SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Setting the pace with four first-half goals, the San Jose Earthquakes regained the lead in the Western Division and went on to beat the Colorado Rapids 5-2 on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.

With the Los Angeles Galaxy (41 points) losing 3-1 against the Chicago Fire earlier Saturday, the Earthquakes (42 points) overtook them with their win against Colorado. The three points also helped break the single-season mark for points by a San Jose squad, surpassing the 39 point total in 1996.

The Rapids came close to scoring first in the match when they hit the post in the 17th minute. Chris Carrieri combined with forward Raul Diaz Arce and the rookie's left-footed shot hit the top left corner of the goal with Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon beat.

Just five minutes later Manny Lagos dispossessed Rapids defender Chris Dawes at midfield and immediately raced toward goal down the left flank with forward teammate Junior Agogo overlapping to his left. Lagos fed Agogo on the left side of the box and the former Colorado Rapids player cracked a left-footed blast which hit the crossbar and bounced into the net, making the score 1-0.

In the 29th minute, the Rapids nearly tied the score when a Carrieri shot from outside the box, rolled to Colorado forward John Spencer, who was wide open in the box, barely beating the offside trap when he received the ball. But the Scotsman's strong close-range shot hit the crossbar.

Then in a span of four minutes a giveaway and the Earthquakes' exploiting of a favorable right flank matchup led to another three Earthquakes goals.

In the 36th minute, a giveaway by Rapids defender Robin Fraser near his own box was picked off by Agogo on the right side of the field. The Englishman immediately spotted Lagos, who was wide-open on the left side of the box, with the Rapids' right-sided defender, Chris Dawes, having pushed forward.

Lagos' left-footed volley easily beat goalkeeper Scott Garlick inside the far right post for the All-Star's eighth goal of the year.

Moments later, Landon Donovan served winger Ian Russell down the right flank and the second-year player easily beat Rapids defender Steve Shak on his run. Russell's cross from the right end line found Donovan in stride near the penalty spot. Beating Fraser to the ball, Donovan easily slotted it into the net for his seventh goal of the season.

The fourth and final tally of the first half came in the 40th minute when Donovan slotted a through ball toward Agogo in the left side of the box, easily splitting the Rapids' defensive line. Agogo beat the offside trap and poked a low shot under Garlick for his fourth goal of the campaign and second of the night.

The Rapids got back in the game with two second-half goals and Carrieri having an important hand in each of them. In the 58th minute Carrieri scored when a pass from Spencer beat the offside trap and found him in the center of the box. He spun around to flick the ball inside the right post for his fourth goal of the season.

Then in the 70th minute the former Earthquakes player chased a loose ball down at the end line near the right post. His cross toward the goal mouth was unintentionally deflected by San Jose midfielder Richard Mulrooney into the net to make the score 4-2.

But just as Colorado was hoping for a comeback, an Earthquakes counterattack resulted in a goal which reestablished a three-goal lead at 5-2 in the 77th minute.

Donovan led the break down the right flank and crossed the ball to Lagos on the left of the box. Lagos held the ball and waited for Mulrooney to present himself at the top of the area before serving him. Mulrooney blasted a first-time shot which found the back of the net for his first goal of 2001.

Rapids veteran midfielder Marcelo Balboa, who came entered the game at the start of the second half, was not in the starting lineup due to a foot injury suffered in practice this week. Midfielder Carlos Valderrama wore the captain's armband in his place.