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Quakes beat Sounders 1-0 in Levi’s Stadium opener

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — With a couple of quick touches and one slick kick, Yannick Djalo and the San Jose Earthquakes put the exclamation point on a crowd-pleasing opener at the San Francisco 49ers’ new home.

Djalo scored from the edge of the box on a crisp pass from Chris Wondolowski in the 42nd minute, and the Earthquakes held off the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday night in the first sporting event at Levi’s Stadium.

“I’ve had some other great moments in my career that I’ve really enjoyed, and tonight’s going to take a special place among those memories,” said Djalo, who left in the second half with a strained right quadriceps. “It’s a fantastic stadium and a beautiful place to play.”

The red jersey-wearing Quakes (6-8-5) christened the new $1.2 billion high-tech venue with a swift and stunning goal before withstanding a flurry of shots from the Western Conference-leading Sounders (12-6-2) in the closing moments.

Wondolowski floated a pass from midfield over a defender and right onto Djalo’s feet. Djalo controlled the ball and flicked it past a charging Stefan Frei for his third goal this season, sending most of the announced crowd of 48,765 roaring out of their seats.

“It was an incredible night,” Quakes coach Mark Watson said. “Our guys were excited and they wanted to put on a good show.”

San Jose played the final sporting event at Candlestick Park last weekend — a 0-0 tie against Spanish League champion Atletico Madrid — before opening the 49ers’ plush new digs in style.

A mix of Earthquakes, 49ers and Sounders fans blended together at the Silicon Valley stadium under a setting sun that gave way to a picturesque twilight sky and an energetic crowd under the lights.

Four flag-bearing parachuters glided onto the lush green field with the ceremonial ball before the game. Fans filled most of the red seats in the two lower bowls of the stadium, where the close quarters brought them mere feet from the action — though there wasn’t much of it early, but plenty late.

San Jose contained Clint Dempsey and fellow U.S. World Cup team member DeAndre Yedlin behind a formidable, physical back line.

Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez got a yellow card for extending his right elbow into Obafemi Martins’ face in the 19th minute. The Quakes threw an even bigger — and more stunning punch — when Wondolowski and Djalo delivered the lone goal.

Djalo missed wide left on a breakaway in the 61st minute but got tripped up at the end of the play. He walked off the field holding his right leg.

The Sounders spent the final 30 minutes attacking in waves.

Jon Busch turned back one of Seattle’s best chances when he sent Kenny Cooper’s header from the center of the box just over the crossbar for one of his eight saves. Wondolowski headed a shot by Chad Barrett off the line late.

“I think I was a little confused on what box to be in,” joked Wondolowski, who played in Brazil for Team USA this summer.

It was the second straight shutout loss for the Sounders. They lost 3-0 at home to Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday night.

“It’s frustrating to lose,” Dempsey said. “But we had some good looks. We just couldn’t put them in the back of the net.”

It was the biggest win so far this season for the Quakes, who are last in the West, but hope they can turnaround their season.

The night still belonged to the new stadium, though for all its glitzy and grand amenities, still has kinks to work out. Some fans complained on social media of congested traffic and long lines getting into the stadium, and others reported issues with the free wireless Internet and smartphone application.

The 49ers’ first preseason game at Levi’s Stadium is against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Aug. 17. The first regular-season game at the stadium is against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 14.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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