Earthquakes Weekly Update: January 31, 2011

Quakes Training Camp - 1/31/11 - 16

Earthquakes Schedule for the Week of 1/31/11
Tuesday, February 1 – 10:15 a.m. – Training at Nutrilite Training Facility
Wednesday, February 2 – 10:15 a.m. – Training at Nutrilite Training Facility
Thursday, February 3 – 10:15 a.m. – Training at Nutrilite Training Facility
Friday, February 4 – 10:15 a.m. – Training at Nutrilite Training Facility
Saturday, February 5 – TBD
Sunday, February 6 – Travel to Ventura

Quakes in the Community
Who:  Jon Busch and Earthquakes President Dave Kaval
Location:  Nativity School, Menlo Park
Date: February 1, 2011
Time: 2-3PM
Details: Busch and Kaval will meet with the Kindergarten and Second grade classes to talk about living healthy lifestyles and the importance of education.


Who: Bobby Burling and Jason Hernandez
Location:  Ritz Carlton SF
Date: February 2, 2011
Time: 5:30-9PM
Details: Burling and Hernandez will be available for autographs at the event.  The event is hosted by The Guardsmen and raises money for at risk youth.  More info can be found here.

Quakes Sign Donatelli
The San Jose Earthquakes announced last week that they have signed midfielder Tony Donatelli. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Glenside, Penn. native has played in the USL First Division with both the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps during his professional career. He was part of two championship teams, in 2006 with Vancouver and 2009 with Montreal, and was a teammate of current Quakes midfielder Joey Gjertsen at both stops. Donatelli most recently played with the Montreal Impact from the middle of 2008 through 2010. He helped the team to the USL Championship in 2009, and the semi-finals in 2008 and 2010. Donatelli appeared in 27 games for the USL Champion Impact in 2009, scoring two goals and notching three assists. In his five years in the USL First Division and USSF Division 2, Donatelli made 134 appearances, 84 of which were starts. He scored 19 goals with 12 assists.

San Jose Lands GK Bingham in Weighted Lottery
The San Jose Earthquakes announced last week that they participated in the weighted Major League Soccer lottery and won the rights to Cal goalkeeper David Bingham. Bingham has signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS, becoming the 11th member of the 2011 class. San Jose is now exempt from participating in any additional weighted lotteries in 2011. The 6-foot-2 goalkeeper was a 2010 NSCAA All-American as a junior, registering eight shutouts in 20 matches (including the NCAA Tournament). He allowed more than one goal on only four occasions. Bingham helped lead Cal to a 14-2-4 record and allowed just 17 goals in 2010, posting a 0.77 goals against average. The Golden Bears fell to the eventual NCAA Champion Akron Zips in penalties in the quarterfinals. As a sophomore in 2009, Bingham was named to the All Pac-10 Second Team, posting four shutouts in 16 starts with a 0.95 goals against average. He also appeared in one game as a freshman, backing up current Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei. The Pleasanton native played his club soccer for Mustang, and was on the team that made it to the Super Y-League U-17 National Championships in 2007.

Quakes Preseason Notes
The San Jose Earthquakes opened their preseason camp last week and will head to Ventura, Calif. from Sunday, Feb. 6 through Friday, Feb. 11. After returning home for one week, the team will travel across the pond to London to train at club partner Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground from Thursday, Feb. 17 until Sunday, Feb. 27. While in the Ventura area, San Jose will train at the Oxnard College Soccer Complex and play three exhibition games. The Quakes will face two MLS teams to be determined early in the week and Premier Developmental League side Ventura County Fusion on Friday, Feb. 11. The times of the games have yet to be determined. The Earthquakes will then return home to continue their preseason training from Saturday, Feb. 12 through Wednesday, Feb. 16. From Thursday, Feb. 17 until Sunday, Feb. 27 the Quakes will be overseas in the London area, where they will train at Spurs Lodge. The Quakes are working to finalize details for matches during that trip. San Jose will train in San Jose for a few days before travelling to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s campus for an exhibition with the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids on March 4. San Jose will then return to the Bay Area to complete their preseason training.

Earthquakes Preseason Schedule
Jan. 27 – Feb. 5: Preseason Camp Opens in San Jose, Calif.
Feb. 6 – Feb. 11: Travel and train in Ventura, Calif.
- Exhibition: San Jose vs. Opponent TBD (Monday, Feb. 7)
- Exhibition: San Jose vs. Opponent TBD (Thursday, Feb. 10)
- Exhibition: San Jose vs. Ventura County Fusion (Friday, Feb. 11)
Feb. 12 – Feb. 16: Train in San Jose, Calif.
Feb. 17 – Feb. 27: Travel and train in London, England
Feb. 28 – March 18: Train in San Jose, Calif.


March 4 – March 5: Exhibition: San Jose vs. Colorado Rapids at Alex G. Spanos Stadium at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif. (March 4)
- Click to purchase tickets
March 6 – March 18: Train in San Jose, Calif.

Convey Honored in Philadelphia
Earthquakes midfielder and Philadelphia native Bobby Convey will be honored at the Philadelphia Sports Writer’s Association (PSWA) Native Son Award Winner as the PSWA Banquet tonight, Monday, Jan. 31. Convey will be honored alongside other award winners such as Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, outfielder Shane Victorino, 76ers power forward Elton Brand, amongst other notable Philadelphia sports figures. Convey posted a career high in 2010 with 10 assists and was instrumental in San Jose’s return to the MLS Cup Playoffs. He also scored two goals and notched an assist in the Quakes thrilling 3-1 upset win over New York Red Bulls in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. For more information, click here.

Open Tryout this Sunday
The Earthquakes will host the Verizon - Quakes Open Tryout on Sunday, Feb. 6. The tryout will last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be overseen by members of the Earthquakes technical staff. The $75 registration fee per person includes a Quakes Open Tryout jersey, adidas drawstring bag and a voucher for two tickets to see an Earthquakes home game during the 2011 season. More information can be found here.

Quakes Academy Update
The Earthquakes U-18 Academy team finished the first half of their inaugural season 3-3-3 while the U-16 squad was 1-6-2. Both sides kick off the 2011 portion of their seasons on Saturday, March 5, when they take on Arsenal FC in Temecula, Calif. For full information on the U-18’s, including the roster and schedule, click here. For the U-16’s, the same information can be found here.

Four Quakes Academy Players in Nor Cal Top 20 Rankings
Four players from the Earthquakes Academy have been named to the Northern California and Hawaii Top 20 rankings. Travis Pillon highlights this group, coming in at number two for the Class of 2013. Juan Guerrero is ranked seventh for the Class of 2011, Samuel Engs is ranked 15th for the Class of 2012 and Nick Lima is 19th in the Class of 2013 rankings.

Mexico to Face Paraguay
The San Jose Earthquakes, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) announced that the Mexican National Team will face Paraguay on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. PT at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. This Bay Area stop is part of Mexico’s 2011 U.S. Tour. An exclusive pre-sale for San Jose Earthquakes season ticket holders and other special groups began last Friday, January 14 at 10 a.m. PT and those fans can get tickets by calling the Earthquakes at 408-556-7700. For group tickets or suites, please contact the Earthquakes Front Office. Tickets for the general public will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. PT by visiting www.Tickets.com, by calling 800-225-2277 or visiting the usual tienda locations. A special two-pack that includes a ticket to the Mexico-Paraguay game and a voucher for a ticket to an Earthquakes game can be purchased for as low as $30. To purchase the two-pack, fans should call 408-556-7700. Tickets for the general public will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. PT by visiting www.Tickets.com, by calling 800-225-2277 or visiting the usual tienda locations. A special two-pack that includes a ticket to the Mexico-Paraguay game and a voucher for a ticket to an Earthquakes game can be purchased for as low as $30. To purchase the two-pack, fans should call 408-556-7700.

Quakes Face RSL in Home Opener
The San Jose Earthquakes will open the 2011 season at home on Saturday, March 19 against Real Salt Lake at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Quakes play RSL at home to open the season for the second straight year.  San Jose looks to improve on their 2010 campaign that saw the Quakes reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Earthquakes finished 2010 with a 13-10-7 record and reached the Eastern Conference Championship after knocking out the first-seeded New York Red Bulls in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Earthquakes began their 2010 slate at home with Real Salt Lake on March 27, falling 3-0.

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. The 20-game season ticket package includes two bonus games and a playoff game ticket. Season ticket packages start as low as $240. All packages offer significant savings off the regular price and season ticket holders will also receive the following benefits: special invitations to private season ticket holder events, ability to purchase season-long parking pass at a discounted rate, a 10-year anniversary MLS Cup Championship patch and scarf, as well as additional perks.