Ching chosen for MLS All-Star game

NEW YORK – Former Gonzaga University soccer player Brian Ching, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, has been selected to start in the Major League Soccer All-Star game.

Ching is one of 22 starters announced Friday for the ninth annual All-Star game to be played July 31 at Washington’s RFK Stadium.

Starters were determined through voting by fans, media, players, coaches and general managers.

Ching is one of five players on the defending MLS Cup champion Earthquakes selected to start in the MLS All-Star game. Runner-up Chicago Fire is also sending five players. The MetroStars and Los Angeles Galaxy each have three starters.

San Jose midfielder Landon Donovan will make his fourth straight All-Star appearance, while Earthquake defender Jeff Agoos is the only player to be selected to all nine all-star games. Goalkeeper Pat Onstad and midfielder Richard Mulrooney were also picked from San Jose.

Also starting for the Western Conference are league scoring leader and last year’s All-Star MVP Carlos Ruiz (L.A.); Andreas Herzog (L.A.); Ronnie O’Brien (Dallas); Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado); Cory Gibbs (Dallas); and Chris Albright (L.A.).

The Fire’s Chris Armas was selected for the seventh straight year. He was joined by teammates forward Damani Ralph, midfielder DeMarcus Beasley, defender Jim Curtin and goalkeeper Henry Ring.

Eddie Gaven, a 17-year-old midfielder for the MetroStars, became the youngest All-Star ever, while teammate Eddie Pope earned his eighth straight spot.