SAN JOSE – Noel Buck finally earned a chance to discard his brightly neon substitute’s vest in the 71st minute, with Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena pulling 21-year-old Santa Teresa High alum Beau Leroux in favor of another youngster.
The instructions from the sidelines at PayPal Park on Sunday afternoon were simple: Play with energy.
That’s what Buck, 20, did from his spot in midfield as he made an almost immediate impact. On what appeared to be a routine goal kick by CJ Dos Santos in the 72nd minute, Buck charged at the keeper like a leopard that had just spotted an unattended steak.
“The goalkeeper took a step back, and so I jumped on it,” Buck said.
That surprise rush took Dos Santos by surprise, and the veteran shot-stopper muffed the kick. It went a couple of yards forward, and mere seconds later, wily veteran striker Josef Martinez gave San Jose a one-goal lead.
“Honestly didn’t expect it to turn out that well for us,” Buck added, almost sheepishly.
Everything played out exactly how Arena, also in his first year with San Jose, hoped it would.
“We were a little fatigued at that point. It was a game that required a lot of energy, and I thought bringing in some fresh legs could help,” Arena said. “Obviously, Buck helped us in that first goal.”
San Jose Earthquakes’ Josef Martinez (17) celebrates his goal with San Jose Earthquakes’ Noel Buck (21) against San Diego FC in the second half at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Of course, Buck’s contribution was equaled and then nullified during San Jose’s collapse in the final 10 minutes of a 2-1 loss to San Diego FC.
But the loss could hardly be pinned on the substitute, who has earned a reputation for bringing late-game life to the middle of the pitch as a decorated prospect.
Buck made his professional debut at 16 years old with the USL’s New England Revolution II team in 2021, later debuted for the MLS version of the franchise, and even spent time playing for Southampton’s U-21 squad in England.
But after coming up through the New England system, Buck followed Arena from the Northeast to NorCal via transfer. The midfielder dealt with a leg injury for three months after making a handful of appearances during the spring, only returning to the pitch on Aug. 9 to play nine minutes in a victory over Vancouver.
Buck also played just 19 minutes against San Diego, but the highly-touted youngster could be in line for more playing time on a team that is searching for a spark.
He’s already got the trust of his coach, and if the high-energy midfielder continues to put in performances like he did on Sunday, it could be awfully difficult to keep him off the pitch.
“I’m still a really young player, even though I’ve been around for a while,” Buck said. “To have a coach that sees something in me is really great.”
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