Surgery On Newcomer Lenhart Sets Back 'Quakes
SAN JOSE (AP) -- The San Jose Earthquakes have suffered a major setback two weeks before the season opener as newcomer Steven Lenhart had arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee.
Lenhart, 24, tore a meniscus while training in England last month and is expected to miss four weeks. The Quakes open their Major League Soccer season March 19 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
The 6-foot-1 Lenhart is expected to give San Jose a physical presence that it had lacked on the front line.
"He was a good part of the system we were putting together," coach Frank Yallop said. "Things happen... We'll move on."
Jamaican Ryan Johnson will fill Lenhart's role as target man. Lenhart, who came to San Jose from the Columbus Crew in a trade for a draft pick and allocation money, underwent surgery Thursday. Yallop said the damage wasn't as bad as anticipated.
Friday night, Chris Wondolowski's goal lifted the Earthquakes to a 1-0 exhibition win over the Colorado Rapids in San Luis Obispo before an estimated crowd of 2,600 at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
