San Jose - Colorado Bay Area pregame newspaper articles (Wednesday, 6/29/05)

From Dwight Chapin's feature on Pat Onstad in the Chron, Onstad gives credit to Danny Califf in helping organize the back four, but from this quip it seems obvious that the efforts and determination of the Quakes' defense is as good as it's ever been:

Heading into a match with the Colorado Rapids tonight at Spartan Stadium, Onstad is riding a scoreless string of four games and 416 minutes in play at home, going back to April 23. He has posted six shutouts, tying him for second in the league, is third in MLS with a 1.07 goals-against average, and is first in save percentage, at 78.9, having stopped 56 of 71 shots on goal.

Typically, Onstad chooses to credit his defense for much of that statistical superiority.

"I saw that Saturday night sequence on film for the first time today," he said, "and the thing I liked most about all that diving around was about six blue shirts (Quakes) were doing everything possible to keep the ball out of the net.

"The guys are playing very well, and they're starting to play with passion. If they keep playing like this, they're going to give us a chance in every game.

"I think we realize that we don't have the best player in soccer (Donovan) anymore, so it's going to take 11 guys working hard and playing together to be successful."

 

Wow, even Pat won't say his name!

 

yeah, but Ching will be back soon enough. don't worry, pat!