Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on October 26, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Wizards Host Game 2 vs. San Jose at Arrowhead on Saturday, October 30th
The Kansas City Wizards will host the San Jose Earthquakes in Game 2 of their two-leg, aggregate goal playoff series at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Wizards trail the total goal series 2-0 after giving up two goals at San Jose on Sunday, October 24th.
The Wizards need to win by three goals on Saturday to win the first round series and advance to the Western Conference Final. If the Wizards win by two goals Saturday, and the series is tied on aggregate goals at the end of 90 minutes, the teams would then play two, fifteen minute, golden-goal overtime periods. If the series is still tied after the golden-goal, overtime periods, the winner will be decided by penalty kicks.
The Wizards have experienced tremendous success at home during the postseason. In their last seven home games in postseason play, the Wizards are 6-0-1 and have outscored their opponents 15-3 in those seven games. In each of their last three postseason home games, the Wizards have defeated their opponents by at least two goals, beating Colorado 2-0 in 2003, Los Angeles 4-1 in 2002 and Miami 3-0 in 2001.
The Wizards need also look no further than Saturday's opponent, the San Jose Earthquakes, as inspiration for making a two-goal comeback. Last season, the top-seeded Earthquakes lost 2-0 at Los Angeles in Game 1 of their first round playoff series. In Game Two, the 'Quakes surrendered the first two goals to the Galaxy before scoring four unanswered goals in regulation and eventually netting the game-winner in overtime to advance to the Western Conference Final and eventually on to win the 2003 MLS Cup Championship.
Kansas City will rely heavily on the forward duo of Josh Wolff and Davy Arnaud. The two strikers combined for 19 of the team's 38 goals in 2004, including five game-winners, and 15 of the team's 34 assists. The defensive unit, anchored by MLS Defender of the Year frontrunner Jimmy Conrad, along with Nick Garcia, Alex Zotinca and Jose Burciaga will also be asked to shutdown the potent Earthquake attack. It's a task they accomplished three times in 2004 by shutting out San Jose on three consecutive occasions - twice in the final two regular season meetings and once in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinal.
Playoff Tickets Available Through Ticketmaster & Wizards Box Office
Tickets for the Wizards home playoff game on Saturday, October 30th
are on sale now through Ticketmaster and can be purchased by calling
816-931-3330 or online at www.ticketmaster.com
As always, Zard Card holders can purchase $5 general admission seats at the
Wizards Box Office for themselves and each accompanying family member in
"The Yard". The Wizards will also offer the popular Wendy's Family Pack as
well as special group pricing for groups of 20 or more. Wendy's Family Packs
and Group tickets can be purchased through the Wizards Box Office at the
Stadium or by calling 816-920-9300. Fans entering the stadium for the Wizards playoff game will receive a pair
of Thundersticks (while supplies last) and a coupon for a free dozen Krispy
Kreme doughnuts if the Wizards score two goals. In addition, the first 5,000
youth 15 years and younger in the gates will receive a complimentary pass to
the Crown Center Ice Terrace.
MLS Postseason Results and Schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS LOS ANGELES GALAXY (No. 2) vs. COLORADO RAPIDS (No. 3)
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS D.C. UNITED (No. 2) vs. METROSTARS (No. 3)
Jimmy Conrad Named a Finalist for MLS Defender of the Year Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad was named one of three finalists
for the MLS Defender of the Year award, announced Monday by Major League
Soccer. Conrad joins Columbus defender Robin Fraser and MetroStars defender
Eddie Pope as finalists for the League honor. Monday's announcement marked the first of a series of three
Monday announcements leading up to MLS Cup 2004, which will reveal all the
finalists for the remainder of the League's annual year-end awards.
Finalists for the seven other year-end awards will be made public on each of
the next two Mondays - Nov. 1 and Nov. 8.
The 2004 MLS Honda MVP will be announced live on ESPNews on Thursday,
November 11 at 3:00 p.m. CT kicking off the 2004 MLS Cup Weekend,
culminating in the League's Championship game to be played on Sunday,
November 14 at The Home Depot Center (2:30 p.m. CT - live on ABC Sports).
The winners of every other honor will be unveiled in the week leading up to
MLS Cup 2004. Conrad's nomination for MLS Defender of the Year honors comes after
the 27-year-old defender enjoyed the best season of his six-year career.
Conrad anchored the best defensive unit in MLS that allowed just 30 goals in
2004, the lowest in MLS, while also posting a League-high 12 shutouts on the
year. Conrad's leadership in the back helped solidify the Wizards defense
despite a goalkeeper transition in mid-August after Tony Meola was forced
out with an injury. His efforts helped lead the Wizards to a League high 14
wins on the year and a share of the best record in MLS.
This Week with the Wizards Wizards Players Visit Area Dairy Queen Stores
A number of Wizards players will be making appearances at area Dairy Queen
stores throughout the week. Players will be available for autographs and
pictures. The events are free and open to the public. Tuesday, Oct. 26th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Taylor Graham, Wizards Defender
Dairy Queen, 400 SE Douglas Street, Lee's Summit, MO
64063-4247
Call 816-524-7470 for directions
Tuesday, Oct. 26th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Alex Zotinca, Wizards Defender/Midfielder
Dairy Queen, 434 W 85th Street, Kansas City, MO 64114-2806
Call 816-523-1106 for directions
Wednesday, Oct. 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Diego Walsh, Wizards Midfielder
Dairy Queen, 701 S. Harrisonville, MO 64701-0488
Call 816-380-4762 for directions
Wednesday, Oct. 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Dynamo the Dragon, Wizards Mascot
Dairy Queen, 930 Skyway, Atchison, KS 66002-2754
Call 913-367-2878 for directions
Thursday, Oct. 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Jose Burciaga, Wizards Defender
Dairy Queen, 1669 South Odell, Marshall, MO 65340-3325
Call 660-886-2000 for directions
Thursday, Oct. 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Jack Jewsbury, Wizards Midfielder
Dairy Queen, 6904 Hunter Street, Raytown, MO 64133-5634
Call 816-358-1183 for directions
Brian Bliss Holds Coaches Clinic for Oak Grove Soccer. Wizards Assistant Coach Brian Bliss will host a coaching clinic for Oak
Grove Soccer on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS (No. 1) vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (No. 4)
Game 1: Kansas City Wizards 0 at San Jose
Earthquakes 2
San Jose leads 2-0 on aggregate goals
Game 2: San Jose Earthquakes at Kansas City Wizards
- Saturday, October 30 @ 7:30 p.m. CT
Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, Missouri
Game 1: Los Angeles Galaxy 0 at Colorado Rapids 1
Colorado leads 1-0 on aggregate goals
Game 2: Colorado Rapids at Los Angeles Galaxy - Saturday,
October 30 @ 9:00 p.m. CT
The Home Depot Center - Carson, California
COLUMBUS CREW (No. 1) vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (No. 4)
Game 1: Columbus Crew 0 at New England Revolution 1
New England leads 1-0 on aggregate goals
Game 2: New England Revolution at Columbus Crew -
Sunday, October 31 @ 4:00 p.m. CT
Columbus Crew Stadium - Columbus, Ohio TV: ESPN2
Game 1: D.C. United 2 at MetroStars 0
D.C. United leads 2-0 on aggregate goals
Game 2: MetroStars at D.C. United - Saturday,
October 30 @ 6:00 p.m. CT
RFK Stadium - Washington, D.C.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 26, 2004
