For the second consecutive year, Cal Poly Athletics will host an exhibition match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado Rapids in the 2012 MLS Central Coast Showcase Friday night in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
The Earthquakes and Rapids have a history of preseason clashes in San Luis Obispo as San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski netted a 29th minute penalty winner to give the Earthquakes a 1-0 victory over Colorado in last year’s exhibition.
Despite the match being a preseason game for both teams, the level of play on the field will be phenomenal as Central Coast fans rarely have an opportunity to see MLS in action, according to Cal Poly soccer head coach Paul Holocher.
“This type of event only comes once a year; to see the best of the best playing in your backyard,” Holocher said. “Something special will happen on the field, there’s no doubt. You’re going to see something extraordinary, and you’re going to see some high-level skill. You’re going to see some young players out on that field that you’ll see in the coming years on TV, in the World Cup.”
This year marks the fourth time in five years the Earthquakes have traveled to take part in the Showcase at Cal Poly. The San Jose-based squad defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 in the event’s inaugural season in 2008 and played D.C United to a scoreless draw in the second match of that year’s contest. In 2009, the team knocked off expansion Seattle Sounders F.C. 3-2 in Seattle’s first ever competitive match played as a professional team and downed the Houston Dynamo 2-0 later in the evening. Following a hiatus in 2010, the Earthquakes grabbed another victory in the 2011 event by beating Colorado 1-0.
As one of the 10 charter clubs of the MLS, the Rapids has enjoyed success in its history as well, capturing the MLS Cup for their first ever league title in 2010.
The Mustang soccer squad will have an opportunity to showcase its talents against some of the world’s best on Saturday following the MLS match. It will play a closed-door scrimmage against the reserve teams of both the Earthquakes and Rapids in a round-robin style format in which each of the three teams will face each other once.
“We have guys that want to be pro players, and this gives them that added exposure,” Holocher said. “They know that they’re in a program here at Cal Poly that puts them in touch with that next level.”
Last year, the scrimmages were played in two 35-minute halves as both MLS teams defeated a young Mustang lineup. The Rapids topped Cal Poly 3-0 thanks to three second half goals by second team players Sanna Nyassi and Andre Akpan, and trial player Matt Luzunaris helped San Jose slip past the Mustangs with a late second half game-winner.
Cal Poly finished the 2011 collegiate season with an 0-4-1 over their final five matches scoring just one goal in that stretch and missed qualifying for the Big West Conference Tournament for the first time in three years. The Mustangs look to avenge its end-of-season performance as well as its losses to the Rapids and Earthquakes from a year ago, according to junior forward Dakota Collins.
“We want to have a good spring season, because obviously, we didn’t do as well as we wanted to last year, especially at the end of the season,” Collins said. “This spring season, this being the first game too, it’ll be nice to go out there and play against a quality team.”
Adding to the exposure for Mustang soccer, Cal Poly senior and former defender Wes Feighner — the 2011 Big West Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year — was selected by Seattle Sounders F.C. in the MLS Supplemental Draft last month.
Holocher is credited with bringing the professional showcase to Cal Poly through connections he made as an MLS player with the San Jose Clash. According to him, the event is designed as a tune-up for the MLS squads and to give back to the local community for their support of Mustang soccer.
“The fact that we’re one of the few programs in the country that can draw MLS teams to come play for their crowds is a testament to soccer fans that are so fervent and passionate here at Cal Poly,” he said.
Junior transfer and forward Benny Estes, who along with Collins came to Cal Poly last summer, echoed Holocher’s excitement in bringing two of MLS’s best teams to Spanos Stadium.
“As a team of soccer players all of us dream of being where they are now,” Estes said. “We dream of being on the Earthquakes or the Rapids. We’re very excited to see them play, especially live.”
The MLS match is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Friday night. Tickets will be $5 for students, staff and faculty at the gate, $15 for adults and $10 for youth and seniors.