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Cowell, 16, helps Earthquakes end winless streak
Cade Cowell logged
Ceres native Cade Cowell logged playing time at forward in two games with the San Jose Earthquakes this past week. He started against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 23.

Cade Cowell and the San Jose Earthquakes avenged a 5-1 blowout loss this past weekend.

The 16-year-old Ceres native contributed at forward during the second half of Sunday evening’s 2-1 victory over Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer action at the Banc of California Stadium.

“All the young guys who came in today, JT (Marcinkowski), Cade and Eric Calvillo, all did really well and proved that they are important to this team and are important to what we’re trying to do,” Earthquakes’ midfielder Jackson Yueill said.

If Cowell played hockey, he would have been awarded an assist because he helped set up the game-winning goal in stoppage time.

Cowell shielded the ball from two defenders in the right corner of the field, used the underside of his right foot to create space and threaded a perfect pass to Cristian Espinoza. 

Yuiell slotted Espinoza’s cross pass into the back of the net.

The Earthquakes (3-6-5, 14 points) snapped an eight-game winless streak.

Cowell started at forward during San Jose’s 5-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 23 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

He logged 45 minutes of playing time.

Cowell has been on the field for a total of 325 minutes this season.

He’s played in 10 games with three starts.

Cowell’s scored one goal and attempted eight shots.

“I’m hoping to play in more games in the future."
Cade Cowell

“I’m hoping to play in more games in the future,” he said.

Matias Almeyda, San Jose’s head coach, talked about the importance of not putting added pressure on his younger players following Sunday’s win.

“They have to have fun,” he said. “They have to learn.”

The Quakes will return to action on Oct. 3.

San Jose will host the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Earthquakes and Galaxy battled to a scoreless tie on Sept. 13.

San Jose lost 3-2 to Los Angeles on Aug. 29.

Cowell will spend time with his parents and siblings in Ceres this week.

Cowell inked a five-year contract with San Jose at the age of 15 in January of 2019.

He became the youngest player signing in Earthquakes and Bay Area team sports history.

Cowell entered the record books on Aug. 29 by becoming the youngest player to start and score in team history in the Earthquakes’ narrow loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

He also became the eighth-youngest goalscorer in MLS history.

Cowell gave San Jose a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. 

He fired an 18-yard shot past Los Angeles goalie David Bingham and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Cowell spent close to six weeks in Florida when he played for the Earthquakes at the MLS is Back Tournament, staged July 8 to Aug. 11, in Orlando.

He contributed off the bench in two of five matches as San Jose compiled a 3-1-1 record on its way to a top-eight finish at the 24-team tournament.

The Earthquakes lost 4-1 to Minnesota United FC in the quarterfinals on Aug. 1 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Cowell brought some much-needed energy to the field during San Jose’s 5-2 triumph over Real Salt Lake in the Round of 16 Knockout Stage on July 27.

The Earthquakes were clinging to a 3-2 lead when Cowell entered the match with less than 10 minutes to play. His pressure from the left side of the pitch led to San Jose’s fourth goal, which was scored by Wondolowski in the 86th minute.

Cowell and the Earthquakes placed first in Group B of the MLS is Back Tournament.

San Jose collected two wins and one draw.

The Earthquakes shut out Chicago Fire FC 2-0 on July 19 and stormed back for a 4-3 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 15.

Cowell made his second MLS appearance when he entered the match as substitute late in the second half of the Earthquakes’ 0-0 tie versus 2019 league champion Seattle Sounders FC on July 10. 

The MLS is Back Tournament marked the restart of the MLS season, which was postponed for four months due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Cowell made his MLS debut on March 8.