The Crew travels to Foxboro, Mass., this Saturday, Oct. 15, to face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. In the thick of a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference, the Black & Gold will look to build on its huge 2-1 win over D.C. United on Oct. 2.
The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and be televised live regionally on ONN (joined in progress, if necessary, upon completion of Post-Game Live programming), with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action. Fans in central Ohio can catch the broadcast in its entirety over the air on WBNS-DT 10.2. The game can be heard in English on 106.7 FM GenX Radio, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova on the call.
The Crew (12-12-8, 44 pts.) entered the week in third place in the Eastern Conference, just three points behind conference-leading Philadelphia and one behind Sporting KC. The combination of a Crew victory on Saturday at New England, a win by either Portland or Houston in their game on Friday (Oct. 14), and a loss by New York at Kansas City on Saturday, would clinch the Black & Gold’s fourth straight spot in the postseason. The top five teams in the East enter this weekend’s action separated by a total of four points.
New England has been eliminated from playoff contention but is not to be underestimated. Led by perennial All-Star Shalrie Joseph, who has eight goals this season, the Revs are certain to want to finish the season strong in their home finale. It will be the second and final meeting of the season between the clubs, with the Crew claiming a 3-1 victory on Aug. 13 at Crew Stadium.
The Crew leads the all-time series against the Revolution with a 27-16-10 record. The last time the Black & Gold visited Gillette Stadium resulted in a comeback 2-2 draw for the Crew, after going down two goals on Sept. 25, 2010.
Columbus will close out the regular season the following weekend, when it travels to Bridgeview, Ill., to face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8:30 p.m. (ET)
COLUMBUS CREW at New England Revolution
Saturday, Oct. 15 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
Regional Television: ONN and WBNS-DT 10.2
Crew Radio: 106.7 FM GenX Radio (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
CREW PUB TOUR PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER CONTINUES THIS SATURDAY AT JIMMY V’S IN GRANDVIEW
Join 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 New England Revolution this Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. There will be prizes and giveaways including a chance to win tickets to future Crew home games. Visit Pub Tour Page
SELECT-A-SEAT EVENT TO BE HELD SUNDAY AT CREW STADIUM
Crew fans interested in becoming 2012 season ticketholders but who don’t know where they’d like to sit – and current season ticketholders looking to relocate or add additional seats to their accounts – are invited to the Crew Select-A-Seat event this Sunday, Oct. 16, from 5-7 p.m. Doors will open early for current Crew season ticketholders. Fans will be able to survey and evaluate available 2012 seat locations – and get a behind-the-scenes look at Crew Stadium – on the final day to receive the best prices on 2012 season tickets, with savings of up to 33 percent off 2011 prices. The CD 101 Ice Cream Truck will be on-site from 5-7 p.m., serving delicious Velvet Ice Cream, and showing Crew proof of purchase will afford the opportunity to enter-to-win a CD 101 Select-a-Big Room Event. Learn More
EKPO AND JAMES FEATURE IN INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
Midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo and defender Julius James are returning from international duty this week. James played the full 90 minutes in a pair of World Cup qualifiers, losing to Bermuda 2-1 on Oct. 7 and routing Barbados 4-0 on Tuesday (Oct. 11). The Soca Warriors will now have to win their crucial match against Guyana on Nov. 11 to advance to the next round of qualifying. Meanwhile, in Watford, England, Ekpo saw 16 minutes of action as a second-half sub in Nigeria's scoreless draw against Ghana on Tuesday. Both players are expected be available for this weekend’s match at New England.
CREW STADIUM TO HOST COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS CITY SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THURSDAY
Crew Stadium will host the 2011 Columbus Public Schools City Soccer Championships this Thursday (Oct. 13). The boys final pits Brookhaven against Centennial at 5:30 p.m., while the first-ever girls title match, featuring Centennial and Whetstone, will follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be priced at $6 at the gate and fans are encouraged to enter from the north, off Silver Drive, in light of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress which is ongoing at the Ohio Expo Center.
CREW TEAM AWARDS CEREMONY AND CASINO NIGHT IS TUESDAY, OCT. 18, AT LC PAVILION
The Crew will hold its 2011 Team Awards Ceremony, presented by adidas, on Tuesday, Oct 18, at 7 p.m. at Lifestyles Community Pavilion. This year’s festivities will once again feature a Casino Night, benefiting the Crew Soccer Foundation, immediately following the Awards Ceremony. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the Awards Ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. and a variety of casino games to follow. The following awards will be presented during the ceremony: Man of the Year, OhioHealth Comeback Player of the Year, Goal of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Budweiser Golden Boot, MLS WORKS/U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, CSF Crew Chiefs Hardest Working Man, Defender of the Year, Coaches Award, Fan of the Year and the Fans’ Choice Award, as well as the Crew Soccer Academy U20, U18 and U16 Players of the Year. Gold Level Crew Soccer Nation members will be admitted free of charge. The general public can purchase tickets for $20 in advance or $25 at the door. A VIP package is available for $100. Package includes private pre-event reception with members of the team (includes hot hors d’oeuvres and beverages), priority seating during the ceremony and an autographed framed 2011 Team poster. All proceeds will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation, the charitable arm of the Columbus Crew. Learn More
COLE GROSSMAN ON CREWXTRA THIS WEEK
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, alongside TV analyst Duncan Oughton and host Beau Bishop, as they discuss the Crew’s Reserve League win over New York on Monday and the upcoming matches in New England and Chicago.
