The resurgent San Jose Earthquakes will try to extend their six-match unbeaten run on Saturday night when they visit the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, Colo.
After a midseason swoon of 1-3-7 between May 2 and Aug. 22, the Quakes (13-8-6, 45 points) have regrouped to take 12 points from their last six matches.
Most recently, Eduard Lowen scored one goal and assisted two more in a 3-1 home win against the Portland Timbers on Sept. 26.
Those were Lowen’s first direct contributions on the scoresheet since his arrival in a trade from St. Louis City in late August. But it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Quakes have improved since securing the experienced attacking midfielder.
“I don’t want to take the credit for myself,” Lowen said. “But what I try to bring to the team is not only my qualities on the field, but also things that can help the team off the field, bringing the group together, bringing positivity and being a leader.”
Preston Judd scored the other two goals against Portland to improve his team-leading total to 15 for San Jose, which enters the weekend in fourth place in the tight Western Conference.
Meanwhile, eighth-place Colorado (11-13-3, 36 points) is adjusting to life after striker Rafael Navarro, who scored 10 MLS goals for the Rapids before St. Louis pried him away in a $12 million cash trade.
But attacking hasn’t always been the problem, with Matt Wells’ side scoring five times in its last two matches while earning only one point.
A 3-2 loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 26 hit particularly hard after Donavan Phillip and Paxten Aaronson scored before halftime to give the Rapids a 2-0 lead. But Wells is confident his side will regroup from the Galaxy’s three-goal rally.
“They’re a great group, they’re really committed to trying to achieve something special, so everyone’s in a good place,” the Rapids manager said. “I think there’s an eagerness here to show the response.”
Aaronson is now the club’s active leading scorer with seven goals. Phillip, a third-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, has scored in consecutive matches to open his MLS account.
–Field Level Media
