[1] Suarez played college soccer at San Jose State University from 1997 to 2000, and was named an NCAA All-American his senior season.
Suarez played very well in his debut season, starting 19 games while scoring 2 goals and 3 assists, and showing an attacking instinct and physicality that looked to make him very dangerous in Major League Soccer.
Although Suarez played consistently in his second season, starting 24 games and recording a goal and 2 assists for the Burn, his lack of improvement troubled many.
His third season brought a move to center back, which Suarez did not take happily to – in midseason, he was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy with Paul Broome and Antonio Martínez in exchange for Ezra Hendrickson and Gavin Glinton.
Suarez's efforts earned him the respect of Galaxy supporters and even brought him the LA Riot Squad (LARS) Player of the Year Award.