October 20, 2012
SUPPORTERS SHIELD
Earthquakes capture hardware

NEW YORK – The San Jose Earthquakes captured the 2012 Supporters’ Shield Saturday by virtue of Sporting Kansas City’s 0-0 tie against the New York Red Bulls, assuring San Jose of the best regualr season record in the league.

As winners of the Supporters’ Shield, the Earthquakes claim home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs..

While the team has two games remaining, the Earthquakes’ record of 19-6-7 for 64 points is just four points shy of the all-time MLS record for points in a season (68) set by the LA Galaxy in 1998.

San Jose Earthquakes previously won the Supporters’ Shield in 2005 before bowing out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals that season.

Of the 16 teams to hoist the Supporters’ Shield trophy, six have gone on to win MLS Cup, one has lost in the final, five have been eliminated in the semifinals, and the remaining four fell in the quarterfinals.


Major League Soccer Supporters’ Shield winners

1996: Tampa Bay Mutiny* (20-12-0, 58 pts.)
1997: D.C. United* (21-11-0, 55 pts.)
1998: LA Galaxy (24-8-0, 68 pts.)
1999: D.C. United (23-9-0, 57 pts.)
2000: Kansas City Wizards (16-7-9, 57 pts.)
2001: Miami Fusion (16-5-5, 53 pts.)
2002: LA Galaxy (16-9-3, 51 pts.)
2003: Chicago Fire (15-7-8, 53 pts.)
2004: Columbus Crew (12-5-13, 49 pts.)
2005: San Jose Earthquakes (18-4-10, 64 pts.)
2006: D.C. United (15-7-10, 55 pts.)
2007: D.C. United (16-7-7, 55 pts.)
2008: Columbus Crew (17-7-6, 57 pts.)
2009: Columbus Crew (13-7-10, 49 pts.)
2010: LA Galaxy (18-7-5, 59 pts.)
2011: LA Galaxy (19-5-10, 67 pts.)
2012: San Jose Earthquakes

*Awarded retroactively