MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update

Published on March 23, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

Kansas City trains this week ahead of its first road test of the 2009 Major League Soccer season. The Wizards travel to face the Colorado Rapids Saturday at 8:30 p.m. CT. Both teams enter the match 0-1-0 after Kansas City fell to Toronto FC 3-2 and Colorado lost 2-1 at Chivas USA Saturday. Kansas City went 1-1 against Colorado last season, including a 3-2 home win and a 2-1 road loss. Kansas City is 0-1-1 all-time at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Colorado's home stadium.

Date Time Location

Tuesday, March 24 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Wednesday, March 25 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Thursday, March 26 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Friday, March 27 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Saturday, March 28 8:30 p.m. CT Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Kansas City at Colorado Rapids on Metro Sports

HARTMAN NEARS SAVES RECORD:

Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman is on the verge of setting another MLS career goalkeeping record. With just two more saves, Hartman will surpass former Wizards standout Tony Meola for the all-time lead in career stops. Meola retired with 1136 saves, 507 of them in Wizards colors. Hartman now has 1135 career saves after a five-save performance Saturday against Toronto FC. For his career, Hartman has averaged 3.73 saves/game and is on pace to break Meola's all-time record Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against the Colorado Rapids.

Hartman has already cemented himself as one of the best 'keepers in League history. The former LA Galaxy man ranks 1st all-time in wins (138), shutouts (77), games played in goal (304) and minutes played in goal (27,225). Hartman ranks 5th among all players in games played and 2nd in minutes played. If Hartman plays 14 or more games this season, he will rank 2nd all-time in games played among all players.

ARNAUD UP FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK:

Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud is one of eight MLS players nominated for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week award for week 1 after he scored two stunning goals Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Toronto FC. Arnaud's first blast was nominated after his 3rd career multi-goal game. Arnaud received a pass from Argentine striker Claudio Lopez in the 56th minute, took a touch and launched a left-footed shot into the far upper-right corner of the goal to bring Kansas City within a goal. Vote for Arnaud at mlsnet.com.

HERCULEZ RETURNS TO DSG PARK:

Saturday, Wizards midfielder/forward Herculez Gomez will return to Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the first time since he was traded from Colorado to the Wizards last September. Gomez knows the stadium well and will be forever linked to the Rapids home field. Gomez scored the first-ever goal at the stadium, the first goal in a 2-1 win over D.C. United on April 7, 2007. Gomez scored six goals and had three assists in 37 games for Colorado between 2007-2008.

KCK MAYOR JOE REARDON PRESENTS PROCLAMATION AT HOME OPENER:

Saturday, Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Joe Reardon was on hand to present a proclamation recognizing last week as "Kansas City Wizards Week" to Wizards President Robb Heineman during a pre-game ceremony. Last Monday, Wizards Executive Vice President Greg Cotton, defender Matt Besler and goalkeeper Boris Pardo joined Reardon for a proclamation ceremony at the Joe Amayo Argentine Community Center in KCK. To see pictures from the event, visit this photo gallery at kcwizards.com.

WIZARDS RETURN HOME APRIL 5 ON FAMILY DAY:

Kansas City returns to action at CommunityAmerica Ballpark Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m. CT against the San Jose Earthquakes. The match, sponsored by Sprint, will be Kansas City's "Family Day" as the entire team will gather at Dave & Buster's after the game for an autographs session for fans. The first 5,000 fans into the stadium will receive the Wizards 2009 team poster courtesy of Sprint. The food and beverage special of the game will be $2 cotton candy and $2 pretzels. For tickets, call (913) 387-3400 or visit www.kcwizards.com.

BUY YOUR M&I FAMILY PACK TODAY:

The Wizards and M&I Bank will be offering M&I family packs for the match April 5 against the San Jose Earthquakes. The M&I Family Pack is a great option for soccer-loving families. The offer starts at just $79. Each package includes:

Four (4) Tickets Four (4) Hot Dogs Four (4) Sodas One (1) Wizards Seat Cushion One (1) Wizards Player Poster One (1) Wizards Pennant One (1) Wizards Foam Finger

Get your M&I Family Pack now.

SIGN-UP FOR 3RD ANNUAL CASH CUP TODAY:

From April 3-5, the Wizards will host the 3rd annual Indoor Cash Cup at KC Soccer Dome. Between $500-$1,000 will be awarded to the first place team of the Men's Competitive and Co-ed Competitive divisions, along with 2009 Wizards apparel for each player on the Championship-winning teams. All teams are guaranteed a minimum of three (3) games, and each team will receive 12 tickets to the Wizards match on April 5 as part of registration fees. For more information, visit this page at kcwizards.com.

To sign up, contact:

Tournament Director Brian Budzinski (816) 215-9456 brian@kcsoccerdome.com

STARTING 11 GIRLS, DYNAMO THE DRAGON ATTEND DENTAL CONFERENCE PARTY:

Who: Starting 11 Girls, Mascot Dynamo the Dragon

When: Friday, March 27; 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Where: Hyatt Regency Crown Center, Kansas City, MO

What: The Starting 11 Girls and Dynamo the Dragon will be participating in festivities at the Welcome Party for the Midwest Dental Conference. UMKC School of Dentistry will be holding the conference for over 3,000 attendees and have invited local sports teams to participate. The Starting 11 Girls and Dynamo will be entertaining and taking pictures with guests.

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 23, 2009


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