The Earthquakes are currently enjoying a stretch of good form in the preseason as they have gone undefeated in three matches at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The team has posted a 2-0-1 record there and has one match remaining in Carson before coming back to San Jose on Wednesday evening.
Injury Report
Ian Russell - (L- Calf Strain) - Day to Day
Tighe Dombrowski - (L- Quad Strain) - Day to Day
Misc. Notes
De Rosario Returns To Quakes For 2005
The San Jose Earthquakes announced that the club has signed forward Dwayne De Rosario to a new contract. The Canadian international returns to the club for a fifth season after helping the Quakes win two MLS Cup titles in his four-year career. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. De Rosario, 26, has spent four seasons with the Earthquakes, scoring 18 goals and notching 18 assists from 2001-2004. Last season, he became the first Quakes player to win the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Year for his stunning strike against D.C. United on August 7. He scored five goals for San Jose in 2004. The Scarborough, Ontario native is best remembered for scoring the winning goal for San Jose in overtime of the 2001 MLS Cup Final. After entering against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 85th minute, he scored the game-winner six minutes into overtime to secure MLS Cup MVP honors in his first MLS season. He is currently in the top ten in three separate categories in Quakes club history, placing fifth in points (54), sixth in goals (18) and eighth in assists (18).
Player 29 Sweepstakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are proud to announce an incredible sweepstakes to provide one lucky fan the chance to become the Quakes "Player 29" on the roster for the 2005 season. Once selected, "Player 29" will participate in a special signing ceremony with Earthquakes President & General Manager Alexi Lalas, receive their own official game jersey including name and number and will be introduced along with the rest of the team on the field at the Quakes season-opener on April 2 at Spartan Stadium. "Player 29" will then watch the Quakes take on the New England Revolution from a special bench seating area and will receive an official Earthquakes warm-up suit. "Player 29" will also be featured in the club's official 2005 team photo and media guide. Earthquakes season-ticket holders as of February 28, 2005 are automatically entered into the sweepstakes, while fans can also enter to win online at the Quakes website or by picking up an official entry from the Earthquakes Front Office located at 100 North Almaden Ave. in downtown San Jose. There is a limit of one entry per person, and all participants must be residents of California and at least 18 years old. For official rules and to enter, visit www.sjearthquakes.com.
Earthquakes tie U.S. national team
The San Jose Earthquakes continued their fine play in Los Angeles as they played the United States national team to a 0-0 tie on Sunday. Head coach Dominic Kinnear started the following lineup: GK Pat Onstad, D Craig Waibel, D Eddie Robinson, D Troy Dayak, D Wade Barrett, M Wes Hart, M Ricardo Clark, D Danny O'Rourke, M Brad Davis, F Ronald Cerritos, F Alejandro Moreno.
"I thought that we moved the ball very well today," said Kinnear. "With a little bit more luck, we would have put a few in the back of the net. I think it was a good performance for our guys."
Quakes Preseason Continues
The Earthquakes have played nine preseason matches so far with six taking place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and three at The Home Depot Center. The team has posted a 4-2-3 record in those games. The Quakes have one final game in Los Angeles against UCLA on Tuesday afternoon before returning to the Bay Area on March 9. The Earthquakes will then spend a week in the Bay Area, before making their final trek of the preseason to Charleston, South Carolina to play in the Carolina Challenge Cup against the Charleston Battery (USL First Division), D.C. United and the Columbus Crew. The games for the tournament will be played at Blackbaud Stadium, home of the Battery. The team will be in Charleston from March 17 - 26 and kicks off the tournament with a match against D.C. United March 19 at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Quakes next play Columbus March 22 at 6:00 p.m. ET and finish up preseason training with a game against the Battery on March 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Preseason Schedule and Results (4-2-3)
Feb. 13 - 1-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake
Feb. 14 - 1-1 tie vs. United States Under-20s (Ronér)
Feb. 16 - 2-0 win vs. Chicago Fire (Davis, Levesque)
Feb. 17 - 1-0 loss vs. MetroStars
Feb. 20 - 1-1 tie vs. Kansas City Wizards (Wondolowski)
Feb. 22 - 6-2 win vs. U.S. Under-17 team (Jallow (4), Barrett, Moreno)
Mar. 3 - 2-1 win vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (Moreno, Wondolowski)
Mar. 4 - 3-0 win vs. CD Chivas USA (Hart, Levesque, Nash)
Mar. 6 - 0-0 tie vs. U.S. national team
Mar. 8 - Earthquakes vs. UCLA at 3:30 p.m. PT
Mar. 19 - Earthquakes vs. D.C. United at 8:15 p.m. ET
Mar. 22 - Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew at 6:00 p.m. ET
Mar. 25 - Earthquakes vs. Charleston Battery at 6:00 p.m. ET
Ronér Steps Away
The San Jose Earthquakes announced last week that midfielder/defender Chris Ronér has stepped away from his professional soccer career, ending his current attempt to rejoin the team in the preseason following major surgery on his ankle in 2004. Ronér, 25, did not play for San Jose last season after starting 21 games in 2003 and securing a place for himself in Earthquakes history by scoring the series-tying goal in the 90th minute of the Quakes memorable 5-2 come-from-behind overtime win against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Nov. 9, 2003. The San Francisco native was placed on the Quakes injured list last season after undergoing allograft surgery to repair a cartilage lesion in his right ankle. Ronér is the first professional athlete to attempt a comeback following the complicated and intensive allograft surgery.
Individual Tickets Now on Sale
Individual tickets for 2005 San Jose Earthquakes games are now on sale. Individual ticket prices for the Earthquakes 2005 regular season are $45 (VIP), $30 (West Sideline), $16 (East Sideline and Corners) and $13 (Endzone). Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Earthquakes Ticket Office at 100 North Almaden Ave., by logging onto www.sjearthquakes.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 408-998-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, 925-685-TIXS, or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including Tower Records, Rite Aid and Ritmo Latino. Discounted tickets for groups of 15 or more are available by calling 408-985-GOAL.
Schedule Change
The kick-off time for one of the Quakes two matches at Club Deportivo Chivas USA has been changed. The Quakes match at Chivas USA on Saturday, September 17 will now start at 7:00 p.m. PT.
Season Tickets on Sale Now
San Jose Earthquakes season ticket packages for the 2005 season at Spartan Stadium are now on sale. The Earthquakes 2005 season ticket package features 18 games, including all MLS regular season games and special bonus games. The Quakes season ticket pricing once again consists of a Youth (14 and younger) and a Senior (60 and over) discount in three price levels. Prices for the 2005 season ticket packages are $198 adult ($162 youth/senior) for Endzone, $252 adult ($198 youth/senior) for East Sideline, $450 ($396 youth/senior) for West Sideline and $720 for VIP seats. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Earthquakes Ticket Office at 100 North Almaden Ave., by logging onto www.sjearthquakes.com or by contacting the Earthquakes Ticket Office at (408) 985-GOAL.
