After extending its unbeaten streak to five games, the Columbus Crew will enjoy the weekend off before hosting Western Conference foe San Jose in a rare midweek match next Wednesday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. It will be the first Bob Evans Buck-a-Brat Night of the season, when juicy, full-size Bob Evans bratwurst will be sold throughout Crew Stadium for just $1 each.
Prior to traveling to Columbus to take on the Black & Gold, San Jose will venture to Texas where it will face the Houston Dynamo this Saturday (May 23) at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Earthquakes, who are currently tied with FC Dallas for the seventh spot in the Western Conference, have been paced this season forwards Ryan Johnson and Arturo Alvarez. Johnson currently leads the 'Quakes in scoring with three goals this season, while Alvarez is second on the team in goals, with two, to go along with one assist.
The Crew enters next Wednesday's match after drawing with Los Angeles, 1-1, last Sunday afternoon (May 17) at The Home Depot Center, giving it a win and four draws in its last five games. Reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto provided the Crew's lone goal in the 70th minute thanks to a spectacular individual effort. Schelotto raced into the Galaxy's defensive third and stripped Galaxy defender Tony Sanneh, before unleashing a low shot past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts into the left corner of the net to give the Crew the lead.
The Crew fell on hard luck in the 89th minute when defender Danny O'Rourke was issued a second yellow card caution after a hard tackle on L.A.'s Landon Donovan and was subsequently sent off with an automatic red card. L.A. continued to pressure hard in the match's final moments and two minutes into stoppage time, a clearance by the Crew defense fell directly to Galaxy defender Eddie Lewis who loosed a long volleyed shot into the side netting for the equalizing goal, sending both sides away from the match with a point apiece. The Crew was once again without starting goalkeeper William Hesmer. Hesmer has missed the Crew's last four MLS contests with knee and back injuries. O'Rourke will be unavailable for next Wednesday's match against San Jose due to an automatic, one-game red card suspension.
SCHELOTTO MOVES INTO TIE FOR SECOND PLACE ON MLS GOAL SCORING LIST
In recording his fifth tally of the season in the Crew's 1-1 draw with L.A. last Sunday (May 17), reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto moved into a tie for second place among Major League Soccer's leading goal scorers. Chicago forward Brian McBride, along with K.C.'s Josh Wolff currently lead the pack with six goals apiece, followed by a throng of players with five goals on the season, including Schelotto, L.A.'s Landon Donovan, Robbie Findley of RSL, Colorado's Conor Casey and D.C. United's Luciano Emilio. Schelotto has continued to power the Crew's offensive attack in 2009, as he has scored or assisted on half of the Crew's 12 goals so far this season.
CREW STADIUM TO HOST KENNY CHESNEY SUN CITY STADIUM CARNIVAL THIS WEEKEND
Crew Stadium will play host to Kenny Chesney's Sun City Stadium Carnival this Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 p.m. The show, which will be Chesney's second at Crew Stadium, also features Sugarland, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. Chesney previously played to a sellout crowd at Crew Stadium on May 27, 2006. Tickets for the concert are still available at www.ticketmaster.com, all local Ticketmaster outlets and the Crew Stadium Box Office. Chesney is the only artist to play to over a million fans last year, and was the single biggest ticket seller in any genre.
CREW, RYAN PARTNERSHIP WIN ACHIEVEMENT IN MARKETING AWARD
The Columbus Crew and Ryan Partnership, the Crew's Marketing & Promotions agency of record, were named finalists in five categories at the annual Achievement in Marketing Awards (AIM), presented by the Columbus American Marketing Association on Thursday, May 14, and won their first AIM Award together in the Out-of-Home Category for the Digital Billboard "Paint the Town Black & Gold" Playoff Campaign. They were also a finalist in the Marketer of the Year category along with Wendy's and this year's winner, COSI. The five categories included: Out-of-Home (Paint the Town Digital Billboards) - Winner, Special Event (Black Out Black & Gold), PR - External (Paint the Town Black & Gold Media Kit), Integrated Campaign (Paint the Town Black & Gold), Marketer of the Year (Crew, Wendy's & COSI - Winner).
CHECK OUT CREWXTRA WEDNESDAYS AT 8 AND 11 P.M. ON ONN-TV
CrewXtra, the Crew's new weekly show, airs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. (and again at 11 p.m.) on ONN-TV. This week, host Beau Bishop will be joined by Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers, "Voice of the Crew" Dwight Burgess and Columbus Dispatch beat writer Shawn Mitchell. CrewXtra provides viewers with in-depth coverage and access to the team every week, including game recaps, breakdowns and previews of the upcoming matches, while interspersing other news, interviews, discussion and features.
ROGERS AMONG 15 MLS PLAYERS FEATURED IN COSMOGIRL.COM PHOTO CONTEST
Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers is among 15 MLS players currently featured in an online photo gallery at CosmoGirl.com where readers can comment on who they believe is the best looking young player in MLS. The photo gallery of MLS players can be seen here. Readers are encouraged to leave their comments on who they think is the best looking. Players from each of MLS' 15 teams are featured in the photo gallery, including: Logan Pause (CHI), Colin Clark (COL), Sacha Kljestan (CHV), Rogers, Chris Pontius (D.C.), Peri Marosevic (DAL), Stuart Holden (HOU), D Chance Myers (K.C.), A.J. DeLaGarza (L.A.), Danny Cepero (N.Y.), Chris Tierney (N.E.), Will Johnson (RSL), Arturo Alvarez (S.J.), Brad Evans (SEA) and Marvell Wynne (TOR). Readers can also enter to win one of 15 autographed MLS jerseys. Each player involved has autographed one jersey. One lucky reader will win the grand prize: an official adidas MLS game ball signed by the LA Galaxy. A CosmoGirl blog post that links to the sweepstakes as well as the photo gallery can be found here. The photo gallery and giveaways are featured on CosmoGirl's homepage at www.cosmogirl.com.
CREW JUNIORS TRYOUTS
Tryouts for Crew Juniors began on Monday (May 18) and will continue through June 9 at Crew Stadium, the Crew Training Facility at Obetz and Perry Middle School in Worthington. Tryout sessions run from 6-7:30 p.m. each evening, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. Players should bring a soccer ball, shin guards, water, and a light and dark T-shirt. Every age-eligible player who attends Crew Juniors tryouts will first be assessed for the Crew Soccer Academy. Players will then be evaluated and may be invited to join the appropriate level of Crew Juniors. Developmental players (Crew Juniors players who may progress to the Crew Soccer Academy) must come from within the Crew Juniors system. Crew Juniors encourages players to attend both days of tryouts, although there will be a supplemental tryout for all age groups on Tuesday, June 9, from 6-7:30 p.m. Dates and times are subject to change and rain dates will be the Friday of each week. Players or parents interested in the Crew Juniors and Worthington Crew Juniors program and tryout schedule for both boys and girls can call 614-447-CREW (2739) or visit the www.TheCrew.com and click on the 'Youth' tab at the top of the page.
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY SQUADS SWEEP FOUR IN TEXAS
The Crew Soccer Academy traveled to Texas for a pair of matches each last weekend, squaring off against the Dallas Texans and Solar SC. On Saturday (May 16) both sides took on the Texans, with the 15/16s coming away with a 2-0 victory thanks to two goals by Brett Elder, while the 17/18s secured a 2-1 victory over their Texan counterparts thanks to goals by Andy Lubahn and Ben Speas. On Sunday (May 17) the CSA squads played Solar SC, with the 15/16s earning another 2-0 victory, with goals coming from Chris Davis and Wil Trapp, followed by the 17/18s who also notched a 2-0 win, thanks to two tallies by Ben Speas.
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY SQUADS HEAD TO SPRING SOCCER SHOWCASE THIS WEEKEND
This weekend, both CSA squads will travel to Sarasota, Fla., for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Spring Soccer Showcase at the Sarasota Polo Grounds. The Spring Showcase, which will feature 218 matches, will kick off on Friday (May 22) and run through Monday, May 26. The CSA squads will play a trio of matches over the course of the weekend. The action kicks off on Friday (May 22), as both teams take on Arsenal FC (Calif.) with the 15/16s kicking off at 10 a.m. followed by the 17/18s at 12 noon. Play will continue on Saturday (May 23), as the CSA squads will take on Match Fit Chelsea (N.J.), with the 17/18s kicking off at 9 a.m., followed by the 15/16s at 11 a.m. Both teams will have Sunday (May 24) off before participating in their final matches of the Showcase on Monday (May 25) against Greensboro Youth Soccer (N.C.), with both teams taking on their counterparts from Greensboro at 10 a.m. All times listed are ET. The Spring Showcase is the second national event of the 2008-09 Development Academy season, following the Winter Showcase, which was held from Dec. 5-8 in Lancaster, Calif. Academy Playoffs will be held at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C. from June 26-29 and Academy Finals Week will be held from July 10-17 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
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