By Town Crier Staff Report

San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon, a Los Altos Hills resident, has been voted to start in next week’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game.

Cannon learned of his selection last Thursday when MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis announced the all-star lineups at a press conference in San Jose. The Earthquakes are hosting the all-star game, scheduled for 12:30 p.m., July 28, at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.

Cannon is the first goalie in the history of the San Jose franchise to make the all-star contest. He is one of three Earthquakes voted to start for the West team and will be joined by defender Jeff Agoos and forward Landon Donovan.

“The fact that fans around the country voted three Earthquakes players into the starting lineup of the all-star game speaks volumes to what this team has accomplished this year,” Earthquakes general manager Tom Neale said. “It says great things about this team, this organization, the city of San Jose and its fans. Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan and Joe Cannon are top-quality players who have demonstrated their leadership on and off the field … .”

Cannon, who will make his first all-star appearance, received 19,142 votes. He beat out Kansas City goalie Tony Meola, who led the voting early last week.

Cannon, in his third year with San Jose, has the best goals-against average in the MLS with 1.03 per game. His eight wins put him in a tie for third in the league. Cannon is fourth in save percentage (0.761), save ratio (3.94) and catches/punches (58). His 1,486 minutes played ranks third in the MLS among goalkeepers.

The St. Francis High graduate is also tied for fourth in the league in shutouts with five. All-time, he has 16 shutouts, which is sixth-best in MLS history.

All-star tickets, priced at $28 and $20, are available through Tickets.com at (408) 998-2277.

The match will be televised live on ABC.