7 MAY 2008 - The San Fernando Valley Quakes will play two back-to-back games this weekend as they seek to continue their excellent start to the 2008 USL Premier Development season.
The Quakes beat the Southern California Seahorses 3-1 last weekend, with goals from Devin Deldo, Aaron Hunter and Jonny Bravo, in what was their inaugural game at their new home, Calabasas High School in Calabasas. The victory left them in second place behind the San Francisco Seals in the Southwest division standings after the first full round of games.
Mat Davis was named to the PDL Team of the Week by the United Soccer League for his performance in the game against the Seahorses. Mat achieved an assist in the game, setting up Aaron Hunter’s goal from a corner kick.
On Saturday, the Quakes will make the short trip up the Pacific coast to Ventura, where they will take on second-season franchise Ventura County Fusion. Fusion, coached by Englishman Graham Smith, finished fourth in the division last year. The Quakes’ two games against them last year were a 0-2 loss and a 0-0 tie.
Then, on Sunday, the Quakes will host the San Jose Frogs, in what will be that team’s first ever visit to the San Fernando Valley. The Frogs joined the PDL from the rival National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) last year, and ultimately finished third in the division. The Quakes and the Frogs have only played each other once in their history – a 2-1 Quakes victory last summer, off the back of two goals by Sung Kim.
Head coach Juan Florez should have a full squad of players from which to pick; the only possible injury worry is LMU defender Garrett Maloney, who was knocked unconscious while defending a corner during the Seahorses game.
Both this weekend’s games also double up as the Quakes’ second and third qualifying matches for the 2008 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The US Open Cup is a single elimination playoff tournament which runs concurrently with the league, and features teams from all levels of the US soccer pyramid (Major League Soccer, USL Division 1, USL Division 2, the PDL, and the amateur USASA system) competing against each other. The team at the top of the standings after each team has played their four qualifying games will qualify for the final stages of the competition. Last year, Bakersfield Brigade qualified from the Southwest division but lost to USL1’s Portland Timbers in the opening round, while the entire competition was won by Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution.
- QUAKES @ FUSION
- Saturday 10 May 2008; Bulldog Stadium, Buena High School, Ventura; kickoff 7:30pm
- FROGS @ QUAKES
- Sunday 11 May 2008; Keith Ritchie Field, Calabasas High School, Calabasas; kickoff 7:05pm
