Wizards and Earthquakes Square Off in Western Conference Showdown
Published on June 23, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards will travel to San Jose to face the Western Conference leading San Jose Earthquakes at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, June 28th. The match will kickoff at 9:00 p.m. CT. The match will feature the top two teams in the Western Conference as the Wizards (5-2-5, 20 points) trail the 'Quakes (6-2-3, 21 points) by just one point in the standings.
Saturday's contest will also mark the return of Wizards midfielder Chris Klein and Earthquakes forward Landon Donovan, who have both spent the last two weeks with the U.S. National Team in France for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
San Jose sits atop the Western Conference Standings despite having their roster decimated by injuries and have been forced to turn to a number of rookies and relatively inexperienced players to replace their injured players. Rookie defender Todd Dunivant has played every minute at left back for the 'Quakes this season and is fourth on the team in scoring with 5 points (1g, 3a). Second year defender Chris Roner has recently stepped in at right back and has notched one goal on the season. Rookie midfielder Arturo Alvarez has started the last three matches and has registered a goal and an assist on the season while rookie Jamil Walker made his MLS debut in late May and has recorded a goal in each of the last two Earthquakes matches.
The Wizards continue to lead the league in scoring with 24 goals in 12 matches. Last weekend's four-goal performance was the team's highest single game output this season and was the highest output since July 13, 2002, a 4-2 win at New England. Francisco Gomez scored his first goal of the season and defender Alex Zotinca's game-winning goal in the 42nd minute was the first career MLS goal for the Romanian. Preki's five-point performance helped the MLS all-time leading scorer to regain the lead in the 2003 MLS scoring charts with 20 points (7g, 6a).
Preki Finds Fountain of Youth with Five-Point Outburst
The Wizards midfielder, who will turn 40-years-old on Tuesday, celebrated his birthday with an impressive five-point performance against the Chicago Fire this past Saturday. Preki notched three assists in the first half and then scored his seventh goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 70th minute.
Preki's first assist came on a corner kick that defender Jimmy Conrad latched on to and placed cleanly past Fire 'keeper Zach Thornton. His second assist came on a beautifully placed ball through the Fire defense that Francisco Gomez ran on to and buried in the back of the net. His third assist of the night might well have been his best one as the 39-year, 362-day-old Preki beat 21-year-old Fire rookie Logan Pause in the right corner. The predominantly left-footed Preki made a great move to throw off Pause and sent a right-footed pass to a wide-open Alex Zotinca inside the top of the box. Zotinca easily pounded a shot past Thornton to give the Wizards a 3-1 advantage.
The second half goal marked Preki's 72nd career MLS goal, 4th all-time in MLS, and was his all-time leading 20th career penalty kick goal. It was the fourth time in his career that Preki has registered three-assists in one game and he now stands second all-time in assists with 99. Preki extended his all-time MLS scoring total to 243 points (72g, 99a) and is 11 points ahead of Jason Kreis (232) for the all-time lead. His 20 points (7g, 6a) in 2003 is tops in MLS.
Metro Sports Broadcast Moved from July 19th to August 31st
Due to a scheduling conflict on Metro Sports, the Wizards game on Saturday, July 19th in Columbus will no longer be aired on Metro Sports. Instead, Metro Sports will pick up the Wizards game against the Columbus Crew in Columbus on Sunday, August 31st at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Wizards Host 4th Annual Women's 101 Clinic for Moms & Kids
The Kansas City Wizards, Midwest Dairy Council and E105.1 FM will host the 4th Annual Wizards 101 Soccer Clinic for Moms and kids on Tuesday, June 24th at the Wizards and Chiefs Indoor Practice Facility. The clinic will cover the fundamentals of soccer and will include on-field instruction from assistant coaches Brian Bliss and Tim Mulqueen along with Chris Brunt, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Taylor Graham and Kevin Friedland.
The cost for the clinic is $10 for Moms and $5 for kids. The cost includes Papa John's Pizza, Roberts and Anderson-Erickson milk products, Belfonte ice cream, a T-shirt and the Mix it with Milk Lab. Proceeds will benefit New House a shelter for battered women and children. Last year the Wizards raised over $1400 for New House charities. To register, call 816-920-4754 or go online to www.kcwizards.com.
Wizards and Price Chopper Continue "Zard Card" Blitz
Wizards players and Dynamo the Dragon will be at area Price Chopper stores this week to promote the Price Chopper ZARD CARD. The ZARD CARD entitles youth 15 and under the opportunity to attend any 2003 Wizards home game at Arrowhead for a special ZARD price of only $5 per person per game (this includes parents). Youth members can also enjoy other special rewards by presenting their ZARD CARD at any participating Price Chopper store. Wizards players will be making appearances at the following stores:
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Bo Oshoniyi 7734 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Chris Brunt 4950 Roe, Roeland Park, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Taylor Graham 12220 S 71 Hwy, Grandview, MO
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Dynamo the Dragon 1400 W Amity, Louisburg, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Dynamo the Dragon 309 N Hospital Dr., Paola, KS
Thursday, June 26, 2003
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Jimmy Conrad 3700 W 95th Street, Leawood, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Taylor Graham 13351 Mission Rd., Leawood, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Kevin Friedland 175 North Parker, Olathe, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Francisco Gomez 2101 East Santa Fe, Olathe, KS
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Dynamo the Dragon 2107 S 4th St., Leavenworth, KS
This Week with the Wizards
Quill at John W. Betts, M.D. Memorial Celebrity Golf Tournament Eric Quill joined a 4-person scramble at the John W. Betts, M.D. Memorial Celebrity Golf Tournament on Monday at Leawood South Country Club. Quill joined others for the event to raise money for women's heath related programs. For more information please call Grand Slam Golf at 913-341-6380.
Jewsbury in Warrensburg for youth soccer clinic
Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury will help with a Warrensburg youth soccer clinic on Tuesday, June 24th. Players from the Warrensburg Competitive and Recreation Soccer Association will participate in the clinic. For more information please call 816-920-4744.
Major League Soccer Stories from June 23, 2003
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- MLS All-Stars to Face Chivas de Guadalajara in 2003 Pepsi MLS All -Star Game - MLS
- Race For First Continues in Naperville on 'Soccer Saturday' - Chicago Fire FC
- Interview with Gazidis and Vergara - MLS
- Dallas Burn Weekly Update - FC Dallas
- Wizards and Earthquakes Square Off in Western Conference Showdown - Sporting Kansas City
- D.C. United in the Community - D.C. United
- MetroStars Weekly Report - Red Bull New York
- Crew Kicks off Four-Game Homestand Saturday - Columbus Crew SC
- Spencer Scores Lone Goal in Rapids 3-1 Loss at Dallas - Colorado Rapids
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