Alumni return to Buck Shaw with 'Quakes

By Nicholas Pinkerton

This spring, Santa Clara will do more than play host to a Major League Soccer squad, the San Jose Earthquakes. The Broncos will welcome back two former soccer standouts who have recently joined the Earthquakes -- goalkeeper Joe Cannon, '98, and defender Ryan Cochrane, '04.

Cannon, a two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and 2006 MLS All-Star goaltender, returns to the Earthquakes after spending the last five seasons with other clubs.

"I think coming back to the Bay Area is something special," said Cannon. "I want to uplift the legacy of the Bay Area and get it off on the right foot."

Cochrane, a former starter on the Under-20 national team, was drafted by the Earthquakes after his junior year at Santa Clara.

Along with his Earthquake teammates, Cochrane became a member of the Houston Dynamo expansion team in 2005 when the Earthquakes' owners moved the team to Texas under the new name.

In 2007, when the Earthquakes were reestablished as an expansion team, Cochrane was acquired from the Dynamo in the MLS expansion draft, making him the only member of the 2005 Earthquake squad that had moved to Houston to return to this year's Earthquakes roster.

Although the Earthquakes are rebuilding, Cochrane believes that bringing soccer back to the Bay Area is important.

"It's exciting for the area," he said. "It's exciting to be one of those guys who gives back to San Jose."

After drafting Cochrane among 10 other players in the expansion draft, the Earthquakes acquired Cannon from the Los Angeles Galaxy for allocation money.

Santa Clara men's soccer Head Coach Cameron Rast is excited to see the two Santa Clara alumni playing at Buck Shaw Stadium once again.

"Both players had huge impacts on our program," he said. "(I am) looking forward to them playing on a consistent basis."

As part of the men's soccer coaching staff since 1994, Rast has experience with both players.

Cannon transferred to Santa Clara from UC Santa Barbara in 1995. An assistant coach until 2002, Rast was delighted to work with the highly skilled goalkeeper.

"He was one of the best athletes we ever had," said Rast. "He was definitely someone who had the ability and the desire to go on with the game," he added in reference to Cannon's decision to continue competitive soccer.

Cochrane played three years at Santa Clara, beginning in 2001. He started every game freshman year and, because of his agility and his crafty, controlled style of defensive play, he kept his spot in the starting lineup.

"Ryan (Cochrane) had a great sense of the game," said Rast.

With players such as Cannon and Cochrane paving the way for the next generation of San Jose Earthquakes, Rast feels that professional soccer in Silicon Valley will have a significant impact on the local soccer scene, as well as the Santa Clara community.

"The fact that the San Jose Earthquakes have returned is great for the Bay Area soccer community," he said. "Young players aspire to be like these guys."

Santa Clara announced the return of the Earthquakes to the Bay Area in an October press conference.

"We are proud to have the San Jose Earthquakes call Buck Shaw Stadium home," said Athletic Director Dan Coonan.

Originally the San Jose Clash, the Earthquakes were part of the MLS from 1995 to 2005. The franchise could not reach an agreement to construct a new stadium and moved to Houston.

MLS Commissioner Don Gerber granted the Earthquakes permission to resume play in 2008, back in the Bay Area, but only under the condition that they would be considered an expansion club.

The Houston franchise remains intact.

On Oct. 26, 2007, the Earthquakes announced that Buck Shaw Stadium would be hosting the team's home games for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

In return for the university's hospitable action, the Earthquakes are investing in the renovations of Stanton field, which the university is currently working on, and Buck Shaw Stadium. The university plans to add 5,000 seats and a digital video board.

Rast feels honored to welcome in the professional franchise and believes the relationship between the Earthquakes and the university is healthy.

"If a pro team chooses the same venue we play in, that speaks very highly of the standard in which we hold our athletic program and our team," he said.

Both Cochrane and Cannon are familiar with their former stomping grounds.

"There was always a great atmosphere because the fans are on top of the stadium," said Cochrane.

Bronco fans will be able to catch both Cochrane and Cannon in Earthquake uniforms soon, as the Earthquakes open the season at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland on April 12. They will play their first four games there while Buck Shaw renovations are completed.

Correction: The story incorrectly stated when the Earthquakes would play their first game at Buck Shaw Stadium. The team's first four games will be played at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland while Buck Shaw's renovations are being completed.

Contact Nicholas Pinkerton at (408) 551-1918 or npinkerton@scu.edu.