SAN JOSE, CA - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that forward Brian Ching will undergo surgery to repair a torn right hamstring muscle on Thursday, June 30. Ching injured his hamstring in the Quakes reserve league match last Sunday against the Los Angeles Galaxy reserves.
Ching had a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury. After reviewing the results of the MRI, surgery was scheduled for Thursday by the Earthquakes medical staff.
Ching originally strained his right hamstring on May 14 in the Quakes match against FC Dallas. He missed five matches with the injury and returned to play as a substitute on June 18 against Real Salt Lake. He also appeared as a second half sub against the Galaxy on June 25 in the Quakes 3-0 win.
Ching, 26, is tied for second on the Quakes with four goals and has also dished out two assists. He was named the Maggiano's Player of the Month for April. Overall, this season, the Haleiwa, HI native has appeared in nine games for San Jose, starting seven. In his Quakes career, he has played 49 games, scoring 22 goals (third best in club history) and notching eight assists. He is also tied for first in club history in goals per game (0.45) with fellow teammate Ronald Cerritos.
Midfielder James Twellman, who has appeared in seven reserve league games in 2005, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Earthquakes practice on Tuesday, June 28. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2005 season. He scored one goal in the MLS reserve league. </p>
