By Melissa McKenzie
It’s been quite the off-season for San Jose.
After declining options on Khari Stephenson, Eduardo, Cornell Glen and Geovanni, the Quakes lost Arturo Alvarez and Joe Cannon to the expansion draft. Alvarez, who had three goals and one assist for San Jose in the 2010 regular season and one assist in the playoffs, was drafted by the Portland Timbers and Cannon, a graduate of local Santa Clara University, went 6-4 for the Quakes before succumbing to a broken foot in practice, was sent to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
To fill in some of the gap left by the departing players, the Quakes signed midfielder Tony Donatelli and forward Steven Lenhart. Donatelli, who most recently played with the Montreal Impact from 2008-2010, scored seven goals and had three assists with Montreal and Lenhart, who played last season on the Columbus Crew, appeared in 27 games and scored a career-high six goals while racking up two assists. The Quakes also acquired goalkeeper David Bingham. Bingham, a member of the Generation adidas class of 2011, registered eight shutouts in 20 matches and allowed more than one goal on only four occasions last season at Cal.
During the SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft the Quakes picked up midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong, defender Victor Cortez and goalkeeper Philip Tuttle. Ampaipitakwong scored 17 goals and notched 30 assists during his four years at Akron and was voted Soccer America Team MVP First Team in 2010. Cortez, out of USF, appeared in 70 games and scored three goals and had one assist with the Dons last year and Tuttle, compiled a 7-4-2 record including two shutouts with Notre Dame last season. Tuttle also helped lead the Fighting Irish to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
The Quakes’ season kicks off at home against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Notes and Tidbits:
The Quakes kicked off preseason play on February 7 against Chivas USA in Los Angeles. The 105-minute scrimmage ended with a 1-0 Chivas victory.
The Quakes will be playing the LA Galaxy in a scrimmage at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 10 at The Home Depot Center
MLS will release the official 2011 season schedule on Thursday, February 10.
Chris Wondolowski will begin the Golden Boot Tour in his hometown of Danville at Norm’s Bar and Grill. Wondo will participate in a question-and-answer session, sign autographs and pose for pictures from 3 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 13.
