COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew resumes preseason training today and will train for four days in Columbus before departing for Cyprus on Thursday. The team had the past three days off after returning from Bradenton, Florida.
The training and workout sessions in Columbus are open to the media at the conclusion of training, with the Feb. 20-22 sessions held at the All-Stars Family Sports Entertainment Center (6124 Busch Blvd. in The Continent), and the Feb. 23 session held at the Sports Barn at Easton (3599 Chiller Lane). </p>
While in Cyprus, the club will be based in Ayia Napa, Cyprus from Feb. 24-March 3. The Crew has four games scheduled in Cyprus. After Cyprus, the team will be in Columbus from March 4-12, before heading to Los Angeles from March 13-24.</p>
The Crew will open the 2006 Major League Soccer season with consecutive road games, starting with the season opener against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday, April 1, at 8:30 p.m. (ET) at Arrowhead Stadium. The Black & Gold will then head to Colorado to take on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, April 8, at 9:30 p.m. (ET) at Invesco Field at Mile High.</p>
Columbus opens it home schedule vs. Eastern Conference rival the Chicago Fire on Saturday, April 15, at 4 p.m. (ET) at Columbus Crew Stadium in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.</p>
Fans can become Crew Soccer Nation members by purchasing full-season ticket packages or partial plans, starting as low as $30 for the new Crew 3-Packs. Group tickets are available for all 16 home games as well as a "Put out the Fire" Home Opener Pack for just $60, which includes four midfield tickets. All ticket packages or plans are available through TheCrew.com and 614-447-CREW.</p>
TWO CREW GOALS AND A JOHN WOLYNIEC GOAL REMAIN OUT OF 10 FOR THE GOAL OF THE DECADE
More than 5,000 goals have been scored in the 10-year history of MLS, but only one will win the title of Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade, and the fans get to vote on the winner. </p>
The second round for the online voting of the Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade ended today, leaving 10 goals remaining, including two Crew goals and a goal scored by current Crew forward John Wolyniec. Brian McBride has the only remaining goal from 1996 and Jorge Salcedo has the only goal left from 1997. Wolyniec's goal was scored in 2003 against The Crew. </p>
On Feb. 27, the list will be cut down to five finalists and the voting will end on March 6. The winner will be announced March 7. Fans may vote up to 10 times a day at TheCrew.com or MLSNet.com.</p>
CREW SCHEDULE FOR COLUMBUS AND CYPRUS
February
21: 1 pm train (at All-Stars at the Continent)
22: 1:30 pm train (at All-Stars at the Continent)
23: 9 am train (at the Sports Barn at Easton); Depart for Cyprus
24: Arrive in Cyprus
25: 11 am train; 4 pm train
26: 3 pm Game
27: 10 am train; 4 pm train
28: 3 pm Game
March
1: 10 am train; 3 pm Game
2: 3 pm Game
3: Depart for Columbus
CREW PRESEASON RESULTS AND GAME SCHEDULE (preseason record 3-2-1)
Feb. 10 Vs. MetroStars at IMG (loss 2-0)
Feb. 10 Vs. USASA Amateur Select Team at IMG (won 3-1)
Feb. 12 Vs. Real Salt Lake, Tom Fitzgerald Memorial Soccer Festival at University of Tampa (won 1-0)
Feb. 14 Vs. Kansas City at IMG (tie 0-0)
Feb. 15 Vs. University of South Florida (won 5-2)
Feb. 16 Vs. Chicago at IMG (loss 3-1)
Feb. 26 Game in Cyprus
Feb. 28 Game in Cyprus
March 1 Game in Cyprus
March 2 Game in Cyprus
JONNY WALKER AND DUNCAN OUGHTON TO MISS CYPRUS TRIP
Crew goalkeeper Jonny Walker and midfielder/defender Duncan Oughton will not make the trip to Cyprus due to injuries. Walker has a bulging disc in his lower back and Oughton is still recovering from surgery on his right knee. Walker is expected to begin training when the team returns from Cyprus and Oughton is still being evaluated weekly.</p>
JUNIOR CREWZERS PROGRAM RETURNS FOR 2006
You can still become a part of the Columbus Crewzers Professional Dance Team and the Junior Crewzers program for 2006 by attending an additional orientation and the first practice on Sunday, Feb. 26, from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Crew Stadium Huntington Club.</p>
The program has been designed to teach girls dance routines, improve their technical ability, and most importantly to build self-esteem and self-confidence in a fun, supervised atmosphere. There will be no auditions and all girls are welcome.</p>
The Junior Crewzers will be divided into three different age groups: Wee Crewzers, ages 3-5; Junior Crewzers, ages 6-11; and the Varsity Crewzers, ages 12 and older. Each group will have two professional Crewzers as their coach. A $250 registration fee (cash or check payable to: The Columbus Crewzers) is due on or before orientation, as well as a $20 monthly fee (7 months).</p>
Seamstresses will be at orientation to size the girls for their team uniforms and times and lengths of practices will vary by age group. Wee, Junior and Varsity Crewzers must be at practice to be able to perform at Crew games. Wee, Junior and Varsity Crewzers may be invited to be a part of other Crewzers events in the community during the summer. Discount game tickets are available for purchase by Junior Crewzers families and friends. All participants will receive a uniform, pom poms, a t-shirt, a credential, a group photo with the Crewzers, a warm-up suit, a tote bag and an end of the year party with the Crewzers. For more information contact Director Kelly Brooks at 614-210-6382 or by email at <strong>auditions@thecrewzers.com</strong>.</p>
CREW TO HOLD OPEN TRYOUTS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 25, AT OBETZ
The Crew announced today that the club will hold open tryouts for the fourth straight year, on Saturday, March 25, at the Crew Training Center at Obetz (4153 Alum Creek Dr). </p>
The tryout will last all day, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. and the evening session ending at 6 p.m. Members of the Crew coaching staff will be in attendance throughout the day to assess and evaluate the entire player pool. As part of that evaluation process, the coaching staff will reserve the right to dismiss candidates at any time throughout the day. College players will not be eligible to participate in the tryout due to NCAA regulations. There is no pre-registration, and players should show up the day of the tryout. </p>
All tryout participants will receive an official numbered tryout shirt that is theirs to keep. There will be a $50 administrative fee per player, which must be paid in cash or check prior to the first training session. All proceeds from participation in the Crew open tryouts will go to the Crew Soccer Foundation.</p>
Individuals wishing to try out are solely responsible for any and all accommodations and transportation they deem necessary. They are also responsible for their own training gear, and must also bring their own ball. </p>
For further information, interested players are encouraged to call Mike Lapper, Crew Assistant Coach and Director of Soccer Business Development, at 614-447-4141. Times are subject to change for weather or administrative reasons.</p>
HEJDUK AND MARTINO BOTH SEE ACTION IN 4-0 U.S. WIN OVER GUATEMALA ON FEB. 19
Crew defender Frankie Hejduk and midfielder Kyle Martino both saw action in the 4-0 U.S. win over Guatemala on Sunday, Feb. 19, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Hedjuk started and played 76 minutes, while Martino came on as a sub in the 80th minute.</p>
The U.S. is now 3-0-1 in 2006 and will next head to Germany for a pair of games in March. The U.S. battles Poland on March 1 at 2 p.m. (ET) in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and then visits three-time World Cup champion Germany on March 22 at 2 p.m. (ET) in Dortmund, Germany, one of 12 cities hosting matches in the tournament next summer. Both games will be televised live on ESPN2.</p>
The U.S. has not announced its roster for the Germany trip. If Hejduk or Martino don't accompany the U.S. on their Germany trip they will join The Crew for their trip to Cyprus.</p>
The USA was drawn into Group E for the FIFA World Cup along with the Czech Republic, Ghana, and Italy. The U.S. plays its opening match against the Czechs on June 12 in Gelsenkirchen at 12 p.m. ET. Five days later, the USA faces Italy in Kaiserslautern, and then finishes off group play against Ghana on June 22 in Nuremberg. The U.S. has chosen the city of Hamburg as its base of operations throughout the tournament.</p>
