San Jose Earthquakes tie Sporting KC 1-1

After a fun start to my birthday month enjoying a free show in Golden Gate Park with Nicole and Dan courtesy of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, headed down to Buck Shaw Stadium for what might be my final Quakes game of the year, pending the TBA of Cal Football vs Utah.

Though the first half I wasn't getting any great action. Quakes put one in the net in the second half.

This places Wondolowski with 33 goals as an Earthquake, beating out Landon Donovan's 32.

Unfortunately, literally within seconds, Sporting KC answered with a goal of their own. Leaving the score at a 1-1 draw.

Afterwards headed back into the city for Night Out with the Quakes at The Republic, where Earthquakes players were stand-in bartenders and I was able to hang out with some of the Quakes staff that I normally only see on the sideline or in the pressbox, and friends! Great night. Great KICK (get it?) off to my birthday month!! =)

San Jose Earthquakes defeat Chicago Fire 2-0

Headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium for the Quakes vs Chicago Fire.

Quakes came out strong with an early goal in the tenth minute by Chris Wondolowski.

Defense held onto the score with a great (as always) effort from Jon Busch, wearing a protective mask after a facial fracture, ouch!

And he was appreciating his back line of Jason Hernandez, helping protect the goal.

Second half, became intense with Quakes trying to seal the victory and Fire trying to prevent it. Yellow card was issued to Dan Gargan for dissent after a call.

But I think he was just trying to tell the referee how much Ffffffun he was having ;-)

Fire's Sean Johnson blocked a Wondo PK and came up with some big time saves throughout the game.

But it wasn't enough, as Ramiro Corrales scored in the 69th minute with assists from Wondo and Rafael Baca.

They all celebrated together.

Then Khari Stephenson, decided to join the party, up top!

A great win for the Quakes, on their fourth consecutive sell out, very exciting indeed!!

Colorado Rapids defeat San Jose Earthquakes 2-1

After the A's game, headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium for the match-up between the Quakes and the Rapids.

Quakes put the first goal in the books, but then after some unfortunate calls including a penalty kick. Rapids topped the Quakes 2-1.

Still an exciting game and great effort by the Quakes. Sometimes the ball, and the whistle, just aren't on your side.

The next Quakes game isn't for another 4 weeks and I will definitely be missing some futbol action, but at last there will be some football action in between then!

Portland Timbers defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0

Headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium for the game between the Portland Timbers and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Another exciting game for the Quakes!

But another undesirable result with a 1-1 tie.

But the Ultras still had a great time!

DC United defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0

Headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium for the Quakes vs DC United game.

This was particularly exciting because I am now shooting for goal.com! I have been shooting Quakes for ISIphotos on spec for the last few years, but the owner became uncomfortable with me maintaining an archive of my images on my photos.kelleylcox.com site, and recommended I find a way to shoot on my own credential.

As luck would have it, I received a tweet (yes, social media works!) from Shane Evans, one of the senior editors at Goal.com who had seen and used my work in the past and was interested in having me shoot for goal.com.

The conversation led to emails to firm up details so I could ensure a non-exclusive agreement, where I unquestionably maintained my copyright... and now I am shooting Quakes on my own credential! Hurray!

To be sure I am not burning any bridges with ISI, I also ensured my agreement with goal.com, to allow me to contribute images to ISIphotos so you will still find my photos there also=)

Win Win!!

Though it was a lose, lose for Quakes and Dwayne DeRosario scored twice for DC United without an answer from the Quakes =(

Thanks to Shane for reaching out to me!

San Jose Earthquakes tie Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2

Headed over to Buck Shaw Stadium for the Earthquakes vs the Whitecaps.

Chris Wondolowski showed his Golden Boot status and ALMOST scored a hat trick with two goals.

But Whitecaps had an answer to each. Resulting in a 2-2 draw.

It was exciting to see longtime goalkeeper for the Quakes Joe Cannon make his return to Buck Shaw and receive a warm reception from the fans.

San Jose Earthquakes tie the Philadelphia Union 0-0

Headed back to Buck Shaw Stadium for the San Jose Earthquakes vs the Philadelphia Union.

With questionable officiating..

Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop was ejected from the game, using some choice expletives.

Jon Busch definitely hero of the game with some incredible dramatic saves. Keeping a clean sheet... unfortunately, offense couldn't get one in the back of Union's goal. 0-0.

I believe the last three home games have resulted in draws. But a tie is better than a loss!! Hopefully quakes can get the win next game.

San Jose Earthquakes defeat Houston Dynamo 2-0

Took Friday off and convinced KC Fox to drive up to Guerneville with me to celebrate a friend's birthday. After a great/hilarious night with old friends, drove back this afternoon to make it home in time to shower and get back on the road and head for San Jose for the game between the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo.

Though it was slated as Hawaiian night and Q was prepared in his (her?) hula skirt, the threat of rain was ever present. Though the night stayed dry, I'm still not totally convinced it's already June.

But what a great game for the Quakes!

First half was scoreless, but not for lack of effort as Steven Lenhart went soaring through the air for a header. Funny thing is, last Thursday, Center Line Soccer had posted this graphic of Lenhart as "The Greatest American Hero" and then next game, he comes out flying... only thing he's missing is the cape.

Second half, as only fiction would write, Lenhart scored.

After a battled out game...

We were at 90 minutes, then Simon Dawkins, who came on as a sub, scored in stoppage time for the Quakes to get the three points at home with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo.

Fun tidbit on tonight, I was shooting for both ISIphotos and Center Line Soccer as regular CLS shooter, Joe Nuxoll, was in Seattle. This meant, though I have my regular season credential with ISI, I had to also pick up a CLS credential. Gotta make sure all the I's are dotted and T's are crossed so nobody gets in trouble.

Happy to work with Jay Hipps and Robert Jonas of Center Line who provide not only great match reports and previews, but also great Twitter commentary throughout the game, host Quakes cast pod cast, and are always fun to bump into in the press box. Be sure to check out my gallery on CenterLineSoccer.com

It was great to have a weekend where I could both spend time with friends and also have a fun assignment to shoot. I'm really happy to be getting closer to that elusive balance of play time and work time. The trouble is, my work is so fun for me, I often forget I need to take days off to be a normal 23-yr old... or as close as I can get to normal ;-)