Final
  for this game

Earthquakes-Revolution Preview

May 14, 2010 - 6:24 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

San Jose (4-2-0) at New England (2-5-1), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The San Jose Earthquakes are one of the biggest surprises in MLS early this season, and Chris Wondolowski's franchise-record scoring streak has a lot to do with that.

The forward looks to extend his scoring run to five games while helping the Earthquakes continue their strong start when they visit the struggling New England Revolution on Saturday night.

San Jose (4-2-0) has won four of five to move into fourth in the Western Conference, one point back of the second-place tie between idle Salt Lake and Houston. That success has come after the Earthquakes finished at the bottom of the conference in each of the last two seasons.

Wondolowski, who had five goals with the Dynamo and Earthquakes last year, is providing the offensive spark, setting a team record with a four-game goal streak. The surge started when he found the back of the net in the second half of a 2-0 home win over the Revolution (2-5-1) on April 17. That was his first appearance of the season after injuries ruled out three other forwards.

"When it comes to strikers, when you're hot, you're hot and once you're cold, you're cold," said forward Ryan Johnson, who has a goal and four assists while partnering with Wondolowski over the last four games.

Wondolowski and Johnson both scored in last Saturday's 4-0 win over East-leading New York.

"I feel we have the confidence and belief that we can get three points against just about anyone," Wondolowski said.

Bobby Convey is also giving San Jose an offensive lift, getting three assists against the Red Bulls to give him five on the season. The midfielder had two all of last year - his first with the Earthquakes - and is now two shy of his career high, set with D.C. in 2001.

"Bobby is playing some of the best soccer of his career right now," coach Frank Yallop said.

The Revolution are enduring an 0-4-1 stretch that started with last month's loss at San Jose. They appeared to be in position to gain a point at Columbus last Saturday, but surrendered a goal to Robbie Rogers in stoppage time to fall 3-2.

"We got punished for three mistakes," coach Steve Nicol said. "We end up coming away with nothing."

New England failed to create any momentum when it stepped out of league play Wednesday, falling 3-0 at New York to get eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup.

Zak Boggs could find himself in New England's lineup again after scoring twice against the Crew. The forward, selected in the second round out of South Florida in January's SuperDraft, had been used off the bench in his previous three games, including eight minutes against San Jose.