Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on November 12, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
2007 Season Successful in First Year Under OnGoal, LLC
The 2007 season was a successful campaign in which the Wizards reached the playoffs for the first time since 2004 under first-year Technical Director Peter Vermes and Head Coach Curt Onalfo. Kansas City increased its win total over 2006 in two less games played and introduced an exciting, attack-first brand of soccer that provided an entertaining on-field product. Kansas City exited the playoffs in the Western Conference Championship, one game from reaching MLS Cup 2007.
Kansas City also made huge organizational strides off the field. The Wizards instituted a youth development program for the first time in team history. The KCW Juniors will field U-15, U-16 and U-17 teams in 2007-2008 that will begin training November 1. The U-17 squad finished 2nd in their first ever competition, the Soccer United Marketing U-17 Cup held in conjunction with the 2007 MLS All-Star Game in Commerce City, Colorado. The U-17s beat several established teams just one month after the program's formation. OnGoal, the new ownership group, constructed a state-of-the-art training facility at Swope Park with two full-sized grass practice fields. Wizards forward Eddie Johnson won MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors after setting new career-highs with 15 goals and six assists.
2008 Season Tickets on Sale Now
The Kansas City Wizards will play 2008 home matches at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas. Deposits for 2008 season tickets are now being accepted. Call the Wizards at (913) 387-3400 or (877) 828-7222 to reserve your seats today.
The 2008 ticket-pricing chart is listed below: Seating Category Walk-Up Season (18 Games)
Stadium Seat $ 25.00 $405.00
Bleacher $ 20.00 $324.00
Grass Berm (GA) $ 15.00 $150.00
Holiday Store at Ward Parkway Center Opens Wednesday
The Kansas City Wizards will open a holiday kiosk at Ward Parkway Center Wednesday, November 14 through Sunday, January 6. Merchandise, gift cards, ticket packages and other Wizards information will be available throughout regular shopping-center hours.
Fans will be able to customize Wizards jerseys on site and buy gift cards redeemable at 2008 Wizards home games for merchandise or tickets. Merchandise from other MLS clubs and special events such as the 2007 Sierra Mist All-Star Game will be available.
Zavagnin in Final 5 for Sierra Mist Goal of the Year
Only five goals remain in the running for the 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year. More than 500 goals were scored during the 2007 regular season, and fans have narrowed down the choices via online voting at MLSnet.com to determine the most remarkable goal of the 2007 regular season.
Voting started with fans able to select from 34 regular-season goals, which included the 29 winners of the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week and five additional nominees. The count starts over for each round, and fans have one week to determine the winner of this season's top strike, as voting ends on Nov. 14, 2007.
The Sierra Mist Goal of the Year will be announced on Nov. 16, 2007.
Click here to vote: http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/awards/2007/goal_of_the_year/
Top Five Sierra Mist Goal of the Year Candidates:
Joseph Ngwenya, Houston Dynamo (Week 15 vs. Chicago Fire)
In one of the most remarkable individual efforts of the season, Ngwenya collects a pass and touches it around a Fire defender. He rounds the defender, then dribbles past the goalkeeper and shoots into the net from a tight angle.
Kerry Zavagnin, Kansas City Wizards (Week 17 vs. Chivas USA)
The Wizards midfielder lines up a shot from 30 yards out and sends a left-footed rocket into the upper right corner of the goal past a helpless Brad Guzan.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Week 20 vs. Real Salt Lake)
The mercurial Mexican forward collects a pass 25 yards out from goal on the left wing and strikes a left-footed volley that dips over Nick Rimando and into the upper left corner of the goal.
Danny Dichio, Toronto FC (Week 29 vs. New England Revolution)
In Toronto FC's final game of the regular season, Dichio sends the home crowd home happy with a well-placed volley over Matt Reis. Dichio pounces on a loose ball, spins and volleys the ball into in net in stoppage time of the second half to level the score 2-2.
Michael Parkhurst, New England Revolution (Week 29 vs. Toronto FC)
The Revolution defender, who had never attempted a shot in his three MLS seasons, stole the ball in his own defensive end and launched a shot more than 60 yards over the head of Kenny Stamatopoulos to give the Revolution a lead in first-half stoppage time.
Previous Goal of the Year Winners
2006: Brian Ching - Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United - September 30
2005: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes at Los Angeles Galaxy - October 15
2004: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United - August 2
2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew - August 13
2002: Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew - July 27
2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars vs. Dallas Burn - April 28
2000: Marcelo Balboa - Colorado Rapids at Columbus Crew - April 22
1999: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United at Miami Fusion - May 22
1998: Brian McBride - Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire - July 9
1997: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United vs. New England Revolution - August 27
1996: Eric Wynalda - San Jose Clash vs. D.C. United - April 6
Burciaga to Participate in KCK Tree-Lighting Ceremony
Who: D Jose Burciaga When: Friday, November 16; 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Where: Kansas City City Hall, Kansas City, KS
What: Mayor Reardon and the Downtown Lighting Festival Committee of Kansas City have invited Jose Luis Burciaga to participate in this year's tree-lighting ceremony at the City Hall. The lighting ceremony will take place around 6:15 p.m. and will be telecast live. Burciaga will be involved with the tree lighting, passing out gift bags to the children, and interacting with the children that are waiting in line to see Santa. There will be many other activities for the family as well.
Major League Soccer Stories from November 12, 2007
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Chicago Fire Weekly Notes - Chicago Fire FC
- Crew caps season Tuesday with Tecos exhibition - Columbus Crew SC
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.
