Weekly Update: Going back to Cali | MLSSoccer.com (2024)

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

The Kansas City Wizards travel this weekend to face the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Kansas City tied the other LA-based club Chivas USA last Saturday at sold-out CommunityAmerica Ballpark despite finishing the game with nine players due to a pair of ejections. Kansas City is 16-21-7 all-time against the Galaxy, including a 4-13-5 record in road games. Los Angeles features former Wizards midfielder Chris Klein, while the Wizards employ former LA goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. The Wizards will host their weekly press conference Thursday at the team's Swope Park Training Center.

MIDFIELDER ROGER ESPINOZA CALLED TO HONDURAS NATIONAL TEAM:

Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza has been named to the 23-man Honduras roster for a pair of upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Espinoza joins Toronto FC star Amado Guevara as the only MLS players named to Head Coach Reinaldo Rueda squad for games June 6 against the United States in Chicago and June 10 against El Salvador. Espinoza will be available to Wizards Head Coach Curt Onalfo for selection Saturday against the Los Angeles Galaxy before reporting to Honduras camp next Monday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Honduras currently occupies 3rd place in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. If qualification ended today, Honduras would qualify automatically to the 2010 World Cup along with the United States and Costa Rica, while Mexico would play the 5th seeded team from South America's Confederation for a place in the South Africa World Cup. Honduras is 1-1-1 after a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica, a 1-1 tie with Trinidad and Tobago and a 3-1 win over Mexico.

Espinoza earned his first appearance for his birth nation Jan. 22 in Honduras' first game of the 2009 UNCAF (Central American Football Union) Nations Cup. Espinoza appeared three times during the five-game tournament, scoring his first goal in the 3rd place match to give Honduras a 1-0 win. Espinoza stayed with the National Team for a World Cup Qualifying loss to Costa Rica Feb. 11 but did not make the game roster. Espinoza was then called to Honduras camp again for a pair of qualifiers March 28 against Trinidad and Tobago and April 1 against Mexico. He did not enter either match, though he was on the 18-man roster against Mexico.

WIZARDS PLAYERS NOMINATED FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK, SAVE OF THE WEEK:

Wizards striker Claudio Lopez has earned a nomination for the MLS Goal of the Week honor, and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman is up for the new MLS Save of the Week award. Lopez struck a perfectly placed free kick into the upper-right corner Saturday against Chivas USA in a 1-1 draw. Hartman is nominated for a first-half save on a dipping drive off the foot of Chivas USA and U.S. National Team star Sacha Kljestan. Vote for Goal of the Week
here
and Save of the Week
here
.

JUNE 6 MATCH FEATURES FAITH AND FAMILY NIGHT, GIRL SCOUT GROUP OUTING:

On Saturday, June 6, the Kansas City Wizards will host Faith and Family Night as the rival Columbus Crew comes to CommunityAmerica Ballpark for a match at 7:30 p.m. CT. Wizards forward Adam Cristman will address participating fans after the game about his faith.

Members of the local Girl Scouts will also attend the match June 6. The Scouts will gather early in the day at Dave and Buster's across the street from the stadium at The Legends, then arrive early to CommunityAmerica Ballpark for a pre-match clinic. All participants will be able to take part in the Human Tunnel before the match, and Scouts receiving a Gold or Silver Award will be recognized on the field prior to the match.

WIZARDS SUPERLIGA SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED:

The Kansas City Wizards will participate in the 3rd edition of SuperLiga™, the competition that brings the USA-Mexico soccer rivalry to the club level. SuperLiga pits four MLS clubs and four clubs from the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Primera Division against one another. Kansas City has history with both of its opening-round opponents from Mexico's top flight, Club Santos Laguna and FC Atlas. The Wizards will play one home SuperLiga game at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and one in St. Louis, Mo.

SuperLiga™ 2009 Schedule*

(All Times Eastern) / * Subject to change

Saturday, June 20

Chicago Fire vs. San Luis (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, Ill) 20:00

Chivas USA vs. Tigres UANL (The Home Depot Center - Carson, Calif.) 22:00

Sunday, June 21
Kansas City Wizards vs. Atlas (Robert R. Hermann Stadium at St. Louis University - St. Louis, Mo.) 16:30

BUY TICKETS TODAY FOR SUPERLIGA MATCH VERSUS SANTOS LAGUNA:

Sunday, June 28, Mexican First Division side Santos Laguna comes to town with famed Mexico National Team goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. The match counts as "Special Game A" in Kansas City Wizards season ticket packages. Single-game tickets are available for purchase by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visiting
www.ticketmaster.com/kcwizards
. The Wizards will also offer a special 2-game package that includes:

One (1) ticket to the match against Santos Laguna

One (1) ticket to the match Aug. 16 against former Santos player Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire

One (1) limited-edition T-shirt.

Packages start at $30 and are available in all seating categories. Call the Wizards at (913) 387-3400 for more information.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR SUPERLIGA MATCH IN ST. LOUIS AGAINST FC ATLAS:

Tickets are now available for the match Sunday, June 21 when the Kansas City Wizards take on FC Atlas of the Mexican First Division at Robert R. Hermann Stadium at St. Louis University. The match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. CT, with tickets starting at $20. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Tickets now available in St. Louis at all MetroTix locations. Charge by phone (314) 534-1111 or online at metrotix.com. Tickets and information also available by calling the Kansas City Wizards toll free at (877) 828-7222.

Ticket Pricing:

$35 for Zone 1 (Center Midfield) **

$30 for Zone 2 (Sidelines) **

$20 for Zone 3 (Goal Line)

** Includes a ticket voucher to select Wizards game in Kansas City

WIZARDS, HEARTLAND SOCCER ASSOCIATION KICKOFF PARTNERSHIP:

The Kansas City Wizards and Heartland Soccer Association (Heartland) announced a major strategic partnership last Thursday that will help both organizations promote the game of soccer in the Kansas City area and increase participation in the sport. The organizations then joined together Sunday during the Kansas City Invitational tournament at Heritage Soccer Park for an event to kickoff the partnership. Wizards players and coaches appeared at Heritage Park between 12:30 - 5:00 p.m., conducting demonstrations for young soccer players, signing autographs and discussing strategy with coaches, players and parents. Pictures from the event are available to media members. Contact Kyle Rogers for more information at (913) 568-2213 or
krogers@kcwizards.com
.

THE JIMMY CONRAD SHOW RETURNS WEDNESDAY:

The Jimmy Conrad Show
, presented by Budweiser, will air Wednesday night on Sports Radio 810 WHB from 7-8 p.m. CT and simulcast online at kcwizards.com. The show will be broadcast live from Fox and Hound English Pub & Grill in Overland Park, Kan. Fans are encouraged to watch the show live in person for a chance to win great prizes. This week, rookies Matt Besler and Graham Zusi will join Conrad for their first-ever appearances on the program.

Fox and Hound English Pub & Grille - Overland Park
10428 Metcalf
Indian Creek Shopping Center
Overland Park, KS 66212
Phone: (913) 649-1700

In 2009, the Wizards will take registrations from fans at each edition of the Jimmy Conrad Show for month-end drawings. Prizes will include Field Side Reserved tickets, a clinic from a Wizards player, a Football/Futbol double-header package and a VIP Meet & Greet session after a training session. Each fan can enter that month's drawing each time they attend The Jimmy Conrad Show.

The Jimmy Conrad Show will be held at different bars throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. The show will run from 7-8 p.m. CT each week except for a small number of nights when the time will change due to programming conflicts on Sports Radio 810 WHB.

Month	Prize	Winner
April	2 Field Side Reserved tickets to Kansas City Wizards vs. D.C. United May 6	Matt Fulton
May	VIP Meet & Greet session for 10 at a Wizards practice
June	4 Terrace Table tickets to Kansas City Wizards vs. Houston Dynamo July 4
July	Youth-team clinic with a Kansas City Wizards player
August	Football/Futbol Double-Header package including KU, K-State or MU Football tickets
September	2 Field Side Reserved tickets to Kansas City Wizards vs. Colorado Rapids Sept. 26
October	Autographed Wizards jersey and on-field VIP experience at 2009 playoff game

Fans can download archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show from the podcast page at kcwizards.com.

SPANISH-LANGUAGE COACH'S SHOW AIRS THURSDAY ON 1480 AM:

Wizards Head Coach Curt Onalfo will join Enrique Morales Thursday at 5 p.m. CT for his weekly Spanish-language coach's show on Ke Buena 1480 AM. Spanish-speaking fans are encouraged to listen for a recap of last week's game against Chivas USA and a look ahead to Saturday's match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

DYNAMO TO ATTEND BROOKSIDE SOCCER CLUB EVENT:

Who:
Mascot Dynamo the Dragon

When:
Friday, May 29; 6:15-7:45 p.m.

Where:
Swope Park Training Facility, Kansas City, MO

What:
Dynamo the Dragon will attend the re-scheduled Brookside Soccer's End-of-the-Season Fun Night. He will be kicking the ball around with the little ones and congratulating them on their successful seasons.