SAN JOSE >> Hometown product Beau Leroux raced to the corner flag and kissed the shield on his San Jose Earthquakes jersey.

It was a fitting celebration to his first MLS goal for the 21-year-old San Jose native, who played for the Santa Cruz Breakers, Santa Teresa High School and San Jose State before being drafted by the Quakes.

Leroux had the only three shots on target for the Quakes in a 1-1 tie against the Seattle Sounders Saturday night at PayPal Park.

“I kissed the badge,” Leroux said. “This club means everything to me. You know they took a chance on me. I just love this club. I love San Jose and the people. I definitely feel some weight off my shoulders, but still have a lot to work on. So we still have a lot to do to get these results and go for three points.”The attacking midfielder intercepted a pass just outside the box and took a shot that deflected off a sliding defender and looped over keeper Stefan Frei in the 32nd minute.

Though it may have been a fortunate deflection — “I’m not sure that’s one he’s going to be showing his grandchildren,” coach Bruce Arena joked — it was the product of a strong defensive play and an aggressive mentality.

“Any shot on target is a good shot,” Leroux said. “Anything can happen. I’m just fortunate that it went in the back of the net.”

Leroux was a second-round pick (42nd overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. He played last season on The Town FC, San Jose’s MLS NEXT Pro team, but Arena has started Leroux in every game this season. He assisted on the Quakes’ season-opening goal and had four shots on the year entering Saturday.

“I thank Bruce a lot that he trusts me that much, and the whole coaching staff and the players trust me that much,” Leroux said. “I just go out there and do the best I can to help the team.”

He led the team with 33 passes Saturday and was San Jose’s most creative player.

However, Leroux’s effort was one of the only highlights for the Quakes, who were outshot 26-10. Despite nine saves from Daniel, who added to his MLS-leading total of 28, Seattle (1-2-3) finally found the equalizer in the 80th minute.

After opening with two straight victories, the Quakes (2-3-1) have now gone four games without a win.

“This is not yet built to be a championship team,” Arena said. “It’s going to take a little time on the technical side, the business side, all of that.”

Arena, the league’s all-time coaching wins leader, took over after the Quakes won an MLS-worst six games last season.

“I’m not the most patient person in the world,” Arena said. “But after six games we’re doing OK, and that’s about all I have to say at this point, and hopefully we can get better.”

Leroux wasn’t the only local college player on the field for the Quakes. Reid Roberts, 21, who played the past three seasons at USF and was the fifth overall pick in the 2025 SuperDraft, made his first career MLS start at left back, replacing Jamar Ricketts.

Roberts, a strong passer and 1-on-1 defender, moved from centerback to the left side over the last few weeks. He made his debut as a second-half sub last week in Charlotte before joining Leroux in the starting lineup Saturday. Both players are 21.

“In the real world of football, I don’t think they’re considered that young,” said Arena, who is also the sporting director. “You have players starting at big clubs at 18-19, but I always try to play young players if I can. You have to be patient and you have to mix it right and have the right balance on the field. We’re playing a couple right now and I think they’re doing a good job.”

The Quakes continue their homestand next weekend when they host D.C. United. The game is on Sunday to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the first MLS game, when the San Jose Clash hosted the Arena-coached D.C. United at Spartan Stadium on April 6, 1996.