Hot off the exciting 4-1 win over reigning MLS Cup-champion Colorado on Sunday (June 26), the Crew (6-4-6, 24 pts.) begins a two-game road trip in Dallas with the second and deciding match of the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup against FC Dallas this Saturday, July 2, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
The match will be televised live regionally on ONN starting at 9 p.m. (ET), with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action. The game can be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
The Crew, which fell to the Richmond Kickers (USL PRO), 2-1 Tuesday (June 28), in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, is coming off back-to-back league wins that have moved the Black & Gold into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference.
The win over Colorado marked the first time the Crew scored four goals in a league match since Sept. 9, 2008 when it defeated the New England Revolution 4-0. Forward Andres Mendoza recorded his second two-goal game of the season, having previously scored twice in the 3-3 draw against Chivas USA on May 28, and his total of seven goals is now just one off the league lead.
Also coming off back-to-back wins (2-1 at Chivas USA on June 18 and 4-0 vs. Portland on June 25), FC Dallas has gone 9-2-3 this season since falling to the Crew, 2-0 on April 1, in the first leg of the Pioneer Cup, with Mendoza and Eddie Gaven scoring the goals in that one. The winner of the home-and-home Pioneer Cup series will be determined by aggregate goals, meaning the team with the most goals scored at the end of the two-match series will win the Pioneer Cup.
One of the founding fathers of American sports, Lamar Hunt pioneered the rise of soccer in the United States. As one of the founding investors in Major League Soccer, Lamar Hunt was a visionary and catalyst for the inception, growth and success of MLS. His legacy in soccer in North America lives on in the two professional teams owned and operated by the Hunt family: the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas. In honor of Lamar Hunt, who was often referred to as a “Pioneer” in American sports, the Crew and FC Dallas are launched an annual, regular season competitive tribute series called the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup.
Midfielder Brek Shea leads the Toros’ scoring with seven goals while Andrew Jacobson and Marvin Chaves share the team lead in assists with four.
The Crew will continue its two-game road trip on Wednesday, July 6, when it makes its first-ever trip to Vancouver, B.C., to take on Whitecaps FC. The match will take place at Empire Field at 10 p.m. (ET).
COLUMBUS CREW at FC Dallas
Saturday, July 2 – 9 p.m. (ET) – Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
National Television: N/A; Regional Television: ONN
Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com (English)
CREW PUB TOUR PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER CONTINUES THIS SATURDAY AT JIMMY V’S IN GRANDVIEW
Join your fellow fans at Jimmy V’s Grill and Pub in Grandview (1788 W 5th Ave, 43212) to cheer on the Crew as it takes on the FC Dallas this Saturday, July 2, at 9 p.m. There will be prizes and giveaways including a chance to win tickets to future Crew home games.
ANDRES MENDOZA AND RICH BALCHAN NAMED TO MLSSOCCER.COM TEAM OF THE WEEK
Midflieder Rich Balchan and forward Andres Mendoza were both named to MLSSoccer.com’s team of the week. Balchan has been instrumental since his move to the defensive midfielder position against New York on June 4, and delivered an exceptional performance in the 4-1 win over Colorado on Sunday (June 26). Mendoza’s two-goal night against Colorado earned him a spot on Week 15’s best XI and several votes for player of the week, as well.
CREW AND McBRIDE ATTACKING SOCCER ACADEMY OFFERING SPECIAL CAMPS JULY 14-16
The Crew has partnered with club icon Brian McBride and his Attacking Soccer Academy on a pair of camps in Columbus from July 14-16. Two separate three-day camps will be offered for boys ages 13-18 and girls ages 13-16 at the Value City Fields at Easton. McBride will also be honored for his many contributions to the Crew in a halftime celebration on July 16 as the Black & Gold takes on San Jose. McBride was the first player selected by the Crew (and overall) in the 1996 Inaugural MLS Draft, and he went on to put together a transcendent eight-year career in Black & Gold, followed by nearly five high-scoring years with Fulham FC of the English Premier League. He concluded his career with the Chicago Fire in 2010 and founded McBride Attacking Soccer Academy. For more information on the McBride camps and to register, visit http://www.thecrewyouth.com/CrewCampsClinics/535839.html <http://www.thecrewyouth.com/CrewCampsClinics/535839.html>
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY BOWS OUT OF U.S. SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY PLAYOFFS
After qualifying for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, both Crew Soccer Academy teams bowed out of the tournament this week. After winning their division in regular season, the 15/16s lost 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders FC on June 25, convincingly defeated D.C. United Academy 3-0 on June 26 behind two goals from Ray Olavarria and one from Tom Granot, and defeated Empire United 1-0 on June 28 with Granot scoring the game-winner, but six points was not enough to advance. The 17/18s started the playoffs strong by defeating the Charlotte Soccer Academy 3-2, on June 24, with goals from Wil Trapp, Zach Leedom and Mike DiCesare. Unfortunately they lost the following two matches by dropping a 4-0 decision to the Dallas Texans on June 25, and falling to Arsenal FC, 2-0, on June 27
CREW JUNIORS U19s BOW OUT OF REGIONALS DESPITE A WIN AND TWO DRAWS
The Crew Juniors U19s, who won last year’s McGuire Cup National Championship, the final step of the 2010 US Youth National Championship Series, were unable to get past the 2011 US Youth Region II finals this past weekend despite drawing two games and winning one. The U19s, coached by Crew technical director Brian Bliss, finished second in their group with five points after drawing the St. Croix Devils of Minnesota 1-1 with a goal by Kofi Agyapong, defeating Illinois 3-2 with goals by Tyler Ranalli, William Walker and Alexander Obbey and drawing the Des Moines Menace 1-1 with a goal by Matthew Walker
CREW PICK 3-PACKS OFFER DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO CREW FANS AT LOW PRICES
There’s a Crew Pick 3-Pack perfect for every fan. Starting at only $22 per game, which is a $15 savings off the day-of-game price, fans can choose between the Crew Premier Game 3-Pack, the Crew Family Summer 3-Pack or Crew $1 Beer/Brat 3-Pack all with different advantageous offers. Click here to view the Crew Pick 3-Packs.
COLE GROSSMAN SCORES HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL GOAL AND TWO OTHERS MAKE THEIR CREW DEBUT
Midfielder Cole Grossman recorded his first goal as a professional in the 2-1 loss to the Richmond Kickers ON Tuesday night (June 28). Grossman, who has yet to appear in a regular season match, made his debut in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals against Real Salt Lake last February 22. Defender Korey Veeder and midfielder Santiago Prim, who was returning from an ankle injury, made their Crew debbut in competitive play going 88 and 59 minutes respectively.
CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC TO BE HELD ON SEPT. 19
The Crew Soccer Foundation will hold its Golf Classic at Heritage Golf Club on Sept. 19. Participants will have a chance to test their skills against Crew players on a challenging and beautiful course designed by famed architect P.B. Dye. A variety of single and foursome packages are available, including a VIP foursome package which will allow participants to play with a Crew player (subject to availability). To register for the Crew Soccer Foundation Golf Classic, visit www.thecrew.com/golf <http://www.thecrew.com/golf> .
SIX CREW PLAYERS VYING FOR SPOTS IN STARTING XI IN MLS ALL-STAR GAME ON-LINE BALLOTING
Chad Marshall, Robbie Rogers, William Hesmer, Eddie Gaven, Emmanuel Ekpo and Emilio Renteria are the six Crew players selected to be on the All-Star fan ballot. A total of 32 All-Stars are named each year. Media, fans, players, the All-Star coach and MLS Commissioner Don Garber all contribute in the All-Star selection process. Fans can vote for the “First XI” online at MLSSoccer.com, via text message and, for the first time, via Twitter. For more information visit www.MLSSoccer.com/all-star .
U.S. U17 MNT CLOSES OUT GROUP PLAY IN SECOND PLACE FACES GERMANY NEXT
The United States U17 National Team advanced out of group stage in the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico. The U.S., which features Crew Soccer Academy product Andrew Souders, finished second in Group D. They will now face youth powerhouse Germany in the round of 16 on June 30. Souders, a defender, has been available for selection on the 18-man roster but has yet to see action.
MIDFIELDER COLE GROSSMAN ON CREWXTRA THIS WEDNESDAY
CrewXtra, the weekly show on ONN Wednesdays at 8, 8:30, 11 and 11:30 p.m., this week will feature Crew midfielder Cole Grossman, who scored the club’s lone goal in its U.S. Open Cup match vs. Richmond on Tuesday, alongside Crew Voice Dwight Burgess, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch, and host Beau Bishop, as they discuss last week’s match against Colorado, the Open Cup match and the upcoming trip to Dallas and Vancouver.
