Mark Andreasen

Author: Mark Andreasen

Mark has worked on the cutting edge of sports and technology for over twenty five years. From the NFL's United Way Television Campaigns in the late 1980s, to producing innovative interactive television for the NFL, MLB, NBA & NHL in the 1990s. Mark was the original digital media creator and webmaster of the San Francisco Giants official website SFGIANTS.COM from 1995 -1999. He went on to help lead the original team that produced and establish NBC's Olympic Digital Media Platform NBCOLYMPICS.COM for the 2000 Sydney Game and the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Mark has gone on to produce video and digital content for the San Jose Sharks, Network Television shows, movies and stand up comedy specials. Professional photographer, screenwriter and filmmaker have all fit under Mark's career umbrella. Wonder Years Fact: At the age of thirteen, Mark was the Middle School free throw world champion, unfortunately those records were never passed on through the digital age, so you will just have to believe him.

Jackson Yueill, in his debut MLS game, readies a pass for Chris Wondolowski Saturday Night at Avaya Stadium, June 17, 2017 in San Jose, Ca. photo courtesy of ISIPhotos.com.

By Mark Andreasen

San Jose, CA. – On a hot Northern California summer’s evening the San Jose Earthquakes came out in their alternate kits. Sporting the primarily white with red sleeve jerseys to defeat the 90 degree heat yet tie the Sporting Kansas City to a scoreless draw in front of 18,000 fans at Avaya Stadium in San Jose.

The team diverted early chances by Sporting Kansas City as the Earthquakes were pinned in their defensive zone for most of the first half. They avoided disaster early as two SKC shots hit post to stay out of the net.

In the opening two minutes Sporting KC hit the post on a shot by Dominic Dwyer and proceeded to get nine shots on goal to the quakes zero shots in the opening 45 minutes of action.

Yet as the sun went down and the temperatures dropped into the 80s,
George Best and Laurie Calloway would be proud to see the team in their tribute to the 1974 Quakes colors make a surge.

At 75 minutes Jackson Yueill made his MLS debut in relief of Tommy Thompson. Fresh off his game against the San Francisco Deltas, where Yueill scored a goal, Jackson set up a nice Quakes chance at the 79th minute mark and took a deep shot on goal a minute later.

The Earthquakes kept the heat on Sporting Kansas City with more chances in the second half. Late in the game David Bingham turned a save into a San Jose chance. In transition Danny Hoesen took a spinning shot at 85:00 that was headed for the back of the net, yet deflected in the knick of time by Sporting Kansas City’s Goalie Tim Malai.

Like many a summer’s eve in the 70s, fans were fired up by “Crazy George” during pregame and throughout the contest. In the end they were treated to some excellent defense and some great saves in a shutout performance by David Bingham. As in the Earthquakes’ early days they fought hard, if not for victory then rather to a respectable draw.

The Earthquakes remain at home to take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday, June 24, at Avaya Stadium. The match kicks off at 7:15 p.m. PDT and will air live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.