Storybook ending! Shea Salinas scores in last San Jose Earthquakes home game
San Jose Earthquakes winger Shea Salinas couldn’t have written the script any better himself.
How he joined the club: Originally selected in the second round (No. 15 overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Earthquakes. After one season in San Jose, he was taken by the Philadelphia Union in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft. He returned to San Jose on Nov. 30, 2011 in a trade that sent allocation money to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for Salinas.
2020 (San Jose Earthquakes): Made four starts in 23 appearances, earning the club’s Media Good Guy Award … Tallied two goals and two assists in MLS play … Tallied his second assist of the season against LAFC on Nov. 4, becoming the club’s all-time assists leader (48) … MLS is Back: Made five appearances and scored one goal during the MLS is Back Tournament … MLS Cup Playoffs: Started and played 87 minutes, scored his first MLS postseason goal in a loss against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Nov. 22 in the Knockout Round.
2019 (San Jose Earthquakes): Made 12 starts in 28 MLS appearances ... Set new single-season career high with six goals and added three assists... Registered first multi-goal match with brace against Seattle Sounders FC on April 24 ... Earned MLS Team of the Week honors for Week 9 ... Nominated for MLS Player of the Week for Week 9… U.S. Open Cup: Did not feature in Fourth-Round match against Sacramento Republic FC on June 11 ... Did not feature in Round of 16 match against LAFC on June 20 … International Friendlies: Started and played 90 minutes against C.F. Monterrey on March 23 … Started and played 81 minutes against Real Valladolid C.F. on July 16.
2018 (San Jose Earthquakes): Made 20 starts in 25 total appearances in MLS play, tallying two assists … His 20 starts were his most since 2015 (29) … U.S. Open Cup: Did not feature in the Fourth-Round matchup against the Portland Timbers on June 6 … International Friendlies: Entered as a substitute at halftime against Club Leon on March 24 … Entered as a substitute at halftime against Manchester United on July 22.
2017 (San Jose Earthquakes): Played 30 games scoring two goals and tallying three assists (two game winning) … Moved up to No. 10 in the club’s all-time games started list with 132 … Moved to seventh all-time for minutes played in Quakes record book with 12,680 … Surpassed 15,000 career minutes in 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 15 … U.S. Open Cup: Entered as a substitute in the 63rd minute against the SF Deltas in a 2-0 victory at Avaya Stadium on June 14 in the Fourth Round … Played, started and scored one goal against Seattle Sounders FC in a 2-1 victory at Avaya Stadium on June 28 in the Round of 16 … Entered as a substitute in the 82nd minute against the LA Galaxy in a 3-2 victory at Avaya Stadium on July 10 in the Quarterfinals … Played and started Semifinal match against Sporting Kansas City ending in a 5-4 penalty shootout loss on Aug. 9 … MLS Cup Playoffs: Started and played full 90 minutes in a loss against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Oct. 25 in the Knockout Round.
2016 (San Jose Earthquakes): Made eight starts in 33 appearances … Scored only MLS goal of the season in the 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC on June 18 … Lead the team in assists for the fourth consecutive season with five … Scored two goals in a friendly with Pachuca on Sept. 3, which marked the first multi-goal game of his career… Named to MLS Team of the Week during Week 15 … Moved to third place in the Earthquakes Record Book for assists with 38, 12 of which were to forward Chris Wondolowski. U.S. Open Cup: Started and played full 90 minutes against the Portland Timbers in 2-0 loss at Providence Park on June 14 ... Was named the Earthquakes Humanitarian of the Year award for the fifth time (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015).
2015 (San Jose Earthquakes): MLS: Set career highs in appearances (34) and minutes (2,621), while making 29 starts … Played the most minutes of any Quakes midfielder … Scored a career best three goals and added five assists … Notched his first goal of the year in a 2-0 win vs. Columbus Crew SC on May 16 … Tallied two assists in a 5-0 win at Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 19 … Scored in back-to-back games at D.C. United (2-0 W) on Aug. 22 and vs. the LA Galaxy (1-0 W) on Aug. 28 ... Made his 200th career MLS appearance and recorded a game-winning assist in a 1-0 win vs. Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 16 … U.S. Open Cup: Did not play vs. Sacramento Republic FC on June 16 … Did not play vs. the LA Galaxy on July 1 … ICC: Did not play vs. Club America on July 14 … Started, played 45 minutes and recorded an assist vs. Manchester United on July 21.
2014 (San Jose Earthquakes): Finished the season with one goal and eight assists in 31 appearances … Made 30 starts on the season, the most in his seven-year career … Made his 100th career MLS start in the club’s 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 27 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park … CCL: Had game-tying assist in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage against Deportivo Toluca FC at Buck Shaw Stadium on March 11 … Had an assist and played 120 minutes against Deportivo Toluca FC at Nemesio Diez Stadium on March 19 … Open Cup: Did not play against Sacramento Republic FC at Kezar Stadium on June 11 and against Seattle Sounders FC at Starfire Sports Complex on June 24.
2013 (San Jose Earthquakes): Set career highs in appearances (28), starts (24), assists (8) and tied his career best for goals (2) ... Had a goal and two assists in San Jose's dramatic comeback win against the LA Galaxy in front of 50,028 fans at Stanford Stadium on June 29 ... Made his 50th career start with the Earthquakes in a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Oct. 26 at Buck Shaw Stadium ... CCL: Was on the bench, but did not play in the club's second CCL match of group play against CD Heredia (Gautemala) at Cemento Progreso Stadium on Aug. 24 ... Came on as a substitute in the 75th minute and scored a goal against the Montreal Impact at Buck Shaw Stadium on Sept. 17 ... Started and played 87 minutes, recorded the game-winning assist against CD Heredia (Guatemala) at Buck Shaw Stadium on Oct. 23, sending San Jose through to the quarterfinals ... Open Cup: Started and played 78 minutes against the Charleston Battery on May 28 … Exhibition: Came off the bench and played 38 minutes against Norwich City of the English Premier League on July 20 … Reserves: Played 90 minutes vs. COL on 5/19, at RSL on 6/2, at LA on 9/1.
2012 (San Jose Earthquakes): Scored one goal and had seven assists in 19 games, including 11 starts ... Suffered a broken left clavicle just before halftime during a corner-kick tussle with New York midfielder Rafa Marquez on April 14 at Red Bull Arena ... Had surgery on April 18 performed by Dr. Michael Oberlander at Sequoia Surgical Pavilion in Walnut Creek ... Returned to first team action as a substitute in the 75th minute against the Colorado Rapids on June 20 ... Had two assists in a 5-0 rout of Real Salt Lake on July 14 at Buck Shaw Stadium ... MLS Cup Playoffs: Played in both legs of San Jose's Western Conference Semifinal against the LA Galaxy as a substitute ... He entered in the 69th minute in the first leg and the 57th minute in the second ... Open Cup: Started and played 90 minutes against Seattle Sounders FC on June 26 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco ... Exhibition: Came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute against Swansea City of the English Premier League at Buck Shaw Stadium on July 31, assisting on Steven Lenhart’s first goal ... Reserves: Started and played 90 minutes at Chivas USA on June 8, scoring in the 82nd minute in his first action since suffering a broken left clavicle on April 14.
2011 (Vancouver Whitecaps FC): Acquired by Whitecaps FC during the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft … Made his Whitecaps FC debut as a substitute in the 66th minute at CLB on 4/30 … Came on as a substitute in the 58th minute at CHI on 5/7 … Made his first start for Whitecaps FC vs. SJ on 5/11 … Played 90 minutes at NE on 5/14 … Started and played 67 minutes vs. NY on 5/28 … Started and played 83 minutes at CHV on 6/1 … Played 90 minutes at RSL on 6/4 … Started and played 89 minutes at SEA on 6/11 … Played 90 minutes vs. PHI on 6/18 and at KC on 6/25 … Started and played 77 minutes at TOR on 6/29 … Started and played 78 minutes vs. CLB on 7/6 … Played 90 minutes and notched two assists at SJ on 7/20 … Played 90 minutes vs. LA on 7/30 … Played 90 minutes and notched an assist vs. CHI on 8/7 … Played 90 minutes at DC on 8/13 … Came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute at POR on 8/20 … Started and played 57 minutes and scored his first goal for Whitecaps FC vs. HOU on 8/27 … Played 90 minutes at NY on 9/10 and at LA on 9/17 … Came on as a substitute in the 58th minute vs. SEA on 9/24 … Started and played 80 minutes vs. POR on 10/2 … Came on as a substitute in the 84th minute vs. RSL on 10/6 … Came on as a substitute in the 73rd vs. DC on 10/12 … Started and played 52 minutes at DAL on 10/15 … Came on as a substitute in the 88th minute vs. COL on 10/22 … Exhibition: Made his Whitecaps FC debut when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 win at North American Soccer League side Montreal Impact in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal series on 4/27 … Notched an assist in a 2-1 friendly defeat vs. English Premier League side Manchester City FC in the Herbalife World Football Challenge on 7/18 … Reserves: Made his Whitecaps FC reserves debut at POR on 8/21.
2010 (Philadelphia Union): Eighth pick in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft … Made his Philadelphia debut as a substitute in the 68th minute vs. DC on 4/10 … Played 90 minutes at NY on 4/24 and at LA on 5/1 … Came on as a substitute in the 53rd minute vs. DAL on 5/15 … Started and played 62 minutes and scored a goal at HOU on 5/29 … Played 90 minutes at CHI on 6/5 … Started and played 65 minutes at KC on 6/10 … Played 90 minutes vs. SEA on 6/27 … Started and played 63 minutes at CHV on 7/3 … Came on as a substitute in the 64th minute vs. SJ on 7/10 … Came on as a substitute in the 69th minute vs. CHI on 9/11 … Came on as a substitute in the 58th minute at SJ on 9/15 … Came on as a substitute in the 76th minute vs. HOU on 10/2 … Came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute vs. LA on 10/7 … Came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute vs. NY on 10/16 … Came on as a substitute in the 45th minute at CLB on 10/24.
2009 (San Jose Earthquakes): Named Earthquakes’ U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award-winner … Appeared in 22 matches, started 12 and notched five assists … Made 2009 debut as a substitute in the 68th minute vs. NE on 3/21 … Came on as a substitute in the 70th minute vs. HOU on 3/28 … Came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute and received a red card vs. CHI on 4/11 … DNP vs. LA on 4/18 due to red card suspension … Started first game of the season and played 65 minutes at SEA on 4/25 … Started and played 62 minutes vs. CHV on 5/2 … Started and played 75 minutes at CLB on 5/27 … Started and played 89 minutes at DAL on 6/7 … Came on as a substitute in the 58th minute and notched his first career assist at SEA on 6/13 … Came on as a substitute in the 38th minute and received a yellow card at RSL on 7/3 … Came on as a substitute in the 46th minute vs. DC on 7/25 … Played 90 minutes and notched a career-high two assists vs. SEA on 8/2 … Played 90 minutes and received a yellow card vs. CLB on 8/8 … Played 90 minutes vs. KC on 8/22 … Started and played 75 minutes at NE on 8/29 … Played 90 minutes vs. COL on 9/18 … DNP on 9/23 at COL and 9/27 at DC due to hamstring strain … Played 90 minutes and notched an assist vs. DAL on 10/7 … Played 90 minutes and tallied an assist at CHV on 10/17 … Exhibition: Came on as a substitute at the half and was ejected in the 77th minute vs. CD Aguila on 9/8 … Open Cup: Played 90 minutes vs. NY on 4/28 … Appeared in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualification semifinals vs. NY on 4/29.
2008 (San Jose Earthquakes): Selected as the top pick in the second round (15th overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft … Was only the third rookie since 2001 to start a season opener for the Earthquakes, as he played 57 minutes as a striker at LA on 4/3 … Came on as a substitute in the 59th minute vs. CHI on 4/12 … Came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute at COL on 4/19 … Came on as a substitute in the 81st minute at NY on 4/27 … Came on as a substitute in the 75th minute vs. DAL on 5/3 … Came on as a substitute in the 64th minute vs. CLB on 5/10 … Came on as a substitute in the 57th minute at NE on 5/17 … Came on as a substitute in the 78th minute vs. HOU on 5/22 … Started and played 59 minutes at RSL on 5/31 … Came on as a substitute in the 51st minute vs. LA on 6/14 … Came on as a substitute in the 56th minute at DC on 6/22 … Came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute at CHI on 6/28 … Came on as a substitute in the 89th minute at CHV on 7/5 … Came on as a substitute in the 81st minute vs. COL on 7/12 … Came on as a substitute in the 76th minute vs. NY on 7/27 … Came on as a substitute in the 81st minute vs. KC on 8/30 … Came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute vs. HOU on 9/13 … Came on as a substitute in the 70th minute vs. RSL on 9/27 … Came on as a substitute in the 71st minute vs. DAL on 10/2 … Came on as a substitute in the 69th minute vs. CHV on 10/11 … Came on as a substitute in the 56th minute at HOU on 10/15 … Came on as a substitute in the 65th minute and scored first career goal at KC on 10/18 … Came on as a substitute in the 67th minute and scored in second straight game vs. TFC on 10/25 … Exhibition: Started and played 67 minutes and scored first goal as member of the Earthquakes vs. Honduras Olympic Team on 7/15 … Played 88 minutes vs. SEA on 9/2 … Played 90 minutes and notched an assist vs. CD FAS on 10/7 … Open Cup: Started and played 90 minutes on 4/30 at RSL … Reserves: Started and played 45 minutes at COL on 4/20 … Played 45 minutes vs. FCD on 5/4 … Came on as a substitute in the 64th minute at RSL on 6/1 … Played 90 minutes vs. COL on 7/12 … Played 90 minutes vs. LA on 8/3 … Played 90 minutes and recorded a goal vs. RSL on 9/28 … Played 90 minutes at FCD on 10/3 and vs. CHV on 10/12 … Played 90 minutes and recorded an assist at HOU on 10/15 … Assist at CHV on 10/21.
Premier Development League: 2007: As a member of Carolina Dynamo, Salinas was the club’s Most Valuable Player and named to the PDL’s All-Southern Conference Team after scoring seven goals and recording five assists in 13 appearances that year … In two Southern Conference Southeast Division match-ups, the winger scored two goals and recorded one assist … 2006: In his second season with the Tornados, scored one goal and notched one assist … 2005: Played the first of three PDL seasons with Dallas-Fort Worth Tornados … In nine appearances in the PDL’s Southern Conference Mid South Division, scored two goals.
College (Furman) 2007: As a senior, named to the NSCAA All-American Third Team, NSCAA Scholar All-American First Team, and NSCAA All-South Region First Team after registering a career-high five goals and nine assists for Furman University that season … Efforts also earned him a place on the All-Southern Conference First Team … 2006: Named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Region Third Team and the All-Southern Conference First Team after registering three goals and seven assists during his junior year … 2005: As a sophomore, registered four goals and four assists in 18 appearances for the Paladins … 2004: As a freshman, scored two goals and notched one assist, with his first collegiate goal versus Gardner-Webb University on 9/19.
High School/Club: At Grapevine (Texas) High School, led the Mustangs to three bi-district championship titles in four seasons … As a senior, was a captain and earned district Most Valuable Player honors after leading the team in goals and assists … At the youth level, played for the Dallas Texans, Club Dallas Pumas and Solar Soccer Club.
Personal: Born and raised in Lubbock, Texas … Parents are Mickey and Jerry Salinas … Majored in health & exercise science at Furman University … High school district champion in the mile and five-kilometer run.