After a two-game road trip that saw forward Jeff Cunningham set the Crew’s all-time goal-scoring record and tie the all-time MLS mark with a 90th-minute game-winner at Vancouver last Wednesday (July 6), the Black & Gold returns home to host Western Conference foe San Jose this Saturday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium.
The match will be televised live regionally on ONN with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action and Katie Witham 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 centerpiece of the evening will be the induction of Crew icon Brian McBride into the club’s new Circle of Honor. McBride will be honored at halftime, with a ceremony that will recap his many contributions to the Black & Gold and unveil a new permanent presence within the stadium. While in town, McBride and his Attacking Soccer Academy are partnering with the Crew on two three-day camps from July 14-16.
The Crew (7-5-6, 27 pts.), sits in second place in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind co-leaders New York and Philadelphia. A Crew win, coupled with a loss or a tie by New York at Chivas USA later Saturday, will put the Black & Gold in first place in advance of Philadelphia’s visit to New England on Sunday. In its thrilling 1-0 win at Vancouver on July 6, Cunningham’s 63rd goal with the club and 133rd of his MLS career moved him into tie with Jaime Moreno atop the league’s all-time list, while goalkeeper William Hesmer earned the 40th shutout of his MLS career (39th with Crew).
This is the second meeting of the season between the Crew and ‘Quakes, after the Black & Gold suffered a 3-0 setback at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on May 14. The Crew’s all-time record against San Jose is 18-13-3 and 12-3-1 when at home. The lone tie at Crew Stadium was last season’s scoreless affair on Oct. 2.
The Earthquakes are coming off a 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union last Saturday, July 9, and are led offensively by 2010 Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski who has scored six goals so far this season. Former Crew forward Steven Lenhart follows him with five tallies.
Crew fans will also remember goalkeeper Jon Busch, who spent five seasons in Black & Gold, as well as former Pickerington High School star Chris Leitch, who had stints with his hometown team in 2002 and 2006.
Next up, the Crew travels to Southern California to face the Western Conference-leading LA Galaxy on July 20, before returning home to host the Portland Timbers for the first time in club history on Saturday, July 23.
COLUMBUS CREW vs San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, July 16 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Crew Stadium
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)
McBRIDE TO BE INDUCTED INTO CREW’S CIRCLE OF HONOR SATURDAY, ON HEELS OF THREE-DAY CAMPS IN MARKET
Crew icon Brian McBride will be inducted into the club’s new Circle of Honor – the first such honoree – at halftime of this Saturday’s (July 16) game vs. San Jose, in recognition of his many contributions and accomplishments. 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. The Crew has partnered with McBride and his academy on a pair of camps in Columbus from July 14-16. Two separate three-day camps are being conducted for boys ages 13-18 and girls ages 13-16 at the Value City Fields at Easton (visit TheCrew.com or TheCrewYouth.com for more details).
SATURDAY IS TEAM POSTER NIGHT PRESENTED BY PANERA BREAD
Fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a team poster courtesy of Crew partner Panera Bread, while supplies last. In addition to sponsoring the poster, Panera has also partnered with the Crew on a contest called “Panera Bread Youth on the Pitch” that will send 10 youth soccer teams to Saturday’s match. Each team will receive 25 tickets and be taken onto the field for a pregame photo, then also be recognized on the video board at halftime.
CREW JUNIORS SUPER 20s FINISH 8-0-1 AND QUALIFY FOR USL SUPER 20 FINALS
The Crew Juniors Super 20s punched their ticket for a repeat trip to the USL Super 20 League Finals with a victory in their Midwest Division finale, a 4-1 decision over the Dayton Dutch Lions on July 7. The Super 20s, coached by Crew technical director Brian Bliss, finished the regular season on top of their division with a record of 8-0-1 and 25 points. The USL Super 20 League Finals will take place July 21-24 in Tampa, Fla. The Crew will be looking to repeat as national champions.
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY’S WIL TRAPP AND BILLY THOMPSON HONORED BY U.S.SOCCER
The Crew Soccer Academy seasons may have come to a close recently at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Tournament, but talent from both teams has been recognized with year-end awards. Midfielder Wil Trapp, a stalwart on the 17/18s and incoming freshman at the University of Akron, was named to the 17/18 Development Academy Starting XI. Crew Juniors Director of Coaching and former Crew midfielder Billy Thompson (1996-2000) was named 15/16 Central Conference Coach of the Year after leading the 15/16s to a stellar season in the Central Lakes Division.
GOALKEEPER WILLIAM HESMER TO VISIT COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY ON FRIDAY
William Hesmer, who recorded the 40th shutout of his MLS career on July 6 (39 with Crew), will visit the Columbus Metropolitan Library (96 S. Grant Street) this Friday, July 15, from 2-3 p.m., as part of the 2011 Summer Reading Club: “Be a Hero, Read”. Hesmer will speak to young children about the importance of reading and read a couple of books with them, as well as sign some autographs.
TICKETS FOR NEWCASTLE MATCH STILL AVAILABLE
Tickets to the Crew’s international exhibition vs. Newcastle United FC of the English Premier League on Tuesday, July 26, are still available. 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.
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. Crew Pick 3-Packs can be found on the Crew’s website at http://www.thecrew.com/content/crew-pick-3-packs.
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> .
CREW MIDFIELDER DILLY DUKA 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 Dilly Duka, alongside Crew radio man Neil Sika, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch, and host Beau Bishop, as they discuss last week’s match at Vancouver and the upcoming match on Saturday against San Jose.
