Soccer Beat: Expansion Earthquakes getting ready to rumble

In five days, general manager John Doyle and coach Frank Yallop picked out the core of their new Earthquakes. In the process, they brought another familiar face back to Northern California.

"I think we've selected a list that we're happy with as a start," Doyle told a pub full of Quakes fans at a post-draft party last week. "It's a framework."

So far, the Quakes have 11 players – enough for a team – for their first expansion-era roster and will add at least 13. The Major League Soccer franchise begins play at Santa Clara University's Buck Stadium in April.

The day before Thanksgiving, the Quakes selected 10 players from other MLS teams in an expansion draft. First taken was former Quakes defender Ryan Cochrane, a Santa Clara product, from the MLS champion Houston Dynamo. Cochrane, 24, helped Houston win back-to-back MLS Cups after the franchise left San Jose in 2005.

Yallop said Cochrane is "ecstatic about coming back. He feels like he's coming home, so we're really excited. He's a very good defender."

The second pick was another defender, Clarence Goodson of FC Dallas. "With these two guys, we really have something to build on," Yallop said.

The Quakes loaded up on midfielders: Ned Grabavoy (taken from Columbus), James Riley (New England), Joseph Vide (New York), Ivan Guerrero (Chicago), Brian Carroll (D.C. United) and Chris Pozniak (Toronto). Completing the draft were forward Gavin Glinton (Los Angeles) and defender Jason Hernandez (Chivas USA). All 10 are under age 30 – for the moment; the oldest, Guerrero, turns 30 Friday.

Monday, Doyle dealt Carroll to Columbus for forward Kei Kamara, who scored two goals in 17 games in 2007. For a fourth-round pick in the upcoming MLS Super Draft, the Quakes acquired Chivas USA goalkeeper Preston Burpo. A longtime Seattle Sounder, the veteran keeper played nine seasons for the A-League and First Division powerhouse. Burpo holds Seattle records for games played (143), saves (631) and minutes (12,846) with a career goals-allowed average of 1.19. For Chivas USA, Burpo played 19 games in 2006 but was used sparingly this year.

This weekend, the Quakes wrap up their eight-city tryout tour with stops at Walnut Creek's Arbolado Park on Saturday and Hayward's Chabot College on Sunday. There is a $150 fee to participate. For details, call (866) 466-1829.

Doyle and Yallop made Sacramento their first stop on the month-long tryout tour. They are considering several players but would not name them.

"I saw a lot of people I've known from the past who just stopped by to say hello," Doyle said. "If we just got people we know to come (see the Quakes), we'll have sellouts every game."

NCAA elite eight

The host Stanford women, seeded first, fell 2-0 to unseeded Connecticut in the third round Friday in an NCAA Tournament full of surprises. Diamond Springs' Alicia Jenkins, a key Cardinal reserve out of Union Mine, again saw plenty of playing time with 29 minutes. The sophomore has started in all three field positions for Stanford.

Paced by Elk Grove's Stephanie Lopez, third-ranked Portland advanced to Friday's elite eight and will host No. 1 UCLA, a 2-1 winner over Virginia. Lopez earned an assist in Portland's 3-0 win over Tennessee, the Pilots' ninth consecutive shutout.

UCLA and Portland are the only teams ranked in the top eight still alive. In other matchups, USC plays West Virginia; Notre Dame, an upset winner over North Carolina, takes on Duke; and Connecticut faces Florida State.

Young stars

Roseville's Mykell Bates, who captained the United States' squad in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, is a finalist for U.S. Soccer's Young Male Athlete of the Year. Fans have until Dec. 7 to vote at www.ussoccer.com.

• Sacramento's Amobi Okugo, a 16-year-old midfielder, is in Argentina with the under-20 national team for an 11-day trip and three matches. The United States plays Argentina today.

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• Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 326-5514.