CHIVAS USA VS. COLUMBUS THIS SATURDAY IN BENEFIT MATCH:
This Saturday, Chivas USA travels to the Santa Clarita Valley to play the Columbus Crew in a preseason game benefiting the Michael Hoefflin Foundation. All proceeds from the match will go to the non-profit Foundation, which provides financial and emotional support to children and their families facing childhood cancer in Santa Clarita and the surrounding area. The game, which will be played in Cougar Stadium at the College of the Canyons in Valencia, starts at 5:00 p.m. PT. For more information about the match, the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, or to purchase tickets, call 661-250-4100 or visit their website at www.mhf.org.
RED-AND-WHITE CLAIM THIRD PRESEASON WIN VS. D.C.: In its fourth match of the preseason, Chivas USA captured its third win on Monday against D.C. United, using a goal by Chivas USA Under-18 forward Arnaldo Salazar to earn the 1-0 victory. It was the second time in less than a week that the Red-and-White had beaten a Major League Soccer rival by that scoreline, having topped the New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Feb. 12. Next up for Chivas USA is another Eastern Conference foe, the Columbus Crew, this Saturday night in Valencia, Calif., in a charity match to benefit the Michael Hoefflin Foundation. A full preseason schedule, as well as more information on this Saturday's match, follows:
CHIVAS USA 2008 :: SCHEDULE OF PRESEASON GAMES
DAY DATE EVENT TIME/LOCATION
Sat Feb 9 vs. UCLA W, 2-0 (Braun, Razov)
Tue Feb 12 vs. New York Red Bulls W, 1-0 (Razov)
Sat Feb 16 vs. Japanese U-23 National Team L, 4-0
Mon Feb 18 vs. D.C. United W, 1-0 (Salazar)
Sat Feb 23 vs. Columbus @ Santa Clarita, CA 5:00 p.m.
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Riverside 10:00 a.m.
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ San Antonio 8:30 p.m. (CT)
Fri Mar 7 vs. Houston Dynamo @ San Antonio 8:30 p.m. (CT)
Sun Mar 9 vs. Toronto FC @ San Antonio 3:00 p.m. (CT)
Sat Mar 15 vs. San Diego State 10:00 a.m.
Wed Mar 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton 10:00 a.m.
SUN MAR 30 @ FC Dallas (OPENING DAY) 12:00 p.m.
SAT APR 5 vs. Real Salt Lake (HOME OPENER) 7:30 p.m.
* Subject to change. Unless otherwise indicated, all times Pacific and all games at The Home Depot Center. For the latest information, please contact Chivas USA Communications.
SUEÑO MLS 2008: THE DREAM CONTINUES: The Final 60 for 'Sueño MLS 2008: The Dream Continues' will be announced this week, following the first round of the nationally-televised search to discover America's best undiscovered young soccer players, which was held over Presidents' Day Weekend, Feb. 15-18, in Bell Gardens. Calif. The competition, which is being followed weekly by Univision's popular sports show, República Deportiva, featured more than 2,000 players from across the United States and several foreign countries hoping to be one of the final 60 for a second tryout on March 1. The competition is also running concurrently in Dallas, which runs its opening weekend of tryouts starting this Friday. After the round of 60, the 'Final 18' of each team will be selected and subsequently compete on March 8-9 and March 15 for a chance to train with the respective MLS team, and possibly earn a roster spot. For more information on Sueño MLS please visit www.SuenoMLS.com.
WICKY RECEIVES WORK PERMIT, BEGINS TRAINING: Swiss international and World Cup veteran Raphaël Wicky, who recently signed with Chivas USA, resumed training on Tuesday after offseason ankle surgery. It was Wicky's first training session since joining the team. Wicky also recently received his P-1 Work Visa, as well as an International Transfer Certificate, which were the two necessary documents to allow him to participate in the upcoming Major League Soccer season. Meanwhile, central defender Shavar Thomas remains in Jamaica awaiting finalization of his Work Visa.
'KICK-IT AT THE PARK' THIS SATURDAY IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD: 'Kick-it at the Park LA with Chivas USA' continues this coming weekend with a clinic at Whitsett Fields Park, 12240 Archwood Street in North Hollywood on Feb. 23. Run in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles, and the L.A. Parks and Recreation Department, 'Kick-it at the Park' is a series of clinics that emphasize physical fitness, sports, and education for as many as 400 children at each of 40 locations throughout the year. A five-dollar fee gets participants 90 minutes of instruction, a voucher for a free ticket to a Chivas USA game, a t-shirt, soccer ball, and Certificate of Completion. Most recently, Chivas USA held a clinic at Griffith Park Recreation Center at 3401 Riverside Drive in Los Angeles on February 9. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
CHIVAS ACADEMY PLAYER CALLED UP TO MEXICAN U-17 NATIONAL TEAM: Alexis Hernández Gutiérrez, of the South Valley Chivas Academy in the San Joaquin Valley city of Porterville, Calif., has been called up to the Mexican U-17 National Team for the Torneo Internacional Acapulco 2008, which kicks off today, Feb. 19 in the city of Acapulco, Mexico. Gutiérrez originally joined the U-17's camp in Mexico City on Feb. 16. South Valley Chivas Academy is a licensed Chivas academy, affiliated with Chivas USA, which promotes the Chivas philosophy of player development.
CHIVAGIRLS SET FOR 2008 TRYOUTS: The ChivaGirls, L.A.'s hottest multicultural dance squad, has auditions set for Saturday, March 8, for their 2008 team. A combination of performance, community involvement, and support for their team has seen the ChivaGirls set the standard for other MLS professional dance teams. Applications for the audition, as well as more information on the ChivaGirls, can be found on Chivas USA's website at www.cdchivasusa.com.
2008 OLYMPIC QUALIFYING GAME PACK: Chivas USA invites fans to experience international soccer with a special ticket deal that includes CONCACAF qualifying games. Fans can choose one from three Olympic qualifier doubleheaders and receive a ticket to the Red-and-White's home opener, on April 5 against Real Salt Lake. Ticket deals start as low as $33, and more information may be found by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or by visiting www.cdchivasusa.com.
PREKI ELIGIBLE FOR HALL OF FAME: The National Soccer Hall of Fame released to voters its 2008 Players Ballot earlier this month, and Chivas USA Head Coach and 2007 MLS Coach of the Year Preki is now eligible for election for the first time. The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum included on the ballot a number of former stars from Major League Soccer and the United States national team. With two MLS MVP awards, 79 goals and 112 assists in a stellar 10-year MLS career, and 28 games with the United States National Team, Preki will need to receive 75 percent of the vote from media, coaches, administrators and Hall of Famers in order to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
GET CHIVAS USA'S FIVE BEST GAMES IN '08 FOR JUST $50: Fans looking to see Chivas USA in 2008 have an opportunity to watch the five biggest games of the season with the 5-Game Plan, with packages starting at just $50. The five matches included in the set are the opening match of the season on April 5 against Real Salt Lake, and games against the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Chicago Fire, the San Jose Earthquakes, Closing Day, which doubles as Fan Appreciation night. For more information please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
