This Week with the Wizards - Headlines for Week of April 25th:
Wizards Reserves Schedule Update
Rematch of MLS Cup 2004 on Tap for Saturday, April 30th at Arrowhead
On April 30th, the Wizards will face 15-year-old soccer phenom
Freddy Adu and D.C. United for the first time since last November's meeting
in the 2004 MLS Cup Final. The rematch will take place at Arrowhead Stadium
in the first of four scheduled meetings between the two sides this season.
The April 30th match will be the "Soccer Saturday" Game of the Week and will
be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Kansas City will look to rebound from their disappointing 3-2 loss at San Jose last weekend. Despite scoring the first goal of the game for the third consecutive time, the Wizards twice surrendered the lead and lost their first game of the 2005 campaign.
D.C. enters this weekend's match coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the New England Revolution. The defending MLS Cup Champions are now 1-2-1 after posting two consecutive losses. Their lone win came in the 2005 season opener against expansion club CD Chivas USA.
For the last three matches, D.C. United has featured a relatively inexperienced duo on the back line - David Stokes and rookie Bobby Boswell - playing alongside veteran Mike Petke. Petke has been a starter in MLS since 1998 while David Stokes, though in his third year, has only appeared in 11 games, including three starts prior to the 2005 season.
The unknown for D.C. is Bobby Boswell who has played center back in all four matches this season. A Florida International product, he went undrafted this past January and signed with D.C. as a developmental player in early March. He began the season on the developmental roster before being promoted to the senior roster prior to last weekend's match.
The Wizards will enter this weekend's contest looking to shore up a defensive unit that has allowed seven goals in the first three games of 2005. The same unit allowed a League-low 30 goals all of last season and didn't allow their seventh goal until nine games into the 2004 campaign. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Wizards have exploded on offense, scoring seven goals this season, a feat they did not accomplish until the seventh game of last year. Chris Klein leads the way with three goals, scoring once in all three matches so far this season.
"The Elders" to Perform in Lot D Prior to Wizards Game April 30th
The Kansas City Wizards and the Heart of America Soccer Foundation will host
a pregame concert in the parking lot prior to the Wizards match vs. D.C.
United on Saturday, April 30th. "The Elders", a local Irish rock band will
perform on stage in Lot D beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT. The concert is open to
the public. For more information on the concert or the Heart of America
Soccer Foundation, log on to www.hoasoccer.org.
Wizards Host Super League Rugby at Arrowhead Following Saturday's Game
For the second consecutive season, the Wizards will host a post game rugby
match at Arrowhead Stadium immediately following their MLS contest against
D.C. United on Saturday, April 30th. The Wizards and D.C. United will
kickoff at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Immediately following the 2004 MLS Cup rematch, Super League Rugby will take over the Arrowhead pitch as the Kansas City Blues, featuring players from England, South Africa and Samoa as well as the Kansas City area, will face off against Philadelphia-Whitemarsh. Both rugby clubs participate in the Rugby Super League, the United States' top rugby league.
"We are thrilled with the opportunity to once again show off our squad to the Wizards fans," said Jim Schneweis, KC Blues Director of Player Development. "We had a great time out here last season and the Wizards fans were so supportive. We hope to put on another great show for them this weekend."
The rugby match marks the final game of the season for the Blues before the Super League National Playoffs. For more information on the KC Blues Rugby team go to www.kcblues.org or call the Blues hotline (816) 960-1281.
Wizards Reserves Schedule Update
The Kansas City Wizards Reserves match that was originally scheduled for
Sunday, May 1st has been postponed and will be rescheduled for later in the
season. The Wizards Reserves next match will be Sunday, May 22nd against the
D.C. United Reserves in Washington D.C.
WIZARDS 2005 RESERVE LEAGUE SCHEDULE
Date Opponents Time (CT)/Result
Sunday, April 17, 2005 at MetroStars T 0-0
Sunday, April 24, 2005 at San Jose Earthquakes T 0-0
Sunday, May 22, 2005 at D.C. United 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 29, 2005 San Jose Earthquakes 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, June 5, 2005 at New England Revolution 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 18, 2005 at Chicago Fire 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 26, 2005 Chivas USA 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 18, 2005 Los Angeles Galaxy 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 2, 2005 Chicago Fire 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 9, 2005 New England Revolution 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 16, 2005 at F.C. Dallas 10:00 a.m.
TBD D.C. United TBD
All dates and times subject to change.
Wizards Injury/Absence Report
M - John Minagawa-Webster - Out - 2nd Degree Ankle Sprain (R)
M - Doug Lascody - Out - 2nd Degree Ankle Sprain (R)
M - Sasha Victorine - Probable - Hamstring Strain (L)
