SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Earthquakes look for return to postseason

The San Jose Earthquakes have an optimistic outlook for 2012 following a busy and productive offseason. The excitement around the organization and fan base can be attributed to a solid blend of returners and new acquisitions as the franchise looks toward a return to postseason play.

Local Danville product Chris Wondolowski has become one of the stars of MLS for the San Jose Earthquakes.Photo: John Todd

Head coach Frank Yallop will again rely first and foremost on star striker Chris Wondolowski for offensive output. The Bay Area native and crowd favorite generated a remarkable 34 goals over the past two seasons, earning at least a share of the league's scoring title each year.

To help Wondolowski, Yallop and General Manager John Doyle orchestrated the return of Steven Lenhart and Simon Dawkins, and the arrivals of Jean-Marc Alexandre, Marvin Chavez, Tressor Moreno and Shea Salinas. Lenhart was signed to an extension after producing five goals and three assists in just 14 matches in 2011. Dawkins surged onto the MLS scene with six goals and two assists on loan last year from England's Tottenham Hotspur, prompting San Jose to negotiate a new loan deal for the youngster. In between those two maneuvers, the Quakes traded for the physical Alexandre, speedy Chavez and 2008 Quakes draftee Salinas. Colombian international Moreno was signed at the playmaker spot.

On the defensive side, Jon Busch is settled in between the pipes for a third year, while captain Ramiro Corrales is at left back for his 11th season in San Jose as the club's all-time leader in appearances. Holdovers Jason Hernandez and Steven Beitashour, new signing Victor Bernardez, a Honduran compatriot of Chavez, a healthy Ike Opara and fellow third-year professional Justin Morrow should shore up the back line.

Other off-season moves included signing Wondolowski, Busch and forward Alan Gordon to new contracts. The club also brought in forward Sercan Guvenisik, the first Turkish national to join MLS, and chose UC Santa Barbara winger Sam Garza with its first pick during the SuperDraft.

Also returning from 2011 are midfielders Khari Stephenson, Sam Cronin, Joey Gjertsen, Brad Ring, Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Rafael Baca, forward Ellis McLoughlin, defender Tim Ward and goalkeeper David Bingham.

An all-time high of 19 MLS franchises play a 34-game schedule in 2012. A mid-season calendar highlight is the June 30 California Clasico with the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium. The Earthquakes closed 2011 with a club-record six-game home sellout streak, with the franchise nearing the ground-breaking of a brand-new facility in San Jose to call its own.