The Crew travels to Houston for the first intra-conference match against the Dynamo this Saturday, June 18, at 8:30 p.m. (ET) at Robertson Stadium. Houston was moved to the Eastern Conference for this season with the arrival of Portland and Vancouver in the West. The two clubs are tied for third place in the Eastern Conference but the Crew has a game in hand over its rival.
The match will be televised live regionally on ONN 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 is coming off its first home loss of the season, as it conceded a stoppage-time goal and fell to the Chicago Fire, 1-0, on Sunday (June 12). With a record of 3-2-5 against the Dynamo, the Black & Gold is looking for its first road win of the season, as well as its first win ever at Robertson Stadium. The last time the two clubs met in regular season, at Crew Stadium last July 24, the Crew convincingly defeated the Dynamo, 3-0, behind goals by Emilio Renteria, Andy Iro and Leandre Griffit.
The Crew most recently met the Dynamo in a pair of preseason matches. On Feb. 17, the Black & Gold suffered a 4-2 loss in Phoenix, Ariz., while on March 11, it topped Houston, 1-0, in Atlanta on an Andres Mendoza goal assisted by Sebastian Miranda.
The Dynamo enters the match on the heels of a 2-1 win against Chivas USA at Robertson Stadium last Saturday (June 11). Forwards Cam Weaver and Will Bruin share the team lead in goals scored with four each while midfielder Brad Davis leads the team and the league in assists with nine. Its roster also features former Crew forward Jason Garey. The Dynamo is a very strong team on set pieces with seven of its nine goals coming off of corner or free kicks and the Crew will look to defend well in those situations.
Following Saturday’s game, the Black & Gold will return home to play host to the 2010 MLS Cup-champion Colorado Rapids on Sunday, June 26, at 8 p.m., in a rematch of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
COLUMBUS CREW at Houston Dynamo
Saturday, June 18 – 8:30 p.m. (ET) – Robertson Stadium
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 KEYSTONE PUB IN POLARIS
Join your fellow fans at Keystone Pub (1081 Gemini Place, 43240) to cheer on the Crew as it takes on the Houston Dynamo this Saturday, June 18, at 8:30 p.m. There will be prizes and giveaways including a chance to win tickets to future Crew home games. Visit the Pub Tour page.
ALL-STAR VOTING IS NOW OPEN, WITH SIX CREW PLAYERS VYING FOR SPOTS IN STARTING XI
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.
CSA 15/16s WIN GREAT LAKES DIVISION OF U.S. SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY, ADVANCE TO PLAYOFFS
The Crew Soccer Academy’s 15/16s played their last two matches of the USSDA regular season and convincingly stayed on top of the league’s Great Lakes Division. On Saturday (June 11), they defeated the Chicago Magic, 2-1, behind a brace by Ray Olavarria. On Sunday (June 12), they played the Chicago Fire Academy to a 0-0 draw. The 15/16s now advance to the Development Academy’s playoffs in Frisco, Texas, at the end of the month.
JULIUS JAMES NAMED TO MLSSOCCER.COM TEAM OF THE WEEK
Defender Julius James is the sixth Crew player to be named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. James has been an integral part in the back four since the beginning of the season and is one of three players who has played every minute of every game so far.
CSA 17/18s WIN FINAL TWO MATCHES OF USSDA REGULAR SEASON AND AWAIT THEIR FATE
The CSA 17/18s won both of their matches this past weekend and are now waiting for results in the Texas Division and the So Cal Division next weekend to see if they will advance to the playoffs at the end of the month. On Saturday (June 11), they defeated the Chicago Magic, 2-1, with goals by Michael DiCesare and Chris Davis, who has also been making a name for himself in the MLS Reserve Division, scoring three goals in two matches. On Sunday (June 12), forward Brett Elder tallied both goals in the 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire Academy ending their regular season in third place in the Great Lakes Division.
CREW'S U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PASSBACK PROGRAM CONTINUES ON JUNE 26
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, in partnership with the Crew and Major League Soccer, started collecting new and gently used soccer equipment at Crew Stadium through its Passback program at the Crew’s June 12 match and will do so again June 26 during its match vs. the Colorado Rapids. The equipment collected will then be distributed within our community, to programs including the Kids Inner-City Development Soccer (K.I.D.S.) League and the Near-East Side Inner-City Youth Soccer Program, so that others may enjoy the wonderful sport of soccer. Fans are encouraged to gather up those jerseys, shin guards, shoes, socks and soccer balls and bring them to the Crew's home matches in June to "Share the equipment. Share the Game!"
