MLS Major League Soccer

Twellman to Play Numbers Game Again

Published on April 10, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


With yet another opportunistic and decisive goal last Saturday on MLS Opening Day in Columbus, the Los Angeles Galaxy's Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz has already begun to hold up his end of the bargain when it comes to repeating the memorable goal-scoring feats of 2002. On Sunday, April 13 against the Chicago Fire, it will be up to the New England Revolution's Taylor Twellman to similarly prove that a forward's scent for goal does not disappear over an offseason.

It's the question on the minds of many MLS fans: can Ruiz (24 goals), the Honda MVP, and Twellman (23 goals), the 2002 Budweiser Scoring Champion, renew their goal scoring duel which saw them carry both their teams to MLS Cup.

"Everyone's asking me if I can do it but it doesn't matter to me," Twellman said. "As long as I'm in the right spot at the right time and we're winning and I'm getting chances, that's all you can ask for. The goals will come in spurts. And if the goals are going in and we're winning that's great but if they're not and we're winning then who cares?"

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409twellman.html

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PURCHASE YOUR CUSTOMIZED AUTHENTIC TAYLOR TWELLMAN JERSEY TODAY

Log on to MLSGear.com to purchase the jersey of Budweiser Scoring Champion with the name and number of New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman: No. 20.

http://www.mlsgear.com/search_results.asp?keyword=MLSNER

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EL PESCADITO MAKES VOICE HEARD

Following his Honda MVP season in 2002 and MLS Cup MVP performance, the L.A. Galaxy's Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz is a national hero in Guatemala with the press following his every move here in the United States. The exposure and attention was such that even Ruiz's personal family life was a subject of newspaper articles during the offseason, much to "Pescadito's" dismay.

Ruiz, the captain of the Guatemalan National Team, is once again making headlines on the sports pages back home.

After last Saturday's Opening Day match in which he scored the equalizer for the Galaxy in Columbus, fans learned that besides dedicating the goal to his wife and to his cousin (the latter had passed away days earlier), Ruiz's goal outburst was also directed against the recent appointment of the new Guatemalan National Team head coach.

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409ruiz.html

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STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE MLS NEWSSTAND

Get all the latest newspaper clips on MLS and soccer in the U.S. in English and Spanish directly from their source with the daily MLS Newsstand section:

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/2003newsstand.html

Among today's stories:

Hunt Sports Group now owns Burn http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/topstories/stories/041003dnspoburnlede.e2d7 4601.html

New role, new vigor http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/cs-030409fire,1,5 038285.story?coll=cs% 2Dhome%2Dheadlines

Time for Fire fans to make adjustments http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sports_story.asp?intID=37721216

El nuevo rostro del Fire (Fire's new face), ¡Exito! http://www.chicagotribune.com/exito/deportes/chi-exito-030410-fire,0,1433814 .story?coll=chi%2Dexi todeportes%2Dhed

MetroStars, un equipo con determinación (MetroStars, a team with determination), El Diario La Prensa http://www.eldiariony.com/noticias/detail.aspx?section=26&desc=DEPORTES&id=6 37198

El Necaxa goleó a Galaxy 4-1 (Necaxa defeats Galaxy 4-1), La Opinión http://www.laopinion.com/deportes/?rkey=00030409220601015840

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SEASON OF TRUTH FOR EJ

Although the names of the Dallas Burn forward corps may have remained the same over the offseason, the 2003 campaign may still bring a shuffling of personnel which could give young striker Eddie "EJ" Johnson the opportunity at a regular spot in the lineup.

What's for sure is that EJ's starting role will not begin with this Saturday's ESPN2 Game of the Week. That's because the 19-year-old is still recovering from a left groin injury which has hampered him for most of preseason. However, EJ expects to be available off the bench for Burn Head Coach Mike Jeffries.

"There's a very good chance you'll see me as a sub on Saturday," said Johnson.

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409ej.html

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GET THE MLS SHOOTOUT PACKAGE FOR JUST $49

MLS fans have three options for acquiring the MLS SHOOTOUT Package, as DIRECTV, DISH Network and iN DEMAND, will combine to present a full menu of MLS regional telecasts in 2003.

http://www.mlsnet.com/library/on_tv.html

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MLS SUPPORTERS CLUBS: THE INFERNO

With the ESPN2 Soccer Saturday Game of the Week being hosted by the Dallas Burn (4:00PM ET), MLSnet.com features the fans that will bring the match to life: The Inferno. Charlynn Helms gave us the lowdown on the group.

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409inferno.html

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MLS GAME PREVIEWS: APRIL 12-13, 2003

For in-depth previews of the weekend's first full slate of MLS matches, click on the links below.

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409preCLBMET.html

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409preDCKC.html

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409preLADAL.html

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409preSJCOL.html

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409preNECHI.html

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THIS DAY IN MLS HISTORY - April 10, 2001

The San Jose Earthquakes signed Danish midfielder Ronnie Ekelund as a discovery player. He made his Major League Soccer debut on April 28, 2001, starting against the Kansas City Wizards, playing 81 minutes.

Prior to signing as a discovery player with the Earthquakes, Ekelund played for Brondby and Odense in Denmark; Barcelona in Spain; Southampton, Coventry City and Manchester City in the English Premier League; and Toulouse in France.

In Ekelund's first year with the team he helped San Jose defeat Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in MLS Cup 2001, with his game-winning assist to Dwayne DeRosario.

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GET YOUR TEAM ON NATIONAL TV WITH MLSNET.COM'S YOUTH SOCCER SPOTLIGHT

MLS will be recognizing the accomplishments of youth soccer teams from around the country this season. Your team could earn the spotlight on Major League Soccer's "Soccer Saturday on ESPN2." To register your team as a candidate, download and send in the MLS 2003 Youth Soccer Spotlight Application.

http://www.mlsnet.com/youth/spotlight/yss03/YYSapplication.pdf

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MLS TRIVIA:

Since the club's inception in 1996, the Dallas Burn have had three different players lead the team in scoring over the last seven seasons. While one name may be an obvious choice, who were the other two?

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409trivia.html

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SIGN UP TODAY FOR THE OFFICIAL MLS FANTASY SOCCER CHALLENGE: MLSFC

Sign up now to play the MLS Fantasy Challenge (MLSFC), the official fantasy game of Major League Soccer! Draft your team to win great prizes. Are you up for the challenge? Register a team before the weekend's games.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/mls/fantasy/login.html

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MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: EDSON BUDDLE

Columbus Crew forward Edson Buddle was named the first MLS Player of the Week of 2003 for the week ending April 6, 2003. He tallied the lone Crew goal in the 36th minute of Columbus' 1-1 season-opening tie vs. Los Angeles. Buddle outmuscled Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall to a free kick by Freddy Garcia and headed it past L.A. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/90min0409buddle.html

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"To see your owner put his life on hold for four months and put his reputation on the line for the Wizards here in Kansas City has been inspirational to everyone around here." - Wizards GM Curt Johnson on Lamar Hunt's involvement in season ticket sales (Kansas City Star).

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 10, 2003


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.


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