Weekly Notes: Quakes rumble in

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew will look to get back on track this week as it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes at Crew Stadium on Saturday, June 7. The match will be the second of two regular-season match-ups between the two teams. In the teams' Week 7 battle in San Jose, the Crew (6-3-1, 19 pts.) came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the 'Quakes (2-6-1, 7 pts.) in a 3-2 thriller, thanks to two goals from Robbie Rogers and the game-winner by Brad Evans. Rogers earned MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 7 for his efforts.

Saturday's match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised live nationally on HDNet and locally on Columbus Sports Network, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action. The game can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN with Neil Sika behind the microphone and on-line at theCrew.com and MLSNet.com, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM with Marcelo Carrera, Eduardo Carvacho and Benny Pietrangelo on the call. Crew team-photo posters will be given away upon entry, while supplies last, courtesy of Three-A-Day Dairy.

San Jose travels to Columbus this week after falling to Real Salt Lake, 3-1, last Saturday (May 31), keeping the Earthquakes in seventh place in the Western Conference. Prior to last week's loss, the 'Quakes registered their second victory of the season, a 2-1 decision over the defending MLS Cup-champion Houston Dynamo on May 22.

The Earthquakes are currently in the midst of their first season back in MLS after a two-year hiatus. The original 'Quakes, who defeated D.C. United, 1-0, in the league's inaugural game in 1996, played 10 seasons in Major League Soccer from 1996-2005. Following the 2005 campaign, the Earthquakes were placed on hiatus by the league, with their players and coaching staff moving to Houston where they now play as the Houston Dynamo. However, when the original franchise moved, the decision was made to preserve the San Jose Earthquakes' nickname, logo and club history separately from that of the new Houston team, much like the NFL's decision to maintain the Cleveland Browns' legacy when the original franchise departed for Baltimore 1996.

San Jose features two players who suited up for the Black & Gold last season, both of whom became members of the Earthquakes thanks to the 2007 Expansion Draft, held in November of last year. Former Crew midfielder Ned Grabavoy was selected by San Jose in the third round of the Expansion Draft, while former Crew forward Kei Kamara was traded to San Jose in exchange for midfielder Brian Carroll, who had played each of his first five season with D.C. United, before being selected by the Earthquakes in the seventh round of the Expansion Draft, just days previous. San Jose defender Eric Denton also spent three seasons with the Crew (2002-04). The Crew's current roster also features two former 'Quakes, forward Alejandro Moreno and midfielder Danny O'Rourke who both spent the 2005 season in San Jose.

In last week's action, the Crew defeated Real Salt Lake, 2-0, Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup play, then dropped just its third league game of the season, a 2-0 decision at Chivas USA. The Black & Gold was doomed in the match by a deflating three-minute stretch midway through the first half that it could never fully recover from. The Goats scored two goals in that span, beginning with Jorge Flores in the 20th minute, followed by Jesse Marsch in the 21st, and then went a man up in the 22nd thanks to a Danny O'Rourke red card. The red card was Columbus' first of the season and will force O'Rourke to sit out this Saturday's match vs. San Jose with a mandatory one-game suspension.

COLUMBUS CREW vs. San Jose Earthquakes


Saturday, June 7 - 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium


National Television:
HDNet; Local Television: CSN


Crew Radio:
News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)


Crew Webcasts:
TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)

HEJDUK CONTINUES WHIRLWIND SCHEDULE, RECEIVES SECOND USMNT CALL-UP IN A WEEK

Crew defender Frankie Hejduk continues to rack up the frequent flyer miles this week, as he was named to the U.S. Men's National Team roster for its friendly with Spain today (June 4) at the Estadio El Sardinero in Santander. The call-up is the veteran defender's second in a week, as he was a late addition to the U.S. roster for its England friendly last Wednesday (May 28). Hejduk played the entire second half of the match, after coming on for Steve Cherundolo at halftime, earning his 76th international cap in the process. Following the international friendly at famed Wembley Stadium, Hejduk rejoined the Black & Gold in Los Angeles for its MLS match at Chivas USA on Saturday (May 31). After the league battle with Chivas, Hejduk again departed the Crew, hopping a jet to Spain to join his National Team teammates. Hejduk is expected to return to Columbus in time for the Crew's MLS match vs. San Jose this Saturday.

LENHART MAKES MLS DEBUT AT CHIVAS, ROUNDING OUT A WEEK OF FIRSTS FOR YOUNG FORWARD

Forward Steven Lenhart, the Crew's final selection (No. 48 overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft out of Azusa Pacific University, had a busy week last week as he made his first-team debut and scored the game-winner in the Crew's 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Tuesday (May 27) in U.S. Open Cup Qualifying. Lenhart followed up that performance by making his official MLS league debut, coming on as a substitute for Robbie Rogers in the 80th minute of the Crew's loss at Chivas USA on Saturday (May 31).

CREW PLAYERS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN OFFENSIVE STATISTICAL CATEGORIES

Several Crew players find themselves among the league statistical leaders so far in the 2008 season. Midfielder Robbie Rogers finds himself among the league's best in several categories, as he is currently third in MLS in goals scored (5) and sits tied for third in shots taken (27). Rogers is also second in MLS in multi-goal games (2) and he is one of seven players with two game-winning goals on the year. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, too, has had a good start to the 2008 season, as he is tied for second in MLS in assists (5) and fouls suffered (27). He also leads the league in corner kicks with 49 taken on the season. Along with Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno is among three players tied for second in fouls suffered and goalkeeper William Hesmer is third in goals-against average (1.20) and saves (40).

CREW TO FACE CHICAGO IN NEXT ROUND OF U.S. OPEN CUP QUALIFYING JUNE 10 IN PEORIA, ILL.

Thanks to its 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on May 27 at Crew Stadium, the Crew has advanced to the next stage of U.S. Open Cup Qualifying and will take on the Chicago Fire on Tuesday, June 10, at 8 p.m. (ET) at Bradley University's Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill. The winner of that match will earn a place in the tournament's Round of 16.

SUPERDRAFT PICK PIERRE-LOUIS JOINS CREW AFTER COMPLETING UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

Forward Ricardo Pierre-Louis, one of the Crew's two second-round selections (No. 22 overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, joined the squad for training this week after completing his undergraduate studies in Business Administration at Lee University in Tennessee. Pierre-Louis, a native of Leogane, Haiti, will train with the Crew this week before departing early next week to join the Haitian National Team for World Cup Qualifying. Pierre-Louis scored 101 goals, with 33 assists in 63 career games at Lee. Pierre-Louis, who speaks five languages, was named the NAIA Player of the Year and the Region XIII Player of the Year in 2007. He was also named to the NAIA All-American First Team, the NAIA Region XIII First Team and the SSAC First Team for three consecutive seasons (2005-07). Pierre-Louis has also scored six goals in 26 appearances for the Haitian National Team and also made contributions at the U-23, U-20 and U-17 levels.

CREW'S U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PASSBACK PROGRAM TO TAKE PLACE AT BOTH MATCHES IN JUNE

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, in partnership with the Crew and Major League Soccer, will be collecting new and gently used soccer equipment at Crew Stadium during the Crew's matches on June 7 and 28 through its Passback program. The equipment collected will then be distributed within our community, to the Kids Inner-City Development Soccer (K.I.D.S.) League and the Near-East Side Inner-City Youth Soccer Program, so that others may enjoy the wonderful sport of soccer. Fans are encouraged to gather up those jerseys, shin guards, shoes, socks and soccer balls and bring them to the Crew's home matches in June to "Share the equipment. Share the Game!" Crew defender Jed Zayner serves as the local Passback spokesperson.

CSA, CREW JUNIORS CONTINUE 2008 TRYOUTS - TONIGHT'S LOCATIONS CHANGED

The Columbus Crew continues its preparations for the 2008-09 youth soccer season, as tryouts for Crew Soccer Academy and Crew Juniors teams have resumed this week at both Crew Stadium and the Crew Training Center at Obetz.
Please note, however, that due to weather an field conditions, tryouts scheduled for both sites on Wednesday, June 4, have been moved to Perry Middle School.
Tryout sessions will run from 6-7:30 p.m. each evening, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. Players may pre-register on line at www.thecrew.com (Youth Development tab, then Crew Juniors Tryouts) and 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. U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy players (players who may progress to the Crew Soccer Academy) must come from within the Crew Juniors teams. The Crew Soccer Academy, or CSA, is currently participating in its inaugural season in the newly-formed U.S. Soccer Development Academy. CSA fields teams in the Under-16 and Under-18 age groups and has enjoyed fantastic results in its inaugural campaign. Both of its teams are at, or near, the top of their respective conference standings. Both teams recently completed a fruitful trip to the Spring Showcase in Rockford, Ill., May 23-26, with the U-16s finishing the weekend unbeaten at 2-0-1 and the U-18s defeating all three of its opponents to finish 3-0-0. 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 Juniors encourages players to attend both days of tryouts for their respective age group, 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.

(Crew - Crew Stadium; Obetz - Crew Training Center at Obetz)
* Please note change, due to weather/field conditions

CREW SOCCER ACADEMY SQUADS ENJOY ANOTHER UNBEATEN WEEKEND

The Crew Soccer Academy squads continued their seasons last Saturday (May 31) and Sunday (June 1), as they traveled to Cleveland to take on Internationals and CASA. On Saturday, both teams took on Internationals at Copley Fields, with the U-16s earning a 5-1 victory in the day's first match. The U-18s followed up with a 7-0 victory over Internationals, to round out the day. On Sunday (June 1), both teams were in action against CASA on the campus of Cleveland State University. The U-16s began with a 1-0 victory over CASA, followed up by the U-18s finishing up the weekend with a 3-1 win. Both the U-16s (14-2-7) and U-18s (15-4-3) return to action at home this Sunday (June 8) against Virginia Rush, at 10 a.m. and noon, respectively. The location of the matches has yet to be determined.