The Crew (2-1-3, 9 pts.) hosts the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps (1-3-3, 6 pts.) for the first time this Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium. The Black & Gold remains undefeated at home and looks to continue its five-game unbeaten streak overall.
The match will be televised live regionally in ONN with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action and Ashleigh Ignelzi reporting from the sidelines. It will also be broadcast in high definition exclusively to Time Warner Cable Mid-Ohio customers in Columbus on Ch. 1311. The game can be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com, with Neil Sika and John Bluem behind the microphone, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
The Black & Gold is 2-0-1 at home and 2-0-3 in its last five overall, coming off a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the 2011 Trillium Cup against Toronto FC last Saturday (April 23) at BMO Field. Emilio Renteria scored his first goal of 2011 while defender Sebastian Miranda recorded his first MLS assist. The Crew and goalkeeper William Hesmer set a club record for consecutive shutout minutes early in the match, ultimately extending it to 413.
After winning their inaugural MLS match, the Whitecaps went 0-3-3 in its next six, the latest being a 2-1 loss to 2011 MLS Western Conference champ FC Dallas. French striker Eric Hassli and Brazilian forward Camilo share the team-lead in goals scored with three each, while Swiss international Davide Chiumiento’s five assists are the most recorded in MLS so far. Vancouver enters on the heels of its 2011 Nutrilite Canadian Championship opener on Wednesday at Montreal (NASL).
Vancouver features U.S. Men’s National Team standout Jay DeMerit, but the defender may not be available for selection Saturday due to a groin injury. The Crew is 8-3-2, and 3-3-2 at home, against MLS expansion teams in their first season.
The Crew will conclude its two-game home-stand on Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. as it hosts the Seattle Sounders at Crew Stadium.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Saturday, April 30 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Crew Stadium
National Television: N/A; Regional Television: ONN (in HD on TWC Ch. 1311)
Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com (English)
CREW TO HONOR NCAA MEN’S COLLEGE CUP CHAMPION UNIVERSITY OF AKRON ON SATURDAY
The University of Akron's men's soccer team will be recognized at halftime of the Crew’s game vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC this Saturday, April 30. Akron captured the school's first team national championship in any sport last December with a 1-0 victory over Louisville in the College Cup Final in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Zips feature eight Crew Soccer Academy products: captain Chad Barson, Ben Speas, Eric Stevenson, Andrian McAdams, Thomas Schmitt and Kyle Culbertson, along with incoming freshmen Wil Trapp of Gahanna, the 2010 NCSSA National High School Player of the Year, and Khai Celestin of Pickerington.
SPRING SOCCER FESTIVAL FOR CREW SOCCER NATION MEMBERS IS THIS SUNDAY
The Spring Soccer Festival, one of the exclusive benefits of Crew Soccer Nation Gold, Black and Silver memberships, will be held this Sunday, May 1, at Crew Stadium from 1-3 p.m. CSN members will have the opportunity to interact with Crew players and coaches at a variety of stations on the field. Members are asked to bring their CSN credentials, and media is invited to cover the event.
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY 17/18 FORWARD CHRIS DAVIS SCORES GAME-WINNER IN MLS RESERVE GAME
Forward Chris Davis, a Gahanna Lincoln and CSA 17/18 standout, traveled with the first team to Toronto last Saturday (April 23) and played in the MLS Reserve League match at BMO field against Toronto FC reserves. Davis, who will be attending the University of Cincinnati in the fall, netted the game-winning goal in the 2-1 victory over TFC.
CREW SOCCER ROCKS CONTINUES MAY 3 AND 4 IN BALTIMORE AND PATASKALA
Several members of the Crew will travel to Baltimore, Ohio, for a Crew Soccer Rocks clinic Tuesday, May 3, for the Liberty Union Youth Soccer Association at Alt Park (1101 Romulus Rd., Baltimore 43105). The event was rescheduled from April 19, due to inclement weather that day. Approximately 150 youth are expected to participate in the event, which will include a post-clinic autograph signing. Then on Wednesday, May 4, Crew players will hold another Crew Soccer Rocks clinic for the Pataskala Rec Association Soccer League (at 10255 McIntosh Rd., Pataskala 43062).
MIDFIELDER EDDIE GAVEN ON CREWXTRA THIS WEDNESDAY
CrewXtra, the weekly show on ONN Wednesdays at 8, 8:30, 11 and 11:30 p.m., will feature midfielder Eddie Gaven this week, along with the “Voice of the Crew” Dwight Burgess, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch, and host Dan Fronczak, filling in for Beau Bishop, as they discuss last Saturday’s Trillium Cup draw and the upcoming match against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC this Saturday.
TICKETS FOR NEWCASTLE ON SALE NOW
Tickets to the Crew’s international exhibition vs. Newcastle United FC of the English Premier League on Wednesday, July 26, are now on sale. Individual advance ticket prices start at $24 and fans can find tickets at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at TheCrew.com.
