Earthquakes to Kick Off Annual Youth Soccer Tourney in Palo Alto

The San Jose Earthquakes is teaming up with the Palo Alto American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) to launch the first annual AYSO El Palo Alto Invitational Tournament this weekend.

The tournament is designed to exposed young soccer players to the professional sport and to forge an alliance between the Earthquakes and Palo Alto AYSO.

Prizes from Earthquakes—Major League Soccer franchise—will be awarded to tournament winners, and the Quakes mascot Q will be on-hand along with the Shakers squad.

Earthquakes midfielder Joey Gjertsen and one other player will be signing autographs at and Greer Park Sunday between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Palo Alto AYSO Region 26 is hosting the event, and eight sides were accepted into brackets at the U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 levels for boys and girls on a first-come, first-served basis. Teams from as far north as Davis, all the way down to Gilroy, will be competing this weekend at Greer Park, Mitchell Park, Seale and Terman parks in Palo Alto. Each squad is guaranteed three games.

More information about the 2012 AYSO El Palo Alto Invitational Tournament is available here.