Wizards Wrap Up Demanding 2002 Season, Experience Success On and Off the Field
October 8, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards grueling 2002 season came to an end last Wednesday night after a 5-2 loss to the top seeded Los Angeles Galaxy in Game 3 of the 2002 MLS Cup quarterfinals series. Despite the setback, the Wizards made tremendous progress both on and off the field during the 2002 season.
This season, the Wizards were one of four teams from Major League Soccer to participate in the 2002 FC Champions Cup with teams from across North and Central America and the Caribbean. The Wizards swept W Connection FC of Trinidad in the opening round, and then defeated Santos Laguna of Mexico on aggregate goals to become the only MLS team to reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Championship. In reaching the semifinals, Kansas City also became to first MLS team in its seven-year history to win a home and home series against a Mexican club team. The Wizards fell to Monarcas Morelia of Mexico in the semifinals.
In addition to their Champions Cup run, the Wizards also reached the U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the first time in team history. A dramatic overtime win against the Rochester Rhinos (A-League) and a convincing victory over the Milwaukee Rampage (A-League) earned Kansas City a Semifinal appearance in their second tournament of the year, as they became the only MLS team to reach the Semifinals of both the Champions Cup and U.S. Open Cup. The Wizards were one game away from reaching their third semifinal when they forced a Game 3 of their Quarterfinal series against Los Angeles in the 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs. In Game 1, Kansas City scored first and twice held the lead before surrendering a late goal and eventually falling in overtime.
Game Two saw the Wizards dominate the game from the opening kick while posting a 4-1 victory over the top seeded Galaxy. Unfortunately, the Wizards could not sustain their success in the third game and lost the decisive Game 3 to bring and end to their season.
Aside from the team's success on the field, the Wizards also had success off the field, experiencing a significant growth in attendance during the 2002 campaign. In 14 home games during the regular season, the Wizards averaged 12,255 fans per game, surpassing the 12,000 mark for the first time since the inaugural 1996 season (12,878). Kansas City also became the first team in MLS history to grow their average attendance for four consecutive seasons. The 2002 average attendance was up nearly 12% over last season (10,954) in which the Wizards were coming off their MLS Cup Championship run in 2000.
On Saturday, May 4th, 21,301 fans were on hand to watch the Wizards face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the highest attended game in team history. The previous record was 21,141 set on April 13, 1996, the first ever home game for the Wizards. Despite the large crowd, Kansas City fell 2-1 in overtime. Two months later, the sixth largest crowd of 19,641 fans was on hand for an Independence Day celebration on the Fourth of July as the Wizards defeated D.C. United 2-1. On August 31st, the Wizards welcomed their fourth largest crowd when 20,173 fans came to Arrowhead Stadium for a dramatic Labor Day weekend match up against Eastern Conference rival the Chicago Fire. Kansas City won 2-1 on a goal just before the end of regulation.
The Wizards will resume training on Wednesday, October 9th and will train through November 1st. The team will depart for a break before reconvening in January to prepare for the 2003 season. Log on to www.kcwizards.com for information on training times as well as the release of the 2002 MLS schedule.
Wizards Announce Team Award Winners
The Kansas City Wizards announced their award winners for the 2002 regular season in a ceremony prior to the Wizards playoff match at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, September 28th. With voting done by media members throughout the Kansas City area, midfielder Preki was named the Wizards Honda MVP, goalkeeper Tony Meola was named ADT Defender of the Year and midfielder Chris Klein was named Humanitarian of the Year. Following the Wizards final regular season match on September 20th, Preki was also crowned the Wizards Budweiser Scoring Champion.
Preki led the Wizards in scoring with 24 points (7g, 10a) while taking over the title of Major League Soccer's all-time leading scorer in pushing his career scoring total to 223 points (65g, 93a). Preki returned to the Wizards prior to the 2002 season following a one-year absence while with Miami. A crowd favorite, Preki rejoined the team he led from 1996 through their Championship year in 2000. Preki's trademark left-foot played a pivotal role in the Wizards return to the postseason this season for the third consecutive year.
Tony Meola led the Wizards between the pipes in earning his second Defender of the Year award while with Kansas City. Despite missing time while with the U.S. National Team at the 2002 World Cup in Korea, Meola posted a 1.24 GAA and finished sixth in the league in that category.
Chris Klein earned the Wizards Humanitarian Award for his endless work in the Kansas City community. Klein coaches in the Kansas Premiere Soccer League and is active in helping with various Wizards Youth Soccer Camps. In addition to his work with youth soccer, Klein serves as the Wizards "Trick-or-Treat" for UNICEF spokesperson and will be involved in a several school campaign kick-off events. This year the funds raised by "Trick-or-Treat" UNICEF will support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Klein also actively visits schools and churches and is a dedicated individual who volunteers his time to help others and promote the Kansas City Wizards and Major League Soccer.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 8, 2002
- Galaxy Trio Up for MLS Awards - LA Galaxy
- Mark Chung Named Finalist for Pair of Awards - Colorado Rapids
- Wizards Wrap Up Demanding 2002 Season, Experience Success On and Off the Field - Sporting Kansas City
- Earthquakes Forward Landon Donovan Wins 2002 Honda Player of The Year Award - San Jose Earthquakes
- Chris Klein Nominated for Two MLS Awards, Wizards Earn MLS Fair Play Team Award - Sporting Kansas City
- Fire's Bocanegra and Kelly Named Finalists for MLS Awards - Chicago Fire FC
- Martino Named Rookie of the Year Finalist - Columbus Crew SC
- Three MetroStars Among Finalists For MLS Postseason Awards - New York Red Bulls
- Pareja Undergoes Successful Surgery; Jeffries Finalist For MLS Coach of the Year - FC Dallas
- Year-End Awards Finalists Announced - MLS
- Show Us Your Gold, Columbus Continues Wednesday - Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United in the Community - D.C. United
- MetroStars To Make Head Coaching Change - New York Red Bulls
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