The San Jose Earthquakes broke camp this week as players flew to various locations for the holidays. The big news for Monday was San Jose's announcement of a protected players list ahead of Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft. Read below for more details.
Misc. Notes
Quakes in the Community
What: Annual Food Box and Turkey Meal Distribution by CityTeam Ministries
Who: Budweiser Golden Boot Winner Chris Wondolowski and Quakes front office staff
Location: CityTeam Ministries Men’s Shelter, 1297 North 13th St., San Jose, CA
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 23
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Details: Wondolowski and Quakes front office staff will help distribute boxed meals and turkeys to needy families in the San Jose area.
Wondolowski Named to MLS Best XI
The 2010 Budweiser Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes was named to Major League Soccer’s Best XI last week. Wondolowski earns the honor for the first time in his career after a breakout season for the Quakes that helped the team achieve the third highest point total in team history with 46 points. Wondolowski claimed the 2010 Budweiser Golden Boot, awarded to the top goal scorer at the end of the MLS regular season. His career-high 18 goals in 28 games this season helped the Earthquakes to their first playoff appearance since the team rejoined MLS in 2008. He also scored nine-game winning goals this season to equal the all-time MLS record for a single season. He accounted for 52.9 percent (18 of 34) of the Earthquakes’ goals in the 2010 season, which is the second highest percentage all-time in MLS history. Only Carlos Ruiz has a higher percentage when he scored 24 of his team’s 44 goals (54.5%) in 2002, the year which he won MVP for the LA Galaxy. His club record 18 goals surpassed Ronald Cerritos’ team record of 15 goals achieved in 1999. On Oct. 20 against Chivas USA, Wondolowski notched his second hat trick of the season, tying Cerritos’ record on the first goal and surpassing it on the second goal. With 21 goals in his career in San Jose, Wondolowski is tied with Eric Wynalda for fifth place on the club’s all-time goals scored list.
Quakes Announce Protected and Unprotected List for Wednesday’s Expansion Draft
The San Jose Earthquakes announced today the list of protected and unprotected players for the upcoming Major League Soccer Expansion Draft. The League’s 17th and 18th teams, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Timbers, will each select 10 players during the 10-round draft. Through the Expansion Priority Draft, Portland earned the first selection in the Expansion Draft.
Earthquakes Protected players
Busch, Jon - goalkeeper
Convey, Bobby – midfielder
Cronin, Sam – midfielder
Gjertsen, Joey - midfielder
Hernandez, Jason – defender
Jasseh, Omar - midfielder
Johnson, Ryan – forward
McDonald, Brandon – defender
Opara, Ike – defender (Generation adidas – not eligible for selection)
Sealy, Scott – midfielder/forward
Stephenson, Khari - midfielder
Wondolowski, Chris – forward
Earthquakes Unprotected players
Alvarez, Arturo – midfielder
Beitashour, Steven – defender/midfielder
Burling, Bobby – defender
Cannon, Joe – goalkeeper
Corrales, Ramiro – midfielder
Eduardo – forward
Glen, Cornell – forward
Leitch, Chris – defender
Geovanni - forward
Morrow, Justin – defender/midfielder
Moreira, Andre Luiz – midfielder
Ring, Brad - midfielder
Ward, Tim - defender
Remember When…
The San Jose Earthquakes won their second MLS Cup Championship in three seasons with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Fire at The Home Depot Center six years ago tomorrow, Nov. 23, 2003. MLS Cup MVP Landon Donovan became the first player in league history to score two goals in the final, as the Earthquakes exploded for a record four goals in the championship match. The Quakes got out to an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute on a spectacular free kick by midfielder Ronnie Ekelund. Donovan put the Quakes up by two goals in the 38th minute after a brilliant through ball from Walker. Walker received the ball at midfield and spun on Jim Curtin. After creating space for himself, Walker slipped a ball through for Donovan, who maneuvered around Thornton and finished into the empty net for a 2-0 advantage. Beasley brought the Fire within one goal in the 49th minute with a goal at the near post. He received a pass inside the penalty box from Andy Williams and finished a shot just inside the post past MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Pat Onstad. The Quakes responded immediately as Richard Mulrooney scored just seconds later. Mulrooney ran onto a long pass from Brian Mullan along the right wing. After moving into the penalty area, the Quakes midfielder slotted the ball past Thornton to the far post for a 3-1 lead. Chicago closed the gap again in the 54th minute with a goal that deflected into the net off Quakes defender Chris Ronér. Evan Whitfield sent a cross into the box from the right side into the middle of the San Jose six-yard box and bounced off Ronér’s head and past Onstad to make the score 3-2. Donovan extended the Quakes lead to two goals in the 71st minute off a great cross from second half substitute Dwayne De Rosario. De Rosario received the ball on the right wing from Brian Mullan and then sent a low cross to the near post, where Donovan snuck past his defender and finished past Thornton. With a 4-2 lead, the Quakes continued to defend the Fire’s final desperate attempts to even the match, finally ending the game with the victory and setting off a raucous celebration amongst the numerous San Jose fans in attendance.
First Re-Entry Drafts Set for December
The league unveiled dates and details of the new Re-Entry Draft, which will make its debut in 2010 as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLS and the MLS Players Union. The CBA provided players new rights depending on the age and years of service in the league. A player who is at least 23 years of age with three or more years of MLS service and an option that was not renewed by his club (23/3 player) or a 25/4 player with an expiring contract, are eligible to be part of the 2010 Re-Entry Draft. All players, including Designated Players and players who have graduated from the Generation adidas program, will be included in this draft if they meet the age and service requirements.The first stage of the Re-Entry Draft allows these 23/3 (options) and 25/4 (expiring contract) players to be made available to all other MLS clubs at the current option price or previous contractual salary. The order of selection by teams is based on reverse order of finish in the 2010 regular season, including the postseason. Players who are not selected in the first stage of the Re-Entry Draft at their current option prices and contractual salary numbers will have a second crack at joining an MLS club. The second stage of the Re-Entry Draft takes place a week later with no specific salary or option requirements that are part of the first stage. MLS teams that select unsigned players in Stage 2 are then required to make concrete offers within seven business days. Players may agree to a new contract with MLS prior to Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft. Should no agreement be reached, the team that made the selection in the second stage will hold the right of first refusal on a contract with that player in the future. Players who are not selected in either stage of the Re-Entry Draft can negotiate with any team on a first-come, first-serve basis.
MLS Combine to Take Place Jan. 8-11
The MLS Player Combine will take place in the days leading up to the 2011 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The league announced that the combine will be held January 8-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and the SuperDraft will take place at 9 a.m. PT on January 13. The SuperDraft will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center, in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention.
2011 Season Tickets On Sale Now
Season tickets for 2011 are now on sale and fans can log on to sjearthquakes.com or call 408-556-7700 to make a deposit or purchase season tickets. Fans that purchase season tickets before Dec. 1 will receive a special gift.
