SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Quakes Aim for Playoffs in Year Two

After their return to Major League Soccer in 2008, the San Jose Earthquakes are back and looking to improve on last season's promising efforts. San Jose will have last year's leading scorer with six goals, Englishman Darren Huckerby, for a full campaign. Joining Huckerby are a slough of new additions to the squad, including two international players: Bobby Convey, a midfielder, and Simon Elliott, a seven-year MLS veteran. Also joining the squad are a talented trio of forwards: Cam Weaver and Pablo Campos, who come from European clubs, and Quincy Amarikwa, who was picked in the MLS SuperDraft to help bolster the attack.

Darren Huckerby hopes to spark the Quakes attack in 2009. Photo: John Todd/isiphotos.com.

There were many highlights from the 2008 campaign, which saw the Earthquakes make their return to MLS after a two-year absence. One of those was the arrival of Huckerby, an attacking midfielder from Norwich City, England. He was acquired midseason and immediately brought a new passion and energy to the Quakes. The highlight of a nine-game unbeaten streak was a dominating 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution. Young stars in the making also emerged throughout the course of 2008. Forward Ryan Johnson came on strong at the end of the season by scoring five goals. Midfielder Shea Salinas also showed some great flashes of play in his time on the field.

Joe Cannon, last year's MLS saves leader, returns to tend the goal for the Earthquakes after re-upping with the club in the off-season. The duo of Nick Garcia and Jason Hernandez will help anchor a defense that only conceded 38 goals in 2008, which was fourth-best in MLS. Eric Denton, Ryan Cochrane and Kelly Gray also return defensively, while the Quakes added right back Chris Leitch in a preseason trade, so they can count on a deep and experienced backline in 2009.

Convey comes back stateside after time spent with English side Reading F.C. He joins a deep group of players with midfield experience: Huckerby, Arturo Alvarez, Ramiro Corrales, Shea Salinas and Simon Elliott.

With two-time MLS Cup-winning head coach Frank Yallop on board for 2009, the Earthquakes will bring a lot of excitement to Santa Clara's Buck Shaw Stadium and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in their home games in 2009. The team had one of the highest home attendance averages in team history last season and the fans created one of the best home-field advantages in the league. That home atmosphere, combined with a new-look roster, figures to make 2009 a banner year for the Earthquakes. For information visit, www.SJEarthquakes.com