On Saturday against Real Salt Lake, the Quakes were missing six starters due to national team call-ups and suspension. How do you think the team was able to react to the absences?
Dwayne De Rosario: "The way we played, especially in the first half, is a credit to the guys that came in and filled in the roles. There were some big shoes to fill, and I thought the guys came in and did very well."
You scored your career-high eighth goal of the season on Saturday against Real Salt Lake. What happened on that play?
DDR: "I actually tried to pass it to [Brian] Mullan, but I think [Brian] Dunseth hit it with his left knee and then it bounced back and there was a scramble with the defender. I saw the ball just sitting there waiting for me, it was there just sitting for me. So I just kind of swung it toward the net and luckily it went in. That was a great goal for me to start us off the right way."
Can you describe what happened and what kind of a communication breakdown occurred on Salt Lake's first goal Saturday?
DDR: "I don't know what I was thinking, that is a good question. I am going to look at the video and try to come up with an explanation for that one. I don't know. It was totally my fault, and I don't know what else to say."
This week, the Earthquakes face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final game of the regular season. How are you and the Quakes approaching this match?
DDR: "Well, it is the game before the playoffs, so it is important; especially since it is L.A., our biggest rival. Of course, playing in L.A., we want to show our authority. We want to show that we can beat them in The Home Depot Center and put a lot of pressure on them going into the playoffs. I am sure they want to do the same thing to us. Going into the playoffs they want to battle us, so it isn't going to be an easy game. We are going to go in there and play the way we play every game and see what happens."
Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear said he removed you from the game against Real Salt Lake with four minutes remaining so you could get the ovation that you deserved after such a strong regular season. How did it feel to leave the field to a standing ovation?
DDR: "It was a great feeling, to have the fans cheering for me like that. It always feels rewarding. I try to give 100 percent in every game and try to give everything I have on the field for my team and the fans. Dom told me that he wanted to pull me out and give me that standing ovation, which was great. For him to give me the captain's armband on Saturday was a great honor for me. It was such a great feeling to captain the Earthquakes for the first time. I am very grateful for that. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win but at least we got the point and kept the undefeated streak at home."
What does it mean to this team and this organization to have such a successful year and become the first team in league history to finish a regular season undefeated at home?
DDR: "It is great. It puts the league and whoever else wants to get rid of us under a lot of pressure. When you have a streak like we have at home, it is a difficult thing to do. How do you get rid of a team like this? Everyone here just plays hard because they love San Jose; they love the organization. It's a great honor to go the whole season undefeated, and especially to be the first team to do that. Every guy in this locker room's name will be on that record, and that is something that we will have forever."
