The Kansas City Wizards play host to Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire Sunday in a game presented by State Farm. Thursday, the MLS All-Stars will play host to English Premier League Club West Ham United in the 2008 Pepsi All-Star Game at BMO Field in Toronto at 6 p.m. CT live on ESPN.
Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad was selected to his fifth-consecutive All-Star match as a member of the MLS First XI, chosen in a vote by fans (25 percent), players (25 percent), coaches/general managers (25 percent) and media members (25 percent). Conrad has started each of the last four All-Star games. The Wizards will hold an open training session earlier Thursday morning at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The Jimmy Conrad Show Live from Toronto This Week
The Jimmy Conrad Show hits the road this week as the show's stars head north of the border for the League's All-Star showcase. Conrad and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will host the show live from 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star festivities Wednesday, July 23 at 7 p.m. CT. Wheelock and Conrad will gather various guests from around MLS participating in the All-Star game Thursday at BMO Field against English Premier League Club West Ham United. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN, Telafutura and CBC.
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are available online at the Wizards podcast page.
KCW Juniors U-19 Squad Begins National Championship Tournament Wednesday; Get Updates at www.kcwjuniors.blogspot.com
The KCW Juniors U-19 team begins the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship tournament Wednesday morning against Freestate United from Maryland. For updates throughout the tournament, visit the Juniors' official blog, www.kcwjuniors.blogspot.com. Match recaps, pictures and other features will be available throughout the U-19 team's quest for the National Championship.
The Juniors won Kansas State Cup in early June before posting a 4-0-1 record at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II tournament later in the month. The Juniors defeated a team from Scott Gallagher Soccer Club of St. Louis 1-0 in the final to advance to Nationals. Highlighting the match were a Curt McDonald goal and a shutout from goalkeeper Scott Angevine and the defense.
Nationals Schedule
Day, time Opponent
Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. Freestate United (Maryland)
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. Colorado Nike Rush
Friday, 9:30 a.m. Solar 89 (Northern Texas)
Sunday, 10:45 a.m. U-19 Boys National Championship Game
| KCW Juniors U-19 Roster | |||
| Pos | Player | Hometown | College |
| GK | Scott Angevine | Overland Park, KS | Coastal Carolina |
| GK | Alex Burton | Lansing, KS | Baker University |
| M | Ian Christiansen | Lee's Summit, MO | Graceland University |
| D | Austin Eanes | Scituate, MA | Evansville University |
| F | Giovanni Edward | Toronto, Canada | Graceland College |
| D | Matt Griffin | Olathe, KS | Baker University |
| D | Brett Heinz | Leawood, KS | Graceland 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 | Loyola-Chicago |
| 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 |
KCW Reserves Down New York 3-0 Tuesday
Score: 1 2 F
KCW Reserves 0 3 3
New York Reserves 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
KC - Josh Wolff 1 (Ryan Pore 1) 58
KC - own goal 66
KC - Nelson Pizarro 3 (Ryan McMahen 2) 79
(July 22, 2008) - The KCW Reserves improved to 4-1-2 Tuesday morning with a 3-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls Reserves at Kansas City's Swope Park Training Center. The Wizards exploded for three goals after halftime and goalkeeper Eric Kronberg made a handful of quality saves to earn his first shutout of the Reserve Division season.
With the score tied in the 36th minute, New York broke through to goal after a quick combination in midfield. Second-year midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic was free to goal, but Kronberg came quickly off his line to block the close-range shot and smother the ensuing rebound. Four minutes later, Wizards midfielder Carlos Marinelli struck a 25-yard shot off the right post, and teams entered the half tied 0-0.
Kansas City opened the scoring in the 58th minute after a long string of possession in midfield. Striker Josh Wolff made a long diagonal run from the left flank, and midfielder Ryan Pore slipped a ball between defenders to put Wolff through to goal. Wolff finished by neatly chipping the ball over sliding goalkeeper Caleb Patterson for a 1-0 Wizards lead.
The Wizards added to the lead in the 66th minute after Nelson Pizarro cut in across the field from the right flank. Pizarro worked a give-and-go with midfielder Kerry Zavagnin to get in behind the defense. He then cut a low pass along the top of the six yard area in the direction of substitute forward Michael Kraus, but a New York defender deflected the ball into his own goal to put Kansas City up 2-0.
Pizarro then added a spectacular goal in the 79th minute for the final 3-0 score line. After a New York clearance, substitute midfielder Ryan McMahen won a tackle near the center circle and fed to Pizarro a full 30 yards from goal. Pizarro turned and immediately struck a right-footed blast that flew into the upper-right corner of the goal, leaving Patterson helpless.
Kansas City's next reserve match comes Sunday, August 3 at D.C. United. New York's reserve squad is next in action Monday, August 11 at home against United.
Striker Josh Wolff Scores in First Match Back with Kansas City
The Kansas City Wizards stretched their unbeaten streak to five games last Thursday with a thrilling 3-3 tie against the Columbus Crew in front of a national television audience on ESPN. Kansas City and Columbus combined for five first-half goals, the most in MLS this season. Newly signed forward Josh Wolff then converted a late game-tying goal in his first match back with Kansas City after spending over a year with 1860 Munich of Germany's 2.Bundesliga.
Kansas City got its first goal from a Columbus own goal, and rookie midfielder Roger Espinoza scored his first career goal on the night. Wolff continued his fine form in Tuesday's reserve match, scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-0 win over New York.
Wizards Weekly Press Conference Moved to Friday
The Kansas City Wizards weekly press conference usually held on Thursday afternoon will be moved to Friday this week to include accommodate the MLS All-Star Game Thursday evening against West Ham United. The conference will start at 12:00 p.m. CT at the pavilion adjacent to the team's Swope Park Training Center. Head Coach Curt Onalfo and second-year defender Aaron Hohlbein will be available to discuss the upcoming match with the Chicago Fire. 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 a player this 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 a player this week. 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
Harrington to Attend Wizards Premier Soccer Camp
Who: M Michael Harrington
When: Thursday, July 24; 11:30-12:00 p.m.
Where: Swope Park Training Facility
What: The Wizards and Challenger Sports are hosting Wizards Premier Soccer Camps, which will feature Michael Harrington. They will be there to answer questions and talk to the children about their lives as professional soccer players.
Wizards Take Part in Week-Long Blood Drive
Coach Curt Onalfo, D Jonathan Leathers, GK Eric Kronberg, Starting 11 Girls, Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Thursday, July 24; 12-1 p.m.(Starting 11), 12-2 p.m. (Mascot), 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Players and Coach)
Where: Community Blood Center, 4040 Main, Kansas City, MO
What: The Wizards have teamed up with the Community Blood Center to hold the Kansas City Wizards 2nd Annual Blood Drive the week of July 21-25. While the drive will be going on all week at all nine locations, there will be this one day that the players, mascot, and Starting 11 girls will participate. All donors will be entered to win three top prizes. First: 4 tickets to the 7/27 game vs. Chicago Fire and participation in the game's first kick. Second: 4 tickets to the 9/13 game vs. the LA Galaxy. Third: an autographed Kansas City Wizards soccer ball.
Conrad to Host Autism Awareness Clinic Friday
Who: D Jimmy Conrad and TBD Players
When: Friday, July 25; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Where: Swope Park Training Facility, 6310 Lewis Road, Kansas City, MO
What: Jimmy Conrad, one of Athletes Against Autism's member athletes, is holding a clinic for children affected with Autism at the team's training facility. He will bring other players to participate in the clinic, which leads up to Autism Night at the game on August 9 vs. Chivas USA.
Wizards, Ward Parkway Center Host Summer Kicks Saturday
Who: M Ryan McMahen, D Tyson Wahl, F Ryan Pore, M Kevin Souter, Starting 11 Girls, Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Saturday, July 26; 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Where: Ward Parkway Center, 89th and State Line, Kansas City, MO
What: Ward Parkway Center and the Kansas City Wizards are teaming up to hold Summer Kicks in the parking lot outside Ward Parkway Center. The entire family will enjoy the soccer contests, inflatable games, prizes, and free food. There will even be a pixie stick creation machine from Mr. Bulky's. Don't miss it!
