The San Jose Earthquakes’ young trio of Cade Cowell (17), JT Marcinkowski (23) and Jackson Yueill (23) were called to the United States U-23 National Team on Tuesday morning for a two-week training camp.
Cowell, less than three months removed from his 17th birthday, is the youngest player called to the camp. Let’s take a look at his rapid rise over the past two years:
2017-18 – Cowell leads the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-15 level with 34 goals in 32 appearances for Ballistic United. He joins the Quakes Academy soon after.
September 18, 2018 – Cowell earns his first national team call-up at any level, joining the U.S. U-16s. He would score on his international debut days later.
September 28, 2018 – Fresh off his call-up to the U-16s, 14-year-old Cowell joins the U.S. U-17s and is the youngest player called to the camp. He would appear in all three matches of the Nike International Friendlies and score against Chile.
January 23, 2019 – Cowell signs a Homegrown Player contract with the Earthquakes, becoming the youngest player in club history and fourth youngest signing ever in Major League Soccer at the time. He was 15 years and 102 days old upon putting pen to paper.
March 23, 2019 – Seeing the field in a Quakes uniform for the first time, Cowell scored on his first touch in a friendly vs. Mexico’s C.F. Monterrey. Monterrey, a powerhouse in North America, would go on to win the Concacaf Champions League two months later.
June 8, 2019 – Cowell makes his USL Championship debut with Reno 1868 FC and scores in the 17th minute against San Antonio FC.
June 11, 2019 – Cowell makes his competitive debut for San Jose, entering as a second-half substitute in a 4-3 win over Sacramento Republic FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
March 7, 2020 – Cowell makes his MLS debut, playing the entire second half against Minnesota United FC.
August 29, 2020 – Cowell earns his first MLS start against the LA Galaxy and scores his first MLS goal in the 59th minute.
September 27, 2020 – The Ceres, Calif. native is directly involved in the late game-winning goal over LAFC. The win propels San Jose on a 6-3-1 run to finish the season.
October 14, 2020 – Cowell earns his first MLS assist, dribbling past his defender and flicking a pass across the box to oncoming attacker Nick Lima.
November 22, 2020 – Cowell plays 33 minutes in his first MLS Cup Playoff action.
January 5, 2020 – Seventeen-year-old Cowell receives a call-up to the U.S. U-23s. He’s 15 months younger than any other player invited.
