Center Line Soccer

Cal goalkeeper David Bingham is the latest member of the San Jose Earthquakes. Photo: Michael J Pimentel, isiphotos.com

Sometimes, the saying goes, it’s better to be lucky than good, and today the San Jose Earthquakes rode good luck to snatch up talented Cal goalkeeper David Bingham. Going into a special MLS weighted lottery, the Quakes had just under a nine percent chance of winning the rights to the 2010 second team All American, but beat the odds to win the draw.

It’s a move that will undoubtedly delight the goalkeeper, who signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS after concluding a trial with English Premier League side Fulham. Prior to the draft, the Pleasanton native told MLSSoccer.com that he “grew up going to Quakes games,” and added that remaining on the West Coast would make it easier for him to finish up his coursework at Cal to earn his degree.

Bingham brings a unique skill set to his position as netminder. In high school, he alternated between goal and playing in the field, mainly at forward, he told MLSSoccer. “I consider myself an athletic goalkeeper,” Bingham said. “But I think my feet are what set me apart.  I spend hours working on my feet. If a goalie makes a mistake, it’s often the feet. I pride myself having good feet on the ball and being good with my distribution.”

With the departure of veteran goalkeeper Joe Cannon to Vancouver in the MLS expansion draft and Jon Busch turning 34 this year, it appears that Bingham will have every opportunity to make a place for himself in the Earthquakes’ goal over the coming seasons.

The Earthquakes also acquired Notre Dame goalkeeper Philip Tuttle in this year’s Supplemental Draft.