in 2023, and 2024 vs. Nashville SC, where his second-half goal secured a point for San Jose and MLS Team of the Matchday honors for him individually. He’s also come up big several times competing for Earthquakes II (now known as The Town FC) in MLS NEXT Pro.
But he’s been exceptionally dangerous in the U.S. Open Cup, especially as the Black and Blue enter the Quarterfinals.
Keep an eye out for No. 16 on the field.
