PHOTO: ISI Photos

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Just on Wednesday, Matias Almeyda referred to the San Jose Earthquakes’ friendly against Liga MX powerhouse CF Monterrey as a type of game that “didn’t interest him,” but that would allow him to field players who had been fairly inactive this season.

On Saturday, 61 minutes into the game against Rayados, one of those players had a defining moment. At just 15 years of age, Homegrown Cade Cowell struck the back of the net three minutes into his professional debut, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the franchise’s history. Cowell’s energetic run in the box and pin-point strike was the product of an electric second half from the Quakes, powered by youthful midfield tandem Eric Calvillo, 21, and Gilbert Fuentes, 17, respectively.

‘They’re continuing to grow,” captain Chris Wondolowski said on the youngsters, who was categorized as the “best example” for Cowell by Almeyda. “It’s great to see them with confidence and get out there and get some of these minutes. I think it’s very important for them to continue to learn and grow and they’re definitely on the right path.”

Time and time again, Almeyda has emphasized the significance of San Jose’s academy products and its youngsters in the ongoing revitalization of the franchise. On a weekly basis, a squadron of academy players train with the first-team, a contrasting scene to that of years prior, where, at times, two to four prospects would join the first-team practices every couple of weeks.

Evident of that same level of importance Almeyda, general manager Jesse Fioranelli and Co. have placed on their academy pipeline was Cowell’s own arrival to the Black-and-Blue during preseason. Ranked first in Top Drawer Soccer’s Class of 2022, the big whig’s accomplishment is only a fraction of an extensive youth agenda that aims to lure the best talent not only in the Bay Area, but in surrounding regions.

However, despite as intriguing as the future of San Jose might have fared against the most lucrative team north of Brazil, ‘El Pelado’ waisted no time in insisting that the development of players such as Fuentes and Cowell need to be well-calculated and prudent. After all, the Argentine has seen it all during his years as a player and coach, specifically at the well-oiled academy factory that is River Plate, where it’s just as common to see players fall through the cracks as it is to see those who rise to global superstar levels.

“It’s nice to see the younger players,” the 45-year-old said about their second-half performance. “My career started as a youth with a club called River Plate. I had the possibility to debut at 18 years of age. I got tired of seeing how youngers players were burnt out. I think there are moments, but we need to be careful of when we can put them in and let them go when they are ready.”

“The moment San Jose is facing is difficult because they only won four games last year, and the youth should not carry the weight of changing the club,” he added. “We need to go step-by-step with the younger players and develop them into ambitious players that really know the system of play, and know the lifestyle of a soccer player, and from that point don’t burn them out. Our objective in a year to a year-and-a-half is to have many young players, and they should know what they play, how to play it, and why they play it.”

As much as one can argue that San Jose can benefit from the impetus of its youth, Almeyda’s intentions with the aforementioned group of players is to empower them on the field just as much as off it. For instance, the former midfielder mentioned it might take up to six months for Cowell to reappear with the first-team, who along with Fuentes, were purposely made unavailable for media members after Saturday’s bout, shielding them of the spotlight that, at times, can plague a young players physcological development.

Most revealing, though, was Almeyda’s demeanor towards life decisions his inexperienced players have made prior to his arrival in January. “One of the youngsters we have here has a nice car,” Almeyda said. “We can’t say the brand, but it has a kind of star on the badge. I don’t like that. When I got here he already had it. If I’d had been here I wouldn’t have allowed it.”

It’s safe to say Almeyda’s words aren’t being said in vain. San Jose might be at their nadir but they believe that, slowly but surely, they’re laying the foundation of their “project” under the Argentine.

And as any other “project” involving ‘El Pelado,’ the youth is instrumental.

“As long as you work hard and put in the effort and the time, eventually everything will come to hand and will all be on yourself,” said Calvillo, a once USMNT U-17 player. “You’re going to get an opportunity and either you take it or you don’t. A lot of the young guys got that opportunity today and I think they did what they had to do and hopefully there’s more opportunities for the young guys.”

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