Weekly Update: January 19, 2016

The 2016 MLS SuperDraft came to a conclusion today with the third and fourth rounds conducted via conference call. The first and second rounds of the SuperDraft took place at the Baltimore Convention Center on Thursday, January 14, with the Quakes selecting Clemson goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell with the eighth overall pick. In addition to drafting four players from the college ranks, San Jose also signed Andres Imperiale, an Argentinian center back, to add experienced depth to its backline.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Earthquakes Announce 2016 Promotional Schedule
The San Jose Earthquakes announced the promotional schedule for the 2016 season. The schedule includes 11 promotional and heritage nights spread over Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday contests during the regular season. All heritage nights at Quakes games are presented by PG&E. After the home opener against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, March 6 (12:00 p.m.), San Jose will host D.C. United on Saturday, April 2 (7:30 p.m.) for the 20th Anniversary Match. The two clubs will recreate Major League Soccer’s Inaugural Game held in San Jose on April 6, 1996, a 1-0 win by San Jose. The Quakes will then celebrate College Night against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, April 13 (7:30 p.m.), Mexican Heritage Night against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, May 11 (7:30 p.m.) and Greek Heritage Night on Saturday, May 28 (7:30 p.m.) against FC Dallas. The theme for the California Clasico at Stanford Stadium will once again be Military Appreciation Night. The popular annual event against the LA Galaxy routinely draws crowds in excess of 50,000 and this year’s installment will be held on Saturday, June 25 (7:00 p.m.). On Saturday, July 16 against Toronto FC, Wednesday, August 24 against the New England Revolution and Saturday, September 24 against Sporting Kansas City, the Earthquakes will honor Italian Heritage Night, Vietnamese Heritage Night and Childhood Cancer Awareness Night, respectively. All three matches kick off at 7:30 p.m. The final two promotional nights of the year take place in October. On Saturday, October 1 (7:30 p.m.), the Quakes take on Real Salt Lake while celebrating Oktoberfest. San Jose will then hold Fan Appreciation Night against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, October 16 (4:00 p.m.) in what is the club’s final home game of the 2016 regular season. Full details about each promotional night will be announced at a later date.

Earthquakes Select Goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell in the First Round and Midfielder Patrick Hodan in the Second Round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft
The San Jose Earthquakes selected Generation adidas goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell from Clemson University with the eighth overall selection and Notre Dame midfielder Patrick Hodan with the 28th overall selection in the 2016 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, presented by adidas, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Tarbell, 22, played four seasons at Clemson, appearing in 56 games (55 starts) in his collegiate career. A 2015 NSCAA All-America Second Team and All-ACC First Team selection, Tarbell allowed just 22 goals in 24 games, while keeping nine clean sheets. As a senior, he led Clemson to 17 wins, tied for fourth most in school history, and an appearance in the College Cup Final. He was also named to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team and the Top Drawer Soccer Postseason Best XI Second Team. Hodan, 22, was a standout player for the University of Notre Dame for four years. He made 51 starts in 87 total appearances, scoring 29 goals and adding 19 assists. In addition to being named an NSCAA Second Team All-South Region selection, he was also named Second Team All-ACC and the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in 2015.

Earthquakes Select Defender Kip Colvey in the Third Round and Midfielder Tyler Thompson in the Fourth Round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft
The San Jose Earthquakes selected defender Kip Colvey from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the third round (49th overall) and Stanford midfielder Tyler Thompson in the fourth round (69th overall) of the 2016 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, presented by adidas. The third and fourth round picks were made via conference call. Colvey, 21, was a four-year starter for Cal Poly. He appeared in 74 matches, including 72 starts, recording four goals and nine assists. As a senior in 2015, Colvey was named to the All-Big West First Team after anchoring a backline that allowed 0.98 goals per game, second lowest in the conference. He also tallied career highs in games played (21), starts (21) and goals (three), while adding two assists. Internationally, Colvey has represented New Zealand at several youth levels. He helped his country reach the Round of 16 at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and also appeared for the U-23s at the 2015 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Papua New Guinea. Thompson, 22, captained Stanford University to its first ever National Championship in 2015. He made 68 starts in 77 total appearances over four years with the Cardinal, notching nine assists. The older brother of Quakes midfielder Tommy Thompson, Tyler was named First Team All-Far West Region, First Team All-Pac-12 and a Second Team Scholar All-American in 2015 after starting 20 matches and recording three assists.

Earthquakes Sign Argentinean Defender Andres Imperiale
The San Jose Earthquakes announced that the club has signed Argentinean defender Andres Imperiale, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and ITC. Imperiale has been primarily used as a center back over his career and also has experience at left back. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Imperiale, 29, has played in the top divisions of Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Cyprus and Bolivia since making his professional debut in 2005. He comes to San Jose from Costa Rican power Deportivo Saprissa after helping the club win the winter championship in December.

City of San Jose Exploring Partnership with San Jose Earthquakes and Guadalupe River Park Conservancy on New Soccer Fields Project
The City of San Jose, San Jose Earthquakes and the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy are exploring a new partnership to develop a seven-field soccer project at the Guadalupe Gardens, which would help meet the community’s growing demand for recreational amenities and enhance the Downtown San Jose park. Preliminary estimates put the cost of the potential project at $32-$37 million. The City would allocate $12 million from a voter-approved parks bond that included funds for a new soccer complex. The Earthquakes have proposed covering the balance of the costs related to the public amenities and the entire cost of the project related to its Soccer Academy – a potential $20+ million investment.

Earthquakes Announce Complete Preseason Schedule
The San Jose Earthquakes announced the club’s complete preseason schedule ahead of the 2016 regular season. Following a scrimmage against the club’s U-18 Academy on Wednesday, January 27, San Jose departs for a weeklong training camp in Tucson, Arizona on Monday, February 1, playing a total of three scrimmages before returning to the Bay Area on Wednesday, February 10. The club then travels to Las Vegas, Nevada, to take on the LA Galaxy on Saturday, February 13, before closing out the preseason with matches against Sacramento Republic FC and the New York Cosmos.

The full slate of scheduled preseason matches can be found below: