Wondolowski Passes Donovan for No. 2 on Quakes’ All-Time Scoring Chart
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski passed Landon Donovan for No. 2 on the club’s career goals list with his strike against Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 1 at Buck Shaw Stadium. Wondo volleyed in a well-placed cross by Steven Beitashour for his 33rd goal in 70 games with the Quakes. Next up on the list is Ronald Cerritos, who notched 61 from 1997-2001 and in 2005.
MLS Budweiser Golden Boot Update
Chris Wondolowski remains in the thick of the Budweiser Golden Boot chase with 12 goals and three games remaining. Here’s a glance at the standings heading into this week:
1. Dwayne De Rosario (DC) – 14 goals, 4 games remaining
2. Thierry Henry (NY) – 13 goals, 3 games
3. Chris Wondolowski (SJ) – 12 goals, 3 games
4. Landon Donovan (LA) – 12 goals, 3 games
5. Dominic Oduro (CHI) – 12 goals, 3 games
6. Fredy Montero (SEA) – 11 goals, 3 games
7. Andres Mendoza (CLB) – 11 goals, 2 games
Last year, Wondolowski won the Budweiser Golden Boot with 18 goals. He scored 10 in San Jose’s final eight games to overtake LA Galaxy’s Edson Buddle.
Wondolowski’s ’11 Campaign Closing in on Quakes Record Books
Chris Wondolowski could post one of the top-five goal-scoring seasons in Quakes history with one more strike. He could also become the second player in Earthquakes history to score 13 or more goals in San Jose twice. The five best single-season goal outputs in club history include:
1. Chris Wondolowski – 18 goals in 2010
2. Ronald Cerritos – 15 goals in 1999
3. Ariel Graziani – 14 goals in 2001
4. Ronald Cerritos – 13 goals in 1998
5. Paul Bravo – 13 goals in 1996
Wondo has 12 goals so far this season. Three other players in Quakes history have tallied 12 goals in a single season: Cerritos in 1997, Landon Donovan in 2003, and Brian Ching in 2004.
Goals on the Road
Chris Wondolowski is No. 2 in MLS in goals scored on the road with six. He added to that total in San Jose’s last away game in Colorado on Sept. 24, slotting in the first goal of the game to put the host Rapids on their heels. Seattle’s Fredy Montero leads the league with nine.
Beitashour Extends Team Lead in Assists
Second-year right back Steven Beitashour extended his team lead in assists with his sixth of the season on Oct. 1 in a 1-1 draw against Sporting Kansas City at Buck Shaw Stadium. The San Jose native sent a long cross that found Chris Wondolowski at the far post for a left-footed volley in the 85th minute. Beitashour has more assists in 2011 than any Quakes defender has recorded in a single season since Chris Leitch had seven in 2009.
Beitashour Among League Leaders in Assist Rate
Only five players who have appeared in 16 games or more this season have a better assist-per-90-minutes rate than Quakes defender Steven Beitashour. The second-year right back is tops amongst defenders with a rate of 0.39 assists per 90 minutes. David Beckham leads the league with a clip of 0.66.
Sporting Kansas City Dominance at Home
The Earthquakes extended their unbeaten streak against Sporting Kansas City at home to 13 games after a 1-1 draw on Oct. 1 at Buck Shaw Stadium. San Jose is 8-0-5 during that stretch. Including playoff games, the streak is now 15.
Club Record for Ties in a Single Season
The Earthquakes set a new club record for ties in a single season with 14 after three consecutive draws. The stretch includes back-to-back-to-back 1-1 draws against Portland on Sept. 21, Colorado on Sept. 24 and Sporting KC on Oct. 1. The previous mark for ties in a single season was 11 in 2004.
Quakes Set Career Milestones for Minutes Played
After 31 games, many Earthquakes players have set new all-time career highs for minutes played in a single season. The list includes:
Steven Beitashour – 1,385; Previous record: 640 in 2010
Bobby Burling – 1,771; Previous record: 1,659 in 2008 with Chivas USA
Jon Busch – 2,790; Previous record: 2,700 in 2009 with Chicago Fire
Justin Morrow – 540; Previous record: 59 in 2010
Brad Ring – 1,499; Previous record: 435 in 2010
Khari Stephenson – 2,014; Previous record: 776 in 2010
Chris Wondolowski – 2,402; Previous record: 2,308 in 2010
Busch the Shot Stopper
Thirty-one games into the season, Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch is No. 2 in the league in saves with 109. New England Revolution keeper Matt Reis leads the pack with 111 saves in 27 matches.
Hernandez Moves Up All-Time Starts List
Hernandez moved to within four starts of No. 8 on the Earthquakes’ all-time starts list on Oct. 1 with his 90 minutes played against Sporting Kansas City. The defender has started 96 games since joining San Jose at the outset of the 2008 campaign. Next on the list is Eddie Lewis who started 100 games during his Quakes career from 1996-1999.
The Jester Wins the Next Krazy George Contest
Fairfield native Shawn “The Jester” Christianson won the Next Krazy George Contest and performed alongside Krazy George during the Earthquakes’ match against Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 1 at Buck Shaw Stadium. Christianson won the fan vote on www.sjearthquakes.com by a margin of 12,724 to 5,250 over the next-closest competitor, “Vinsanity.”
Verizon Adopt-a-School
The San Jose Earthquakes visited KIPP Heartwood Academy in East San Jose on Sept. 30 to donate sports equipment collected as part of the Verizon Adopt-a-School program. In all, the Earthquakes and Verizon collected over 150 balls and equipment and over 100 jerseys, shorts and other apparel. Rafael Baca, Anthony Ampaipitakwong, and Ellis McLouglin were in attendance to sign autographs and take photographs with the kids.
Earthquake vs. Shark – The Final Showdown
Earlier in 2011, Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers went toe-to-toe on the ice in a skills competition that resulted in a tie. To settle the draw, the two faced off again at Buck Shaw Stadium in early September in a penalty-kick shootout. To watch the video and find out who won, click here.
Quakes in the Community
Get Earthquakes Fit School Assembly
Who: Chris Wondolowski
Location: Ellis Elementary School; Sunnyvale, CA
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Details: Wondolowski will visit Ellis Elementary School on behalf of the Get Earthquakes Fit Program. The 2010 Golden Boot winner will speak with 250 third and fourth graders about the importance of health and fitness and participate in one of the Get Earthquakes Fit exercises. After the presentation, he will sign autographs for all the students.
About Get Earthquakes Fit: Get Earthquakes Fit is a fun, five-week program designed by Earthquakes Head Athletic Trainer Bruce Morgan to increase physical activity in the classroom and at home. This fall, 10 local schools will be incorporating this program in their 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.
BJ Hom Memorial 5K Run
Who: The Shaker Girls and the Earthquakes mascot, ‘Q’
Location: Lake Cunningham Park; Cypress Pavilion, 2305 S. White Rd., San Jose, CA 95148
Date: Saturday, October 8
Time: 7:30 to 10 a.m.
Details: The 5K run is being held in honor of BJ Hom, a young San Jose resident who at the age of 18 tragically lost his life due to anaphylactic shock. BJ unknowingly ingested trace amounts of peanuts to which he was allergic. The BJ Hom Memorial 5K Run will raise necessary funds to help support FAAN’s mission to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on the behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis. ‘Q’ and the Shakers will be there to cheer on participants and mingle with fans.
San Jose Open Air Health Fair
Who: The Shaker Girls and the Earthquakes mascot, ‘Q’
Location: San Jose Flea Market; 1590 Berryessa Road, San Jose, CA
Date: Sunday, October 9, 2011
Time: 11 to 4 p.m.
Details: ‘Q’ and the Shakers will be there to mingle with fans, sign autographs, and hand out Earthquakes memorabilia.
