SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Chris Wondolowski is the only player in MLS history to reach the 10-goal plateau in six consecutive seasons.
At the age of 33, is it fair to expect San Joseās Mr. Consistency to simply churn out yet another double-digit scoring season?
āI never assume anything about Chris, just because heās proved me wrong for so many years,ā Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear told reporters Friday, ahead of their season opener at home Sunday against the Colorado Rapids (3 pm ET, MLS Live). āIn saying that, heās a good finisher, and forwards in this league do get chances. And I think when that happens with Chris, heās going to score goals. I would be surprised if he didnāt [reach 10 goals].ā
The last time Wondolowski was held to single digits was 2009, before he established himself as a starter under then-coach Frank Yallop. After tallying 16 goals in Kinnearās return season to San Jose -- becoming the ninth player to join the MLS Century Club -- the Quakesā captain is once again willing to shoulder the responsibility of serving as the lynchpin of San Joseās offense.
āI always have expectations and goals that I set for myself,ā Wondolowski said. āFirst and foremost is wins and things of that nature. But I definitely have personal goals that Iāve set for myself, because Iāll definitely find myself on a few chances, and I think 10 is a reasonable [goal].ā
There is potential reason for caution, if preseason results are any kind of guide. The Quakes scored only four goals in six games against professional clubs, and were shutout by all three MLS opponents -- New England, Houston and LA -- during the month of February. Even including wins against three amateur sides, Wondolowski has not found the back of the net thus far in 2016.
āNo,ā was Wondolowskiās simple answer when asked if he was worried. āThatās why you have preseason. . . . The thing that we were worried about was the chances that we created. We created a lot of chances. A few of those goals, one or two were called offsides, but we werenāt, one [was] a foul. So I think the numbers can be skewed one way or another, but thatās why weāre not really worried about having zero goals against those three [MLS opponents].ā
By not taking part in the US national teamās January camp for the first time in a half-decade, Wondolowski was able to participate in the Quakesā entire preseason preparations, acclimating to newcomers such as returning Quake Simon Dawkins and Panamanian international Alberto Quintero and deepening his partnership with Quincy Amarikwa, who scored six goals in just 17 games last season after joining San Jose midseason.
Amarikwa could play a key role in how Wondolowski fares. A bulldog in a 5-foot-9 frame, Amarikwaās dirty work in the center of the pitch helps open up holes in opposing defenses; historically, Wondolowski has often needed no more than a few inchesā worth of clearance to hammer home a goal.
With Dawkins and Quintero in the fold, a recovering Innocent on the pitch -- plus a full season of Anibal Godoy organizing things at the base of the midfield -- this is arguably the most firepower a Quakes team has boasted since 2012. That club set a San Jose franchise record with 72 goals.
āOn paper, yes. I think we have more weapons, we have more depth than we had last year,ā Kinnear allowed. āBut like I said, itās on paper. We havenāt kicked the ball yet. Hopefully by the end of that year, Iām answering that question by saying, āAll those additions really scored a lot of goals for us and made us a much better team going forward.āā