The Crew will attempt to extend its six-game unbeaten streak and perfect record at home (4-0-0) this Saturday, May 24, when it welcomes the New England Revolution to Crew Stadium. The match features a Revolution squad (5-3-1, 16 pts.) that is riding a two-game win streak and will be looking to gain ground on the first-place Crew (6-1-1, 19 pts.) in a crowded Eastern Conference race.
Saturday's match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and be televised live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports Espanol. It can also be heard live locally in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN, and on-line at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM.
Saturday's match will also be the first Bob Evans Buck-a-Brat Night of the 2008 season, when juicy, full-size Bob Evans bratwursts will be sold for just $1 throughout Crew Stadium.
New England comes to Columbus for this week's match after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, last Saturday (May 17) at Gillette Stadium, thanks to Kheli Dube's first MLS goal and an own goal by San Jose's James Riley. The Revolution has now won two in a row and three out of its last four MLS contests.
In its match last Saturday (May 17) the Crew gutted out a 0-0 tie with Toronto FC, amid blustery conditions at TFC's BMO Field. The Crew had a five-game win streak snapped in the process, but it remains unbeaten in its last six games, with a 5-0-1 record in that span. Columbus also has the distinction of being the lone MLS club to have earned a victory in every home match to date.
The Crew and Revolution will also square off in a Reserve Division match Sunday morning, May 25, at 9:30 a.m. at Crew Stadium.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. New England
Saturday, May 24 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium
National Television: Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports Espanol; Local Television: N/A
Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW JUNIORS, WORTHINGTON CREW JUNIORS TRYOUTS UNDERWAY
Tryouts for Crew Juniors and the new Worthington Crew Juniors have begun and will run through June 6 at Crew Stadium, the Crew Training Facility at Obetz and Perry Middle School. Tryout sessions will run from 6-7:30 p.m. each evening, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. Players should bring a soccer ball, shin guards, water, and a light and dark T-shirt. Every age-eligible player who attends Crew Juniors tryouts will first be evaluated for the appropriate Crew Soccer Academy team. Players will then be evaluated and may be invited to join the appropriate level of Crew Juniors teams. Developmental players (Crew Juniors players who may progress to the Crew Soccer Academy) must come from within the Crew Juniors teams. Crew Juniors encourages players to attend both days of tryouts, although there will be a supplemental tryout for all age groups on Tuesday, June 10, from 6-7:30 p.m. Dates and times are subject to change and rain dates will be the Friday of each week. Please see below for the scheduled times and locations of the Crew Juniors' tryouts for each age group. Players or parents interested in the Crew Juniors and Worthington Crew Juniors program and tryout schedule for both boys and girls can call 614-447-CREW (2739) or visit the Crew web site and click on 'Youth Development'.
CREW TO FACE REAL SALT LAKE IN SECOND ROUND U.S. OPEN CUP QUALIFER THIS TUESDAY, MAY 27
The Crew will play host to Real Salt Lake this Tuesday, May 27, at Crew at Crew Stadium in a second-round U.S. Open Cup qualifying match starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game has been designated "Special Game A" in Crew Soccer Nation Gold memberships (full-season ticket packages). Tickets are still available at all central Ohio Ticketmaster outlets and the Crew Stadium Box Office and on-line at TheCrew.com com and ticketmaster.com. Real Salt Lake defeated San Jose, 4-0, on April 30, in a first-round qualifying match at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Dating back to 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and is among the oldest in the world. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is entering its 94th tournament. The Crew won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship in 2002.
CREW OFF TO BEST EIGHT-GAME START IN CLUB HISTORY
After earning a scoreless draw with Toronto FC on Saturday (May 17), the Crew is now 6-1-1 and off to the best eight-game start in club history, distancing itself from the 1997, 1998 and 1999 squads that all started with 6-2 records. Those three squads featured current Crew assistant coaches Robert Warzycha and Mike Lapper and each went on to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. This season's start is also the best eight-game start of head coach Sigi Schmid's MLS career.
HESMER RECORDS THIRD SHUTOUT OF SEASON
Goalkeeper William Hesmer recorded his third shutout of the season in the Crew's 0-0 draw at Toronto FC last Saturday (May 17). Hesmer now has nine shutouts in his MLS career, eight of which have come since he joined the Crew prior to the 2007 season. His goals-against average for the season is currently 1.13, tying him for third in the league in that category.
SEVERAL CREW PLAYERS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN OFFENSIVE STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
Several other Crew players find themselves among the league leaders in offensive statistical categories so far in the 2008 season. Midfielder Robbie Rogers finds himself among the league's best in several categories after his commendable play this season, as he is currently tied for second in MLS in goals scored (5) and shots on goal (15), and he sits alone in second place in the statistical rankings for shots (27) and multi-goal games (2). Rogers is also one of only three players (Chad Barrett - CHI, Kyle Beckerman - RSL) with two game-winning goals on the year. Forward Alejandro Moreno is tied for third in goals (4) and assists (3), and is also tied for first with his teammate Guillermo Barros Schelotto in fouls suffered (22). Schelotto, too, has had a good start to the 2008 season, as he is tied for the league lead in assists (5) and the previously mentioned fouls suffered (22). He also leads the league in corner kicks with 41 taken on the season.
MIGLIORANZI PLACED ON DISABLED LIST
Midfielder-defender Stefani Miglioranzi has been placed on the six-week disabled list, with the strained left quad he suffered on May 10. Miglioranzi, who has appeared in five games this season, three of them starts, was forced to leave that game at San Jose in the 31st minute with the injury.
LIVE WEB CHAT WITH BRIAN CARROLL SET FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, AT TheCrew.com
Crew midfielder Brian Carroll will answer questions from fans during the Crew's monthly Web Chat at TheCrew.com on Wednesday, May 28, at 2 p.m. Be sure to log on to see what Carroll has to say before the Crew's trip to L.A. to take on Chivas USA on May 31.
CSA TEAMS CONTINUE SEASON, PREPARE FOR SPRING SHOWCASE IN ILLINOIS
The Crew Soccer Academy squads hosted matches in Columbus last weekend (May 17 & 18), as they welcomed Vardar and the Michigan Wolves to the Crew Training Facility at Obetz. On Saturday (May 17), the CSA U-16s tied Vardar, 1-1, behind a goal from Andy Lubahn. The CSA U-18 match vs. Vardar scheduled to take place following the U-16 contest was postponed and rescheduled for June 4. On Sunday (May 18) the U-16s tied the Michigan Wolves, 0-0, thanks to four saves by CSA goalkeeper Justin Luthy. The U-18s hosted their counterparts from the Wolves next and fell by a score of 2-0. The CSA squads will travel to Rockford, Ill. this weekend, May 23-26, for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase. On Friday (May 23) the CSA squads take on BW Gottschee, with the U-16s playing at 12:45 p.m. and the U-18s following at 3:45 p.m. On Saturday (May 24), the U-16s play Schulz Academy at 3:30 p.m., while the U-18s will wait to play Schulz Academy on Sunday (May 25) at 10 a.m. On the final day of competition, Monday (May 26), both CSA teams will be in action, with the U-16s playing Chivas USA at 1 p.m. and the U-18s following with a match of their own against Chivas USA at 3 p.m. (All match times listed are ET).
SPRING SOCCER FESTIVAL FOR CREW SOCCER NATION MEMBERS IS SUNDAY
Spring Soccer Festival, one of the exclusive benefits of Crew Soccer Nation Gold, Black and Silver memberships, will be held this Sunday (May 25) at Crew Stadium from 1-3 p.m. CSN members will have the opportunity to interact with Crew players and coaches at a variety of stations on the field. Members are asked to bring their CSN credentials. Media is invited to cover the event.
RYAN JUNGE SCHEDULED TO VISIT BEATTIE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THURSDAY
Crew defender Ryan Junge is scheduled to visit Beattie Park Elementary (1939 Stratford Way, Columbus 43219) this Thursday, May 22, from 2-3 p.m. as part of the Crew's school assembly program. The players will speak to the students about teamwork, perseverance, staying in school and being a good sport, and will also perform a brief ball skills demonstration.
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE
(Media availability at the conclusion of training; All times listed Eastern Time)
Wed., 5/21 OFF
Thurs., 5/22 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Fri., 5/23 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sat., 5/24 Game vs. New England, Crew Stadium, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)
Sun., 5/25 Reserve Division match, Crew Stadium, 9:30 a.m.
Mon., 5/26 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Tue., 5/27 U.S. Open Cup Qualifier vs. Real Salt Lake, Crew Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
