The San Jose Earthquakes opened the 2016 preseason with a friendly against the club’s U-18 academy at Avaya Stadium on Wednesday evening. Quakes season ticket holders in attendance were also treated to the official unveiling of the team’s new white and red secondary kits.
“This is a tradition that [head coach] Dominic [Kinnear] started in Houston,” said general manager John Doyle. “I think it’s a tradition that we’ll continue. It’s great for the youth academy to get to play against a professional team and it’s a celebration of the San Jose Earthquakes. I thought it was a great event.”
Donning the Earthquakes primary blue kit with Sutter Health written across the chest, the U-18 academy got valuable experience playing against professional players in a professional environment. The team, which also featured several U-16 call-ups, held their own through the first 45 minutes, entering the locker rooms at halftime down one goal to nil.
"I thought it was great night to be part of the Quakes family,” said academy head coach Paul Holocher. “I know the academy players really had fun and enjoyed the opportunity of playing inside Avaya Stadium on that amazing field. We knew we would be doing a lot of defending, but the boys also showed some really good moments with the ball. We were able to play a lot of our players, both on the 18s and 16s, and it will be an experience they will remember for a very long time.”
San Jose’s first team, clad in the sparkling new red and white jerseys, eventually pulled away in the second half, earning an 8-0 victory on goals by Clarence Goodson, Mark Sherrod (2), Chad Barrett (2), Tommy Thompson, Matheus Silva and Sanna Nyassi.
Fans got their first look at several new faces, including rookies Andrew Tarbell, Patrick Hodan, Kip Colvey and Ty Thompson, as well as free agent signing Chad Barrett, who all made their way onto the pitch at halftime.
At the conclusion of the match, season ticket holders got to mingle with the Earthquakes players, getting autographs, taking photos, participating in interactive Q&As and even playing FIFA 16.
The Quakes return to action this Saturday, January 30, in a closed-door match against the San Francisco Stompers at the Earthquakes Training Facility.
