San Fernando Press Release – www.quakessoccer.com
Tuesday, April 29
CALABASAS, CA - The San Fernando Valley Quakes, who are preparing to enter their third season of competition in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League, have announced the roster for their upcoming season.
Despite losing midfielder Sean Franklin to Los Angeles Galaxy, midfielder Daniel Paladini to CD Chivas USA and defender Mike Zaher to DC United (via Toronto FC) in the 2008 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, head coach Juan Florez has retained the majority of the successful 2007 Quakes squad which qualified for the post-season playoffs for the first time last year.
All-time leading scorer Ryan Shaw (ex-UC Davis) returns for his third campaign, having netted 18 goals in 29 starts for the Quakes since making his debut in 2006. Also returning for a third year is goalkeeper Kevin Guppy (Cal State Northridge), the 2007 All-Western Conference Goalkeeper of the Year.
Completing the triumvirate of ever-present Quakes players is former indoor pro, midfielder, captain and director of football Mat Davis, who will celebrate his 34th birthday on Friday, May 16, and will seek to continue to lead the team with his performances on the field and his experience off of it.
Other returnees from the 2007 roster include UCLA defender Sean Alvarado, CSUN defender Chad Borak, former South Korean U-15 international and CSUN left winger Sung-Hyun Kim, skilful St Mary’s midfielder Dylan Leslie, U.S. U-20 and UCLA midfielder Kyle Nakazawa, experienced goalkeeper Sean O’Connor, and towering CSUN central defender Robert Pate, all of whom contributed significantly to the ’07 Quakes playoff run.
Two former Quakes players return to the fold in 2008. Powerful defender Matt Tracy (ex-CSUN), who scored 1 goal in 15 appearances for the Quakes in 2006 before leaving to play for Orange County Blue Star in 2007, is back in the lineup this year, while Peruvian-born forward Jonny Bravo (Los Angeles Mission College) played just 45 minutes for the Quakes last year before being snapped up to play for Los Angeles Galaxy’s reserves during the second half of their year, but returns for a second stint and, hopefully, a full season this time around.
Ten new faces will be wearing the blue and black for the first time in 2008. Defender Joel Crompton, defender Aaron Hunter and midfielder Zach Walker will comprise the trio from UC Riverside making their Quakes debuts this year. Loyola Marymount’s defensive duo Stephen Carlson and Garrett Maloney will look to add to the strength of the Quakes’ back line, while UCLA defensive midfielder Patrick Rickards and outstanding CSUN prospect Rafa Garcia will join their compatriots on the roster for the first time. Rickards was in residency with the U.S. Under-17 National Team in 2004, and Rickards, Crompton, Maloney and Carlson all have prior PDL experience with Los Angeles Storm and Colorado Rapids U23s respectively last year.
Rounding out the roster is San Diego State University defender Danny Ortiz, University of Michigan defender Jeff Quijano and former Cal State Northridge goalkeeper and 2003 CSUN Male Athlete of the Year Rod Lafaurie.
Having played one pre-season friendly – a 3-1 loss against a full strength Los Angeles Galaxy on March 22 – the 2008 Quakes squad is now in the final stages of training for the upcoming PDL season, which begins on Sunday, May 5 against the Southern California Seahorses at their new home: Keith Ritchie Field at Calabasas High School in Calabasas, Calif. Kickoff is 5:00 PM PST.
For further information on the San Fernando Valley Quakes, including season ticket information and the rest of the 2008 schedule, please visit www.quakessoccer.com.
San Fernando Full Roster: Name / Position / College / Hometown
Sean Alvarado / D / UCLA / Beverly Hills
Chad Borak / D / Cal State Northridge / Palmdale
Jonny Bravo / F / LA Mission College / Lima, Peru
Stephen Carlson / D / Loyola Marymount / Honolulu, Hawaii
Joel Crompton / D / UC Riverside / Pleasanton
Mat Davis / M /
Rafa Garcia / M / Cal State Northridge / Canoga Park
Kevin Guppy / GK / Cal State Northridge / Chino Hills
Aaron Hunter / D / UC Riverside / Pomona
Sung-Hyun Kim / M / Cal State Northridge / Seoul, South Korea
Rod Lafaurie / GK / Cal State Northridge /
Dylan Leslie / M/ St. Mary’s / Lancaster
Garrett Maloney / Defender / Loyola Marymount / Colorado Springs, Colorado
Kyle Nakazawa / M/ UCLA / Palos Verdes Estates
Sean O’Connor / GK/ Belmont Abbey / Glendale
Danny Ortiz / D/ San Diego State / Palmdale
Robert Pate / D/ Cal State Northridge / Chatsworth
Jeff Quijano / D / Michigan / Simi Valley
Patrick Rickards / M/ UCLA / Sacramento
Ryan Shaw / F/ UC Davis / Denver, Colorado
Matt Tracy /D/ Cal State Northridge / Newport Beach
Zach Walker / M/ UC Riverside / Alta Loma
