FEATURE: Quakes Academy Teams Gear Up for 2024-25 MLS NEXT Season

Coming off a banner year featuring league titles, deep runs in the top tournaments and a parade of youth national team call-ups, the San Jose Earthquakes Academy is aiming to raise the bar even higher for the 2024-25 MLS NEXT campaign.

With new faces on the player rosters, a familiar one joining the coaching staff, as well as a slight change in the age groups due to MLS NEXT’s moving the Pro Pathway to the Under-16 and Under-18 divisions, this season shapes up to be another memorable one. The future is bright in San Jose.

U-14:

The U-14 squad, led by head coach Luis Garcia, finished last season on top, clinching the MLS NEXT Northwest division title for the U-13 age group. The Black and Blue tallied the most goals scored and conceded the fewest goals at the U-13 level.

In March, the team traveled to Mexico for an action-packed week where they went undefeated against three Mexican powerhouse clubs: Atlas (1-0), Chivas (6-3) and Leones Negros (4-0).

Currently, the U-14s are on a five-game winning streak since kicking off the season in September. Striker Juan Pablo Torres is leading the way with 11 goals, which is on pace to shatter his tally of 32 the year prior. Torres’ twin brother Max has also established himself as a linking midfielder and precision passer.

In addition to the existing players born in 2011, an influx of talented 2012s have joined the fray. Tristan Saesee Flores, Anthony Garcia, Shemar Spivey and Ma’Kai Goodson are some of the names that have distinguished themselves so far in the early campaign.

U-15:

The U-15s also enter this season fresh off being crowned MLS NEXT Northwest Division Champions. They scored the most goals and conceded the fewest goals across the board in the U-14 age group.

To close the campaign, the team traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to participate in three games at the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase, returning home with all nine points.

Club legend Steven Beitashour returns to San Jose as the new head coach of the U-15s after recently being named one of the 50 Greatest Quakes in club history. Beitashour was a stalwart defender for San Jose from 2010-13 and helped lead the Black and Blue to the Supporters’ Shield in 2012.

Currently undefeated early in the season, the squad is led by Orion Jolliff, who was named one of Top Drawer Soccer’s MLS NEXT U-15 Players to Watch. The defender was called up to U.S. Youth National Team training camps three times last year. Rocky Rommel, Ezra Mahteme, Zaid Olivo and Jeffrey Lara are some of the other players emerging so far.

U-16:

The U-16 team made program history last year by being the first Quakes Academy team in the age group to reach the U-15 quarterfinals of the Generation adidas Cup, one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the world.

With MLS youth academies and professional youth academies from Europe, Africa, Central America and South America competing, head coach Erin Ridley led the boys to a first-place finish in their group before finally falling in the final eight. They finished the season with a 27-13-3 record (100 GF, 47 GA).

Kaedren Spivey enjoyed a breakout season last year in 21 games, scoring 11 goals, with three in the GA Cup. The attacking midfielder was named the U-15 MLS NEXT 2023-24 national MVP for his efforts. The Quakes Academy is a family affair for the Spiveys; older brother Jermaine currently plies his trade for San Jose’s MLS NEXT Pro team, The Town FC, while younger brother Shemar has joined the stacked U-14 squad.

In May, forward Will Ostrander, who netted 27 times last season, joined Spivey on the United States U-15 team that competed in the Vlatko Markovic Tournament, where the two Quakes standouts helped bring home the championship. Last year, Spivey was called up to U.S. Youth National Team training camps four times, Ostrander three times and forward Jorge Torres twice. This season, Torres, alongside defender Roi Shalon and forward Warren Boyce look to take their development to another level.

On the coaching front, Ridley recently finished the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL) program in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF).

U-18:

Head coach Steven Sosa — who also completed the distinguished EFCL program alongside Ridley — and the U-18s enter the new season after a strong showing last year.

In the 2023-24 MLS NEXT FLEX as U-17s, the Black and Blue defeated the two-time GA Cup champions Philadelphia Union via penalty kicks during group stage play and advanced to the semifinals, where they were ultimately eliminated. At the GA Cup, the team beat Real Salt Lake via penalty kicks to reach the semifinals where they were ultimately eliminated.

The past season produced an abundance of individual success for players. Midfielder Rohan Rajagopal signed a contract as a Homegrown Player, joining teammate Chance Cowell, who did so in 2023. Cowell and defender Oliver Tan were called up in August to the U.S. U-17s for international competition.

Additionally, forward Tomo Allen, midfielder Oliver Hernandez, midfielder Rohan Rajagopal, and forward Chance Cowell made their professional debuts for the Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro team, The Town FC. Rajagopal and Allen were named to the West roster for the MLS NEXT All-Star Game in July. Rajagopal recently made his first start for The Town FC vs LAFC. Defender Alex Ling is also among the players to watch.

Currently, the U-18s have four college commitments: Allen to Stanford, Hernandez to Oregon State, Hudson Kohler to Dartmouth and Connor Owen to Columbia.