San Fernando Valley Quakes as it expanded to nine teams. Playing at John Elway Stadium on the campus of Granada Hills Charter High School, head coach Ali Khosroshahin's team made an inauspicious start, tying 1–1 with Los Angeles Storm in their opening game, and then suffering a devastating 4–3 home defeat to Orange County Blue Star, having led 3–0 with 8 minutes to go. The Quakes' mid-season form improved considerably, highlighted by several impressive victories, including a 5–1 thrashing of California Gold, and an astonishing 7–4 road victory over San Diego Gauchos which included a hat trick from central defender Derek Hanks. The Quakes
Australia national soccer team The nickname represents a cultural propensity for the use of colloquialisms in the country. It also represents the Australian English use of the sport's name. The name itself is similar to most other Australian national representative sporting team nicknames; used informally when referring to the team, in the media or in conversation. Similarly, the name is derived from a well-known symbol of Australia, in this case the kangaroo. The words "soccer" and "kangaroo" are combined into a portmanteau word as "soccer-roo"; such as "Olyroos" for the Australia Olympic soccer team. Australia's long time rivals are trans-Tasman neighbours New Zealand. The