There’s no mystery that the Earthquakes have relied heavily on Chris Wondolowski to put the ball in the back of the net since the team returned from a two-year hiatus in 2008. Wondolowski has tallied 129 goals for the Quakes, including 10+ every year since 2010. He’s an oddity, a rarity, a legend.
What you probably didn’t know is that Danny Hoesen is quietly having one of the most productive seasons by a Quakes’ forward (not named Wondolowski) in quite some time.
Excluding the Supporters’ Shield season of 2012, Hoesen’s seven goals in MLS and U.S. Open Cup play this season rank second among all players to don an Earthquakes’ kit since 2008. He has tallied four MLS goals and another three in Open Cup play, including one in each of the team’s final three matches of the competition.
13 – Alan Gordon (2012)
11 – Ryan Johnson (2009
11 – Steven Lenhart (2012)
8 – Simon Dawkins (2012)
7 – Danny Hoesen (2017)
6 – Quincy Amarikwa (2016)
6 – Simon Dawkins (2011)
6 – Darren Huckerby (2008)
5 – Simon Dawkins (2015)
5 – Ryan Johnson (2008)
5 – Steven Lenhart (2011)
5 – Khari Stephenson (2011)
Hoesen has appeared in 30 of San Jose’s 32 games to date, even though he has made just 18 starts. His strike rate (0.33 goals per 90 min.) is similar to Real Salt Lake’s Joao Plata (0.29), Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron (0.34), Orlando City’s Dom Dwyer (0.35) and Sporting KC’s Gerso Fernandes (0.35) – all very reputable names in Major League Soccer.
Hoesen is the lone Quakes player (again, outside Wondolowski) to tally 7+ goals and 4+ assists between the two competitions this season. Wondolowski (2012, 2014, 2017) and Alan Gordon (2012) are the only two others to have accomplished the feat since ’08.
