Quakes in the Community:
Fifth Annual Open Your Heart Pajama Drive - Happy Hour Fundraiser
Who: Shakers
What: The Shakers will be interacting with fans during Happy Hour
When: Thursday, Feb 9 from 5:30– 7 p.m.
Where: Lobby Bar at the Fairmont Hotel
Details: Ten-percent of the proceeds from all items purchased during Happy Hour will go directly to The Pajama Program, which provides warm pajamas and books to children in need, many of which are waiting and hoping to be adopted.
Fifth Annual Open Your Heart Pajama Drive
Who: Earthquakes mascot “Q” and Shaker
What: “Q” and the Shakers will greet people who donate new pajamas and books or make a donation to The Pajama Program.
When: Friday, Feb 10, 2012 from 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Where: Fairmont Hotel, San Jose
Details: The Pajama Program provides warm pajamas and books to children in need, many of which are waiting and hoping to be adopted. We’re in “Danger Season,” the coldest and loneliest time for these neglected children and teens and we need your help. The Fairmont will be providing cookies to everyone who brings a donation and a grand prize for the largest donation. Read more about the program at www.pajamaprogram.org.
Misc. Notes
Wondolowski Scores in 2-1 Preseason Loss to Sporting Kansas City
The San Jose Earthquakes fell 2-1 against Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 4 in the club’s final day at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. The Earthquakes’ starters kept the score level at 1-1 through the 65th minute. Chris Wondolowski gave San Jose the initial lead in the third minute after nodding home a cross from Marvin Chavez. Moments later, Kei Kamara equalized for Sporting KC, finishing a pass from Roger Espinoza. The Earthquakes made wholesale substitutions in the 65th minute. Sporting KC would find the game winner in the 80th minute as Konrad Warzycha bent a free kick over the wall and into the upper 90.
Quakes Sign Colombian Midfielder Tressor Moreno
The San Jose Earthquakes signed Colombian Tressor Moreno on Feb. 2. Moreno last played for Santiago Wanderers in Chile, where he scored one goal over 16 games in 2011. He previously spent time in Colombia, France, Mexico and Peru, while earning 32 caps and scoring seven goals for Colombia between 2000-08. The veteran attacking midfielder is best known for his days with Mexican outfit San Luis FC, where he helped lead Los Potosinos to berths in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana and 2009 Copa Libertadores.
Earthquakes Return to San Luis Obispo for Preseason Exhibition
For a second consecutive year, the San Jose Earthquakes will play the Colorado Rapids in San Luis Obispo, Calif., as part of the MLS Central Coast Challenge hosted by Cal Poly Athletics. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. PT at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Tickets are on sale at www.gopoly.com or by calling (805) 756-5806. Pre-sale prices are available until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8. All seating will be general admission.
Four From Open Tryout Train with Quakes
Four players from the San Jose Earthquakes’ Open Tryout were given the opportunity to train with the club’s first team. Hopefuls David Barnett (San Jose, Calif.), Devon Grousis (Fresno, Calif.), Moe Tagedlin (Rochester, Minn.) and Anthony Wuthrich (Neuchatel, Switzerland) were among 200 participants during the initial phase of the 2012 Open Tryout at Mustang Soccer Complex in Danville on Jan. 22. One week later, the foursome scrimmaged San Jose’s U-18 Youth Development Academy squad along with 15 other finalists. Barnett, Grousis, Tagedlin and Wuthrich then took part in a training session with the team at the Earthquakes Training Facility in San Jose on Monday, Feb. 6. None from the group made the final cut to join San Jose during the club’s upcoming preseason trip to Ventura.
New Stadium Appeal Meeting Set for February 22
The Earthquakes’ appeal date with the San Jose Planning Commission for the club’s new stadium has been set for Wednesday, Feb. 22. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at San Jose City Hall.
Earthquakes to Play Dynamo at AT&T Park on March 17
The Quakes have announced that the club will host the Houston Dynamo at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Saturday, March 17, as part of a doubleheader with Olympic hopefuls from Mexico and Senegal. The Earthquakes open the twin bill by taking on 2011 MLS Cup finalist Houston at 2 p.m., with Mexico taking on Senegal at 4:30 p.m. in a final tune-up before Olympic qualifying. Tickets can be purchased at www.tickets.com, the AT&T Park box office, Giants Dugout stores, or by calling 1-800-225-2277. For more information about special packages for the March 17 event, fans can call 408-556-7700, or e-mail seasontickets@sjearthquakes.com.
2012 Earthquakes Pre-Season Schedule
The Earthquakes will continue their preseason with a trip to San Luis Obispo on Friday to play the Colorado Rapids at Cal Poly’s Alex. G. Spanos Stadium. After the match, the club will continue down the Pacific Coast Highway to Ventura with games on tap against Houston and Chicago.
The Earthquakes will later participate in a four-team round-robin tournament in Portland. All games will be held at JELD-WEN Field. Individual tickets for the tournament, which start at $10 per doubleheader session, are on sale now at the JELD-WEN Field box office and area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Participating teams and match schedule are below:
San Jose Earthquakes Preseason Schedule (schedule subject to change):
Jan. 15 – Report Date
Jan. 16-29 – San Jose, Calif. at Earthquakes Training Facility
Jan. 30 – Travel to Tucson, Ariz.
Feb. 1 – Earthquakes vs. FC Tucson (T 1-1) at Kino Sports Complex
Feb. 4 – Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City (L 1-2) at Kino Sports Complex; Return to San Jose after match
Feb. 5-9 – San Jose, Calif. at Earthquakes Training Facility
Feb. 10 – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. – 6 p.m.
Feb. 11- Travel to Ventura, Calif.
Feb. 14 – Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo at Oxnard Community College in Ventura, Calif.
Feb. 18 – Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire at Oxnard Community College in Ventura, Calif.; Return to San Jose after match
Feb. 20-25 – San Jose, Calif. at Earthquakes Training Facility
Feb. 26 – Travel to Portland, Ore.
Portland Preseason Tournament Schedule
Monday, Feb. 27 – Chivas USA vs. AIK / 5 p.m., San Jose vs. Portland – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 1 – AIK vs. San Jose / 5 p.m., Chivas USA vs. Portland – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 4 – San Jose vs. Chivas USA / 2:30 p.m., AIK vs. Portland – 5 p.m.
March 10 – MLS First Kick
Great Start to Suite Sales: Nine of 12 Luxury Suites Sold for Earthquakes’ New Stadium
The San Jose Earthquakes have sold nine of the 12 available field-level luxury suites for its new stadium at Coleman Ave. in San Jose, generating over $3 million in revenue. Luxury suites originally went on sale to the general public on Dec. 9. Since then, the club has sold 75-percent of its inventory. For photos and more information about the suites, or to place a deposit, call 408-556-7700 or visit www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium.
Tickets for Home Opener, June 30 Match at Stanford Stadium On Sale
Tickets for the San Jose Earthquakes’ home opener and the team’s match at Stanford Stadium against the LA Galaxy are on sale. San Jose faces the New England Revolution in the home opener on Saturday, March 10, at Buck Shaw Stadium, while the LA Galaxy game takes place on Saturday, June 30, at Stanford Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at www.sjearthquakes.com, www.tickets.com or by calling 800-225-2277. Individual tickets for the remaining games went on sale on Jan. 19.
Quakes President David Kaval’s Office Hours
Earthquakes President David Kaval’s office hours continue during the offseason. 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.
2012 Season Tickets on Sale
Season tickets for the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2012 campaign are on sale now. Packages include 20 games at a significantly discounted rate, as well as a bevy of exclusive season ticket-holder benefits. Prices start at $2,300 for Netsuite VIP On-Field seats and are as affordable as $260 in the Supporters’ Section. For more information about pricing, payment plans and more, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/season-tickets or call an Earthquakes sales rep at 408-556-7700.
Earthquakes Youth Academy Update
Former Quake Chris Leitch Named Technical Director for Youth Academy
The San Jose Earthquakes announced the hiring last week of former Quakes defender Chris Leitch as the technical director for the club’s youth development academy. He will oversee all technical aspects of the Earthquakes Youth Development Academy, including the club’s U-16 and U-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy squads and U-14 Regional Development Schools. Leitch’s MLS playing career spanned 10 seasons, the last three spent as a member of the Earthquakes’ back line. He made 56 starts among 58 games played for the Quakes, and earned club honors as Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 after providing a team-leading seven assists. The Ohio native totaled 196 league appearances for three teams.
National Signing Day: Engs, McCall Sign Commitments
Two current members of the San Jose Earthquakes U-18 Youth Development Academy squad made their college choices earlier this week on National Signing Day. Samuel Engs, a defensive midfielder from Lafayette, Calif., is will go from a member of the Quakes to the Quakers after signing on with the University of Pennsylvania, a private institution located in Philadelphia, Penn. The Quakers compete in the NCAA Division I and Ivy League. Wyatt McCall committed to Swarthmore College, also a private school in Pennsylvania. The school is in Swarthmore, Penn., about 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia. The Garnet are members of the NCAA Division III.
In addition to McCall and Engs, Earthquakes defender Trevor Long made a verbal commitment to Cal. Long is a junior at Granada High School in Livermore, Calif.
Academy U-16s Play Pair of Home Matches
The San Jose Earthquakes U-16s played to a scoreless draw with California Development Academy on Saturday, prior to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Vancouver Whitecaps FC the following afternoon, both at Mustang Soccer Complex in Danville. The U16s are now 6-5-3 overall and 3-2-1 in the Northwest Division.
Academy U-18s Earn Weekend Sweep of One-Goal Decisions
The San Jose Earthquakes upended divisional foes California Development Academy, 2-1, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 4-3, on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both contests were played at Mustang Soccer Complex. Saturday’s pushed the U-18’s record to 3-2-1 in the division.
