The San Jose Earthquakes head to the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, May 13, to face Seattle Sounders FC. Kickoff from Lumen Field is set for 6:30 p.m. PT and will air globally on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).Â
Despite missing playmakers Timo Werner and Niko Tsakiris, the Quakes stood up to a high-flying Vancouver side and held serve in a 1-1 draw to remain on top of the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield tables. The result extended their unbeaten streak to eight league games and 10 across all competitions.Â
Last weekend's match proved another milestone outing, as Preston Judd found the back of the net for a team-leading eighth time this season—a new career high. Judd has been on a tear with five goals in his last four league matches. In goal, Daniel turned in a standout performance, logging four saves against 17 total shots on goal to earn Team of the Matchday honors for the second time this season.Â
Wednesday's Heritage Cup second leg in Seattle presents the Quakes with an opportunity to settle the score. The trophy—decided by aggregate score, followed by the tiebreakers of away goals and then league table position—is an homage to both clubs’ origins in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Sounders are currently holders and possess a 1-0 global advantage due to their narrow win in PayPal Park on March 15 in the first leg. Despite San Jose outshooting Seattle (25-7) and winning more corner kicks (17-0), Paul Rothrock's early 20th-minute strike would serve to be the difference in the Quakes' only defeat of the season. Â
The Sounders enter Wednesday's fixture having drawn their last two matches, settling for 1-1 results against both Sporting Kansas City and San Diego FC—a run of form that mirrors the Quakes' own recent stretch. Â
Sitting fourth in the Western Conference with 21 points, Seattle brings one of the league’s most formidable defensive units to Wednesday's match, having conceded fewer goals than any other team in the league. Much of that success is owed to goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, who played his collegiate soccer locally at Stanford. He leads the league in save percentage at 86% and ranks third in goals prevented at -5.43 expected goals. On the other side of the pitch, Rothrock currently leads the Sounders’ attack with five total goal contributions on the year (4g/1a), closely followed by U.S. international midfielder, Cristian Roldan with four (3g/1a). Â
Historically, Roldan has amassed 13 career goal contributions against San Jose in 23 matches (8g/5a) Another Stanford alum, Jordan Morris, has long been a threat to the Quakes’ back line, with 11 goal contributions (7g/4a) in 14 career matches against the Black and Blue.Â
San Jose enters Matchday 13 level at the top of the league with Vancouver in goals scored with 27, setting up a compelling clash between two of the league's elite units on either side of the ball. Additionally, a pair of legendary coaches—San Jose’s Bruce Arena and Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer, who share between them seven Audi MLS Cups—will match wits once more. The game will also put to the test Seattle's 21-game unbeaten run at Lumen Field, a streak that dates back to their meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup in June 2025.Â
With the Heritage Cup on the line and the Western Conference standings tightening by the week, the Quakes look to avenge their lone loss of 2026 against a Seattle side that has proven to be one of the West's perennial toughest opponents.