Wizards Tie RSL 0-0 Last Saturday Behind Strong Performance from Kevin Hartman; Face Crew at Home Saturday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark
The Kansas City Wizards earned a road point Saturday in a 0-0 draw at Real Salt Lake to conclude a grueling two-month road stretch that included a win over the second-place Chicago Fire at TOYOTA Park. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman matched a season high with seven outstanding saves to record his 4th shutout of the season and the 71st of his decorated career. The Wizards will now return home for the first time since a 0-0 draw with Houston Dynamo April 12.
Kansas City's best chance of the match came in the 7th minute after a long string of possession. Forward Claudio Lopez worked his way into the penalty area, cutting the ball square for strike partner Ivan Trujillo. Trujillo laid the ball back for midfielder Davy Arnaud who unloaded a shot from 25 yards out that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced clear.
Hartman made the first two saves of the night in the 28th minute, first coming off his line quickly to deflect a shot from Scottish forward Kenny Deuchar wide. On the ensuing corner kick, playmaker Javier Morales found Deuchar at the back post. Deuchar put a header low and on goal, but Hartman reacted quickly to push the ball wide and keep RSL off the score sheet. Hartman again came up big in the 39th minute, getting down quickly to parry a low, hard shot from forward Robbie Findley wide of the near post.
Hartman was less active after the break, only making two saves as Kansas City began to keep more possession and create more chances in the offensive third of the field. The Wizards outshot RSL 4-2 after halftime.
Kansas City wrapped up its six-game, two-month road swing Saturday in Salt Lake City with a 1-3-2 record. The Wizards return to temporary home CommunityAmerica Ballpark Saturday at 7 p.m. CT against the Columbus Crew. The Wizards are 2-1-1 thus far in 2008 at home.
Kansas City lost to Columbus 2-1 on the road May 3. Columbus received goals from Adam Moffatt and Robbie Rogers. Argentine star Claudio Lopez scored a second-half goal from the penalty spot as the Wizards played with 10 men after Roger Espinoza was ejected in the first half.
Meet Your 2008 Starting 11 Girls
Head over to www.kcwizards.com and click on the "Starting 11 Girls" tab on the left-had side of the page for an more personal look at your 2008 Starting 11 Girls. Each member of the squad is featured with updated pictures and bio information so you know as much as possible about these soccer-loving young ladies.
KCW Juniors U-16, U-17, U-19 Teams Capture Kansas State Cup Crowns
Three age groups in the KCW Juniors Youth Development Program were crowned as Kansas State Champions over the weekend, as the U-16, U-17 and U-19 teams rolled through the competition to capture state titles in their first year of competition. For full results from 2008 Kansas State Cup, visit this site.
After fielding three teams for the 2007-2008 season, the KCW Juniors will have teams in the U-13, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18 age groups for the 2008-2009 season and designate six Technical Staff members to those teams. The Wizards also formed a U-19 squad for players returning from college to have a place to train and a way to stay connected to the organization. The U-19s captured the State Cup title after training together for less than one month.
Tryouts will be held June 14-15 for the U-13 team and June 16-18 for the U-15 through U-18 age groups. All tryouts will be held at the Wizards Swope Park Training Center. To register for tryouts, visit kcwizards.com here.
| KCW Juniors U-19 Roster | |||
| POS PLAYER | HOMETOWN | COLLEGE | |
| K | Scott Angevine | Overland Park, KS | Coastal Carolina |
| K | Alex Burton | Lansing, KS | Baker University |
| M | Ian Christiansen | Lee's Summit, MO Graceland College | |
| B | Austin Eanes | Scituate, MA | Evansville University |
| F | Giovanni Edward | Toronto, Canada | Graceland College |
| D | Matt Griffin | Olathe, KS | Baker University |
| B | Brett Heinz | Leawood, KS | Butler University |
| M | Colton Henning | Shawnee, KS | Furman University |
| M | Willie Koss | Overland Park, KS | Loyola-Chicago |
| M | Matt Kuhn | Raytown, Mo | Drake University |
| F | Chase McCoy | Blue Springs, MO | Hastings College |
| F | Curt McDonald | Leawood, KS | Furman University |
| M | Michael McDonald | Leawood, KS | Rockhurst University |
| D | Kyle Miller | Overland Park, KS | Rockhurst University |
| M/F | Spencer Nash | Shawnee, KS | Baker University |
| D | Tyler Nichol | Blue Springs, MO | Rockhurst University |
| D/M | Michael Perry | Overland Park, KS | Denver University |
| F | Kelly Porter | Wichita, KS | Coastal Carolina |
| M | Tyler Schwab | Leawood, KS | Marquette University |
| M/F | Josh Westberg | Overland Park, KS | Loyola-Chicago |
Sign Up Today for Wizards Championship Series Tournaments
Tournaments in the inaugural Wizards Championship Series include a 3-versus-3 tournament at the Wizards Swope Park Training Center in mid July and an 11-versus-11 Men's tournament in late August, again at Swope Park.
Tournament details:
Wizards 3-v-3 Tournament
Three (3) games guaranteed Each team will receive six (6) tickets to Wizards game July 10 vs. Red Bull New York or July 27 versus Chicago Fire
Registration Fee: $230
Competition: 3-versus-3
Team: Up to 8 team members
Location: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
Dates: July 12 - 13, 2008
Age Groups: U-9, U-10, U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, High School +
To register: Visit premiershipsports.com.
Wizards Men's Open Cup
Three (3) games guaranteed
Each player will receive one (1) ticket to the Wizards game August 23 vs. FC Dallas
Registration Fee: $400
Competition: 11-versus-11
Team: Up to 18 team members
Location: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
Dates: August 16 - 17 (Opening rounds); August 23 - 24 (Elimination rounds)
Age Groups: 18+
To register: Contact the Wizards youth soccer department at (913) 387-3400
Sign up Today for Wizards Premier Soccer Camps
Specifically for male or female premier players ages 10-16, these camps are designed to go above and beyond what is offered at a standard soccer camp. In addition to first-class training, participants will receive: appearances from Wizards players and/or coaches, a free soccer ball, a free Wizards camp shirt, a Wizards camp gift and a voucher for one free ticket to a Wizards home match.
The focus of the week-long, 3-hour-a-day camp is to expose players to game-orientated training that will improve both their technical skills and their tactical soccer awareness. The emphasis of coaching will be on the mastering of advanced skills, performance under pressure and playing at speed in game-related situations.
The camp curriculum will feature:
• Passing and receiving on the move
• Midfield combination play
• One v One Defending
• Team Defending
• Shooting and Volleying
• Crossing and Heading
• Shooting from distance
• Taking on and beating defenders
• Daily competitive games
**Goalkeeper coaching will be available at each camp.
At the conclusion of the camp, individual player profiles will be passed on the Wizards coaching staff and player progress will be tracked during league and tournament play and future Wizards camps and training activities. Players may sign up individually or as a team, and will be coached within age and ability groups.
Wizards Premier Camps will take place at the following facilities throughout Kansas City in 2008:
| KCW Juniors U-19 Roster | |||
| Location | Date; time | Cost | Registration |
| Blue Valley High School | June 9-13; 9:00-12:00pm | $139 | Sign up on line |
| Tiffany Hills (SPCAA) | June 9-13; 5:30-8:30pm | $139 | Sign up on line |
| Blue Valley Northwest High School | July 14-18; 5:30-8:30pm | $139 | Sign up on line |
| Wizards Swope Park Training Center | July 21-25; 9:00-12:00pm | $139 | Sign up on line |
| Raytown Soccer Club | July 28-Aug 1; 5:30-8:30pm | $139 | Sign up on line |
Challenger Sports
913-232-5166
Wizards@challengersports.com
The Jimmy Conrad Show Back on the Air After Week Off
The Jimmy Conrad Show did not air last Wednesday due to Kansas City's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in win over the Colorado Rapids. Conrad and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will next host the show this Wednesday, June 11 from McFadden's, with the show broadcast live on 810 WHB in Kansas City, kcwizards.com and MLSnet.com. The show features special guests from the Wizards and around Major League Soccer each week.
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are also available online at the Wizards podcast page.
Weekly Press Conference Held Thursday
For the duration of the 2008 season, the Kansas City Wizards will hold a weekly press conference each Thursday at the pavilion adjacent to the team's Swope Park Training Center. Head Coach Curt Onalfo and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman will be available this week beginning at 12 p.m. Planet Sub sandwiches and cookies will be provided to all media members who attend. Each Kansas City Wizards practice will still be open to media, and outlets are encouraged to take advantage of the Wizards media policy.
Zona Wizards Airs Live Thursday on La Playa 1480 AM, Time Warner Cable Channel 5
Zona Wizards, the weekly Spanish-language radio and TV show, will air live this Thursday at 2 p.m. on La Playa 1480 AM and Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Hosted by Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas, Zona Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player each week.
Wizards Weekly to Air Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Wizards Weekly, Kansas City's weekly magazine show covering the Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and midfielder Kerry Zavagnin this week. Zavagnin has already passed Nick Garcia for the most appearances in Wizards team history and is now after Garcia's all-time minutes played record. Metro Sports will air Wizards Weekly three times per week.
Wizards Weekly show times:
Thursday's 9:30 p.m. CT
Friday's 6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday's 11:30 a.m. CT
Wizards Active in Community This Week
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Tuesday, June 10; 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Western MO Soccer League Field Complex, I-435 and Hwy. 152
What: Kansas City Wizards mascot Dynamo will be participating KC Corporate Challenge, interacting with fans and handing out flyers.
Who: M Jack Jewsbury
When: Tuesday, June 10; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: Western MO Soccer League Field Complex, I-435 and Hwy.152
What: Midfielder Jack Jewsbury will be talking to fans and signing autographs at the 3v3 KC Corporate Challenge tournament, as well as promoting Wizards games.
Who: M Kevin Souter, M Nelson Pizarro, D Tyson Wahl, M Jack Jewsbury
When: Wednesday, June 11; 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Where: Swope Park Training Facility
What: The Kansas City Star will hold a soccer clinic for children ages 6-14 at the Swope Park Training Facility, where Kevin Souter, Nelson Pizarro, Tyson Wahl, and Jack Jewsbury will lead a clinic and sign autographs afterwards.
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Wednesday, June 11; 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Western MO Soccer League Field Complex, I-435 and Hwy.152
What: Kansas City Wizards mascot Dynamo will be participating KC Corporate Challenge, interacting with fans and handing out flyers.
Who: M Ryan Pore
When: Wednesday, June 11; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: Western MO Soccer League Field Complex, I-435 and Hwy.152
What: Kansas City Wizards midfielder Ryan Pore will be at the KC Corporate Challenge 3v3 Tournament. He will be signing autographs, talking to fans, and promoting the team.
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Wednesday, June 11; 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Legacy Park, Lee's Summit, MO
What: Kansas City Wizards mascot Dynamo will be at Summit Soccer Camp, where he will mingle with the children and promote the upcoming Wizards games.
Who: D Rauwshan McKenzie and D Aaron Hohlbein
When: Thursday, June 12; 8:00-8:30 a.m.
Where: Tiffany Hills Soccer Complex
What: The Wizards and Challenger Sports are hosting Wizards Premier Soccer Camps, which will feature Rauwshan McKenzie and Aaron Hohlbein. They will be there to answer questions and talk to the children about their lives as professional soccer players.
Who: D Tyson Wahl, M Lance Watson
When: Friday, June 13; 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Where: Blue Valley NW DAC, Overland Park, KS
What: The Wizards and Challenger Sports are hosting Wizards Premier Soccer Camps, which will feature Tyson Wahl and Lance Watson. They will be there to answer questions and talk to the children about their lives as professional soccer players.
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Saturday, June 14; 11:00-12:00 p.m.
Where: 309 Oak Street, Bonner Springs, KS
What: Union Bank and Trust is holding a summer Parking Lot Event where Dynamo will meet and greet families and patrons. It is likely that he will take part in a small mascot race as well.
