COLUMBUS
, Ohio - After back-to-back road games, the Crew returns to action at home on Saturday (Aug. 18) when it will take on Eastern Conference-rival D.C. United at Crew Stadium. Columbus (6-6-8, 26 pts.) is coming off a 3-2 setback, on a last-gasp goal, at Dallas on Saturday and is currently fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and in possession the No. 8 playoff seed.
Saturday's match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will be televised live nationally on HDNet and locally on CSN, with Dwight Burgess and Dante Washington calling all the action, Katie Witham reporting from the sidelines and Dionne Miller hosting the 30-minute pregame show. The game can be heard live in English on 610 WTVN (PLEASE NOTE STATION CHANGE) and on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM, with Marcelo Carrera, Eduardo "Eddie" Carvacho and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
D.C. United, tied for second in the East at 9-6-3 (30 pts.), is coming off a 1-0 win over Los Angeles on Aug. 9, behind Luciano Emilio's league-leading 13th goal. Crew forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto tallied his eighth assist in 15 games Saturday in Dallas and remains second in the league in that category.
The Crew and D.C. meet for the second of three times this season and for the second and final time at Crew Stadium. The Crew defeated United, 1-0, on an Ezra Hendrickson goal April 28, and they will close out the regular season against one another on Oct. 20 at RFK Stadium.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. D.C. United
Saturday, August 18 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium
National Television: HDNet; Local Television: CSN
Crew Radio: 610 WTVN (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW'S ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP SLATED FOR THIS THURSDAY, AUG. 16
The Crew will hold its annual neighborhood cleanup this Thursday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m., when Crew players and staff, along 25 winners of a contest on The CW on WWHO, will pick up litter just north of Crew Stadium. Keep Columbus Beautiful will once again help guide the cleanup and supply the trash bags, litter grabbers, gloves and other tools, while The CW is partnering in the initiative for the first time. It shot a public service announcement that is currently running, featuring Ezra Hendickson and Danny O'Rourke, promoting both the cleanup and the contest.
(View here)
Each contest winner will join the cleanup and take home a great prize pack that includes two tickets to the Crew's game vs. D.C. United on Aug. 18. One Grand Prize winner will also receive an autographed Crew soccer ball. Keep Columbus Beautiful is a City of Columbus community improvement program that is a unique arm of the Refuse Collection Division of the Columbus Department of Public Service. The program's mission is to promote and coordinate litter cleanups, graffiti prevention and removal, recycling, and beautification projects.
COPA VICTORIA FINAL IS SATURDAY AT 4 P.M. AT CREW STADIUM, PRIOR TO CREW MATCH
CD Aguila and Congole will meet in the final of the Fifth Annual Copa Victoria tournament this Saturday, Aug. 18, at 4 p.m. at Crew Stadium, prior to the Crew's match vs. D.C. United, and the winner will be awarded the championship trophy at halftime. In partnership with Roush Honda, Budweiser and adidas, the 24-team, single-elimination adult Hispanic soccer tournament kicked off on June 16 at the Crew Training Center at Obetz. Team managers and all 480 players from the 24 participating teams were invited to attend the unveiling of the tournament bracket on May 26, and were later treated to the Crew's game against Toronto FC along with $10 in food vouchers compliments of Roush Honda, Budweiser and adidas.
HUNTER'S, GREAT BRITAIN'S WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES CAMPAIGN ENDS IN QUARTERFINALS
Crew rookie defender Ben Hunter has been away, representing Great Britain at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, which began on Aug. 9. After winning its group in the first stage, with a 2-0-1 record, Great Britain fell to Canada, 1-0, in the quarterfinals Monday. Hunter, a fourth-round selection in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft out of North Carolina and signed to a developmental contract on June 16, is a native of Doncaster, England. In the group stage, Great Britain tied Mexico, 1-1, defeated Morocco, 4-1, and topped Kazakhstan, 1-0.
JACOB THOMAS THROWS OUT CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH AT CINCINNATI REDS GAME ON SUNDAY
Crew midfielder-forward Jacob Thomas threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Great American Ballpark Sunday, Aug. 12, as the Cincinnati Reds played host to the San Diego Padres. Thomas' appearance helped mark the Reds' "Columbus Weekend" and he threw a strike to mascot Mr. Redlegs.
FEATURING MOSTLY GAME-WORN JERSEYS, CSF's 'SOCCER AID V' AUCTIONS ARE UNDERWAY
The Crew Soccer Foundation's on-line auctions for "Soccer Aid V," continue at TheCrew.com and CrewSoccerFoundation.org. Soccer Aid, a unique, adrenaline-loaded fund-raiser, capitalizes on soccer fans' passion for the sport to raise money for charity through the non-profit arm of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, including its primary beneficiary, the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Through its first four years, Soccer Aid has raised more than $25,000 for JDRF. The autographed black game jerseys being auctioned off feature a 'Soccer Aid V' patch and were worn by the Crew in its match vs. Aston Villa on July 28, marking the first time in the program's five-year history that has been incorporated. In addition to the jersey, winning bidders will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of match day at one-of-a-kind Columbus Crew Stadium, with two Center Circle Club seats to the Crew's game vs. the Chicago Fire on Sept. 8, a Soccer Aid T-shirt, on-field recognition and the opportunity to play a 30-minute scrimmage prior to the Sept. 8 game. At least six jerseys, which will be signed on the front in silver ink and on the back number in black, will be up for bids during each of five overlapping week-long bidding periods.
ANNUAL CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC IS AUG. 20 AT WEDGEWOOD
The annual Crew Soccer Foundation Golf Classic will be held on Monday, August 20, at Wedgewood Golf and Country Club will once again benefit The Buckeye Ranch. Since 1961, The Buckeye Ranch has offered hope to countless children and families who have struggled with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. The Ranch is a recognized leader in providing mental health services and has eight locations throughout central Ohio and Hamilton County. Every day, more than 1,800 children and families benefit from the Ranch's many programs and treatment services.
STANDING-ROOM TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SEPT. 30 GAME VS. L.A.
Crew Stadium's permanent and auxiliary seating have been sold in their entirety for the Crew's Sept. 30 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy, but standing-room-only tickets are still available to help accommodate the extraordinary demand for tickets, which is being driven primarily by the anticipated appearance of global superstar David Beckham. Those tickets are being sold as part of a $60 three-game package that also includes a ticket to any other two games. Orders are being accepted at www.TheCrew.com and 614-447-CREW.
FIRST ANNUAL CREW 5K TO BE RUN ON SEPT. 8 AT CREW STADIUM
The Crew and Run Wild Racing will present the first annual Columbus Crew 5K on Saturday, Sept. 8. The event will offer a number of unique features, including a free Crew ticket with each paid registration, a course that takes finishers through the Crew players' tunnel and onto the Crew Stadium field and a live awards ceremony at the Crew's game that evening. Every person who registers will receive a ticket to the Crew's game against the Chicago Fire later in the evening on Sept. 8, as well as a high-quality running shirt. Adding to the exciting finish, participants will also have their names broadcast by an official Crew public address announcer, with their image displayed on the giant screen in the stadium. Awards including VIP Terrace tickets and team autographed merchandise will be given to the top three male and female finishers as well as the top three finishers in each of nine age categories and a walker division. The run/walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Crew Stadium. Interested runners and walkers can visit www.runwildracing.com to register for the event. Pre-registration is $25 before Sept. 1 and $30 after Sept 1. Race day registration will be available and the cost is $35.
DON'T MISS 'CREW CORNER' THURSDAYS AT 6 and 6:30 p.m. ON CSN
The Columbus Sports Network (CSN) produces and airs a weekly magazine show dedicated solely to the Crew, called 'Crew Corner.' Hosted by Dionne Miller, the 30-minute program is refreshed each week with compelling content that is unique and dynamic, including "behind the scenes" perspectives and profiles about players, coaches and team officials; glimpses into the teams' participation in a variety of community and charitable activities; and game and league highlights. Each episode of 'Crew Corner' will air first on Thursdays at 6 p.m., and be replayed immediately afterward at 6:30 p.m. In addition, every show will be replayed repeatedly at different times throughout the following seven days to make it conveniently available to fans.
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE
(Media availability at the conclusion of training; All times listed Eastern Time)
Wed., 8/15 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Thur., 8/16 Training at Crew Stadium, 10 a.m.
Fri., 8/17 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sat., 8/18 Game vs. D.C. United, Crew Stadium, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Sun., 8/19 OFF
Mon., 8/20 Crew Soccer Foundation Charity Golf Classic
