Adam Jahn has already won a league championship in 2014. For a follow-up act, a single win might suffice.
Jahn, the second-year forward out of Stanford, stepped right into the San Jose Earthquakes starting lineup Wednesday against Portland, replacing team captain Chris Wondolowski for his first significant MLS minutes of 2014.
Although the 23-year-old was unable to keep the Quakes’ winless streak from reaching 12 straight with a 3-0 loss to the Timbers, Jahn came the closest to getting San Jose on the board in an oft-frustrating night at Providence Park. With the Quakes already down three, a deflected San Jose shot fell on the stroke of the 85th minute at the feet of Jahn, who turned and fired a left-footer from 14 yards. Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was beaten, but the blast struck the crossbar and bounced out.
“I hit it hard and high,” Jahn said. “A few inches lower would have been nice, but that’s the way it goes.”
It would have been a great capstone to the first MLS start of the season for Jahn, who had seen action in just two matches – for a total of six minutes – before Wondolowski’s late call-up to the US national team for a friendly against Ecuador on Friday.
“He gives you an honest shift,” Quakes coach Mark Watson said of Jahn. “He did some good things in the game.”
Jahn succeeded after being pressed into duty as a rookie early last season, scoring four goals in his first nine appearances. He hasn’t had one since in MLS play, however, a span of 720 minutes over 16 games.
Jahn spent much of 2014 with the Quakes’ USL PRO affiliate, Sacramento Republic FC, where he netted six goals for the club and went 80 minutes in their title-clinching 2-0 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Sept. 27.
It was a hometown learning experience for Jahn, who grew up in the Sacramento area. The graduate of Jesuit High in suburban Carmichael took heart from the words of Sacramento’s coach, former Toronto FC and Chivas USA leader Preki.
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“Preki, his main advice to the players is, ‘Be brave and go for it, take players on when you get a chance and have no fear,’” Jahn said. “I tried to take that into this game. There really wasn’t anything to lose going out there. We’re out of the playoffs, so it was a great opportunity to go for it. And that really hit home with me.”
Jahn might get another chance as the Quakes seem poised to go young while playing out the string on their 2014 schedule. Wondolowski, Victor Bernardez, Atiba Harris and Cordell Cato were all absent on international duty Wednesday and are expected to miss the Quakes’ trip to Real Salt Lake on the weekend. In addition, Matias Perez Garcia was held out against the Timbers as a precautionary measure, and Jordan Stewart was given a rest. That opened playing time for rookies Tommy Thompson and JJ Koval, joining Jahn in an injection of youth into San Jose’s starting XI.
“It was good to see some of the young guys starting,” Jahn said. “It was good that Mark showed faith in us. So we’re really grateful for that.”
