SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed goalkeeper Evan Newton and defender Josh Suggs. Per league and team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Newton was with the Houston Dynamo a season ago, but he did not make any league appearances for the 2011 MLS Cup finalists after being selected by the club in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft. Newton joined FC Tampa Bay of the North American Soccer League (NASL) on loan on May 5, and played all 90 minutes of two league matches, making 12 saves and recording a win and a tie, including a 4-0 clean sheet at Atlanta on Aug. 6.
Newton, who now joins veteran starter Jon Busch and second-year professional David Bingham as the Quakes’ goalkeeping contingent in 2012, spent five years at Old Dominion University in his native Virginia, leaving as the program’s all-time leader in saves (254) and shutouts (36). He was a two-time NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region and three-time All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree, guiding the Monarchs to three NCAA Championship berths and the 2007 CAA title.
Suggs last played for the Los Angeles Blues of the United Soccer Leagues Professional Division (USL PRO) during the league’s inaugural season in 2011. The outside defender previously played four years at Humboldt State, like star Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski’s alma mater Chico State an NCAA Division II member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. As a midfielder and forward for the Lumberjacks, Suggs tallied 22 goals and seven assists over 73 games, earning All-CCAA recognition his last three years and finishing No. 6 on the program’s all-time scoring chart.
Suggs played the full 90 minutes of a 1-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the Quakes reserves in an MLS Reserve League match on Sept. 6, 2011, while on a week-long trial with the club, earning an invite back for training camp.
Transactions: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign GK Evan Newton and D Josh Suggs.
Evan Newton
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: April 1, 1988, in Virginia Beach, Va.
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Last Club: Houston Dynamo
College: Old Dominion
Citizenship: USA
Josh Suggs
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170 lbs.
Born: April 26, 1989, in Las Cruces, N.M.
Hometown: Las Cruces, N.M.
Last Club: Los Angeles Blues (USL)
College: Humboldt State
Citizenship: USA
