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RSL kicks off MLS campaign at San Jose

Mar 18, 2011 - 6:25 PM Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The San Jose Earthquakes will try to build on a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals last season when the club opens its 2011 Major League Soccer campaign against Real Salt Lake at Buck Shaw Stadium.

After finishing fifth in the Western Conference standings last year, coach Frank Yallop's men advanced to the conference final, where they fell to eventual MLS Cup champion Colorado.

Striker Chris Wondolowski produced the most surprising season of any player in the league last year, scoring 18 goals in 2010 despite tallying just seven in his first five seasons in MLS.

And Yallop will be hoping for similar production from Wondolowski, who accounted for 18 of San Jose's 33 goals last campaign.

Scoring should not be an issue for RSL, however, with Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola as constant scoring threats up top, with Javier Morales emerging as one of the league's top playmakers in midfield.

Jason Kreis guided his team to the second best record in the league last season before an early playoff exit at the hands of FC Dallas, and the club is already off to a good start this season with success in the CONCACAF Champions League.

After knocking out fellow MLS side Columbus in the quarterfinals, RSL took a big step toward reaching the final with a 2-0 win over Saprissa at Rio Tinto Stadium in the first leg.

Saborio and Espindola provided the goals in the game, and Kreis feels as though Espindola in particular is primed for a big season.

"Fabian started out this preseason just like a man on fire," Kreis said. "From the very first day of preseason there was something different in his eye. He seems to be an extremely, extremely hungry player that wants to take the next step forward in this league and in his career."