The Crew returns to action at home on Wednesday, June 20, against the Kansas City on Bob Evans Buck-a-Brat Night at Crew Stadium. Columbus (1-4-6, 9 pts.) is coming off a thrilling, come-from-behind 3-3 tie at New England on Saturday (June 16), while Kansas City (6-2-2, 20 pts.) is also played to a 3-3 draw Saturday at New York.
Wednesday's match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will be televised live 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 The Brew @ 105.7 and on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika and John Bluem 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.
It will be the second Bob Evans Buck-a-Brat Night of the season, when juicy Bob Evans bratwursts are sold for just $1 throughout the game at Crew Stadium, and, in conjunction with the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, which is being held in Columbus this weekend, the top prospects in the draft will attend the game. They will sign autographs pregame on the Crew Kicker Plaza from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Blue Jackets goaltender and Pascal Leclaire will toss the coin prior to the game. Blue Jackets mascot Stinger will also be on hand, along with the Blue Jackets' Breakaway Tour inflatables and border patrol rink for street hockey games.
The Crew and Wizards meet for the second of three times this season and for the only time at Crew Stadium. The teams met on May 5 in Kansas City, with the Wizards claiming a 1-0 victory on Jose Burciaga Jr.'s goal in second-half stoppage time.
In Saturday's game at New England, the Crew got a late equalizer from Alejandro Moreno to cap a two-goal comeback. Moreno, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Robbie Rogers all had a goal and an assist in the game and Ned Grabavoy added a pair of assists. Will Hesmer made his first start of the season -- and first as a member of the Crew -- in goal.
Wednesday, June 20 - 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium
National Television: N/A; Local Television: CSN
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW HEADS WEST TO TAKE ON L.A. GALAXY SATURDAY AT HOME DEPOT CENTER
Following Wednesday's match vs. Kansas City, the Crew makes its first trip of the season to the West Coast, where it will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. ET at The Home Depot Center. The game will be televised live locally on ONN, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action and Katie Witham reporting from the sidelines. L.A. (2-4-3, 9 pts.) is coming off a 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday and now features former Crew teammates Kyle Martino and Edson Buddle, who was acquired in a trade with Toronto FC last week and scored a goal in his first game for the Galaxy.
Saturday, June 23 - 10:30 p.m. (ET) at The Home Depot Center
National Television: HDNet; Local Television: ONN
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
HEJDUK AND U.S. NATIONAL TEAM ADVANCE TO GOLD CUP SEMIFINALS
The U.S. Men's National Team moved into the semifinals of the 2007 Gold Cup by defeating Panama, 2-1, before 22,412 in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday (June 16). Landon Donovan converted a penalty in the 60th minute and Carlos Bocanegra doubled the lead two minutes later to move the U.S. into the final four of the tournament for the eighth time in nine overall Gold Cups. Crew defender Frankie Hejduk continued his solid play at the international event, earning his 74th cap and going the full 90 minutes in the U.S. victory. The U.S. team departed Sunday for Chicago and will remain there for the duration of the tournament. Just four days after the Gold Cup final, the U.S. will participate in the 2007 Copa America, the regional championship of South America. The 12-team tournament will run from June 26 to July 15 in nine cities across Venezuela. The U.S. will open Group C play against Argentina on June 28, before facing Paraguay on July 2 and Colombia on July 5. For the United States, the appearance will mark their third entrance into CONMEBOL's signature event.
FIFTH ANNUAL COPA VICTORIA TOURNAMENT UNDERWAY AT CREW TRAINING CENTER AT OBETZ
In partnership with Roush Honda, Budweiser and adidas, the Crew's fifth annual Copa Victoria adult Hispanic soccer tournament kicked off on Saturday (June 16) at the Crew Training Center at Obetz. The 24-team, single-elimination tournament continues this Saturday and concludes with the championship game at Crew Stadium prior to the Crew's game vs. D.C. United on Saturday, Aug. 18. Additional tournament match days are scheduled for July 7, July 14, July 28 and Aug. 4 at the Crew Training Center, which is located at 4153 Alum Creek Drive in Obetz. All matches are free and open to the public. On Saturday, May 26, the Crew and representatives from participating leagues held the official tournament draw in the Stadium Club at Crew Stadium. Team managers and all 480 players from the 24 participating teams were invited to attend the unveiling of the tournament bracket, 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. Tournament standings, pairings, rules and information will be posted on the Crew's official Web site, www.thecrew.com, and in other print media. The winner of the tournament will be awarded the championship trophy at halftime of the Aug. 18 Crew game.
CREW'S U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PASSBACK NIGHT IS SATURDAY, JUNE 30
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, in partnership with the Crew, MLS and Eurosport, will be collecting new and gently used soccer equipment at Crew Stadium on June 30 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, so that others may enjoy the wonderful sport of soccer. Eurosport will be awarding a $200 gift certificate to the team or individual donating the most equipment and fans are encouraged to gather up those jerseys, shin guards, shoes, socks and soccer balls and bring them to the Crew's 8 p.m. game vs. the New York Red Bulls that night to "Share the equipment. Share the Game!" Crew defender Jed Zayner serves as the local Passback spokesperson.
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., 6/20: 7:30 p.m. Game vs. Kansas City Wizards (CSN)
Thu., 6/21: Travel roster departs for L.A. in a.m. / 10 a.m. reserves train at Obetz
Fri., 6/22: 10 a.m. reserves train at Obetz / Travel roster training in L.A.
Sat., 6/23: 10:30 p.m. game vs. L.A. Galaxy (ONN / HDNet)
Sun., 6/24: Return from L.A.
Mon., 6/25: OFF
Tue., 6/26: 10 a.m. training at Obetz
