This Week with the Wizards - Headlines for the Week of September 26, 2006:
A Playoff Atmosphere This Saturday
The second-to-last regular season game ever to be played in Arrowhead
Stadium kicks off this Saturday, September 30th when the Wizards take on
ReAL Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. CT. Saturday's game is key for both teams as
Kansas City is looking to distance itself from the New York Red Bulls for
fourth place in the East and Salt Lake is trying to make one final push and
move into the coveted fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Should the
regular season end today Kansas City would make the postseason and Salt Lake
would be out, but each team is just one win, or loss, away on each side of
the line with KC currently two points up on New York in the East and RSL
three points shy of Colorado in the West. Needless to say this Saturday's
match should be exciting. Former Wizard and current Salt Lake midfielder
Chris Klein will be making his first appearance in Arrowhead Stadium since
being traded to RSL this past offseason and will be holding an private
autograph session following the match for group ticket purchases of 20 or
more. To get postgame autograph passes contact the Wizards' Zach Rieger at
816-920-4744 by 5:00 p.m. this Friday. Since the Wizards' will be honoring
Youth Soccer month at the match, US Youth Soccer will be giving away free
thunderstix to the first 3,000 fans to pass through the gates.
Metro Sports To Air Wizards vs. Red Bulls
With a possible playoff spot on the line, the excitement of Kansas City's
regular season finale at the New York Red Bulls on October 14th will be
brought back to the fans in the Kansas City metropolitan area once again by
Metro Sports. The Wizards returned to Metro Sports this past weekend when
the Kansas City area all sports station aired their match against the New
England Revolution live. Sean Wheelock, the voice of the Wizards, will
again call the play-by-play for Wizards/Red Bulls match that will be
preceded by a 30-minute pregame show.
In The Driver's Seat For The Division Title
The Wizards reserve squad moved one step closer to claiming Major League
Soccer's Reserve Division Championship this past weekend with a 5-2
thrashing of the Revolution reserves in Foxborough. With two games
remaining on the season, this Sunday vs. Real Salt Lake's reserve team and
next Sunday against Chivas' reserves, should Kansas City win out it will
claim the title. The Wizards are currently two points behind the 8-3-0
Colorado Rapids with one game in-hand and a 7-2-1 record. Ryan Pore, who
netted a pair of goals this past weekend, is just one goal shy of the
division scoring lead with nine goals in nine games played. Yura Movsisyan
is second on the team with eight goals in reserve play after scoring a
hat-trick this past Sunday. This Sunday's reserve match will be played at
Swope Park with kickoff set for 10:00 a.m.
It's Getting Hot In Here
D.C. United clinched home field advantage throughout the Eastern Conference
playoffs with a 4-3 win vs. New York this past weekend, but the final three
spots in the East are still completely up in the air for anyone's taking.
Chicago has a stronghold on the number two spot with 44 points and three
games remaining on their regular season schedule, all against teams from the
East (DC, NY & CLB). The Revolution, KC's opponent this past weekend, are
currently in third with 39 points but would need to record two more wins
than the Fire over the last three games to move up in the standings. Of
their final three games two are against competition from the East (DC &
CLB). Kansas City occupies the fourth place position, and the final playoff
slot, with 34 points and three games remaining, including one against its
closest competition for a position in the MLS Cup Playoffs, New York, who
sits just two points back. That sets the stage for an exciting regular
season finale in the Meadowlands on October 14th. KC's other two remaining
matches are against teams from the Western Conference, this weekend's
opponent Real Salt Lake and next weekend's Chivas USA. New York, as
mentioned before, is currently in fifth with 32 points with two of its final
three games against Eastern competition (CHI & KC). Columbus sits in last
and would need a lot of help to make the postseason as it is eight points
behind KC for the final spot with just three games remaining.
Rewarded For Eating Your Green Beans?!
Two weeks ago over 15,000 students from over 750 classrooms in the Kansas
City area participated in the Wizards' Training & Nutrition Week sponsored
by Blue Cross Blue Shield and The National Kidney Foundation. The focus of
the program was to give young children an introduction to healthy behaviors
that they can incorporate in their everyday lives. Each classroom was given
a poster that outlines nutrition, training, and take-home tasks for every
day of the week that are designed to promote healthy behaviors. For their
participation in the program every student was awarded two complimentary
tickets to the Wizards' match against ReAL Salt Lake this Saturday. As a
special gift for the first 5,000 youth 15 & under through the gate this
weekend, the National Kidney Foundation will be handing out a special
newsletter featuring Wizards' All-Star defender Jimmy Conrad.
Scott Sealy To Greet Fans This Wednesday
Kansas City fans will get a great chance to meet the Wizards' leading
goal-scorer this Wednesday, September 27th, at Soccer Express in Overland
Park. Wizards' adidas player Scott Sealy will be on hand from 6:30 to 8:00
p.m. to sign autographs and greet fans at Soccer Express located at 14353
Metcalf in Overland Park. Free T-shirts will be given out to the first 100
youth in attendance.
Potential Playoff Match-Ups
With Kansas City in a position to make the playoffs and the standings in the
Eastern Conference where they currently are with D.C. in first, Chicago in
second, New England in third, and Kansas City in fourth, the 2006 MLS Cup
Playoff schedule would pit United vs. the Wizards and the Fire vs. the
Revolution in the conference semifinals on the weekend's of October 21/22
and October 28/29. The following are the possible scenarios for Kansas City
and the implications they would have on the playoff schedule. In order the
finish third, Kansas City will have to gain five points on New England while
staying ahead of New York in the final three games of the season. The
Wizards won the season series with the Revolution therefore they only need
tie New England in the standings to claim third. In order to hold onto to
fourth place position, Kansas City needs to maintain its two-point lead over
the Red Bulls. As a three or four seed, the Wizards would host the one or
two seed on Saturday, October 21st at 7:30 p.m. CST in the first leg of the
series. Should Kansas City enter the playoffs as the three seed and advance
to the Eastern Conference Championship game and square off against the four
seed the game will either be played at Arrowhead on Friday, November 3rd at
7:30 p.m. CST, or Sunday, November 5th at 3:00 CST depending upon television
schedules.
US Youth Soccer Month Concludes Saturday
The Kansas City Wizards conclude their recognition of US Youth Soccer Month
at this weekend's match against Real Salt Lake with a special halftime kick
contest for one lucky contestant who will get a chance to win $10,000. Now
in its fourth installment, Youth Soccer Month - Celebrating Soccer in
America, is a celebration for all of those who participate in soccer and it
highlights the various programs available to children interested in
participating in soccer, including the inner-city, special needs,
recreational and elite soccer programs that have facilitated the growth of
the sport at all levels. Each week throughout Youth Soccer Month a series
of messages and themes will be communicated to illustrate the essence of
youth soccer. Week one highlighted the health and fitness (physical,
psychological and social) benefits of playing soccer. Week two focused on
the fun aspects of playing soccer and, whether recreational or competitive
in nature, involvement in soccer is easy, affordable and rewarding. Week
three highlighted the family and how playing soccer ties families together
as schedules, vacations and family time are coordinated. Youth Soccer Month
concludes this week with a focus on friendships and the relationships
generated through playing soccer that extend beyond the field.
This Week's Training Schedule
Wednesday 9/27: Training 9:00 a.m. to approx. 11:00 a.m.
Thursday 9/28: Training 9:00 a.m. to approx. 11:00 a.m.
Friday 9/29: Training 9:00 a.m. to approx. 10:30 a.m.
Saturday 9/30: Wizards vs. Real Salt Lake - 7:30 p.m. Kickoff at Arrowhead
Stadium
Sunday 10/1: Wizards Reserves vs. Real Salt Lake Reserves - 10:00 a.m.
Kickoff at Swope Park
Monday 10/2: OFF
*all training sessions are open to the media and take place at the Arrowhead Training Facility unless otherwise noted.
