With most MLS teams on hiatus from regular-season league action due to international FIFA dates, the Crew will play host to a MLS Reserve League match vs. the New England Revolution this Sunday, June 10, at Crew Stadium. The match kicks off at 10 a.m. and is free and open to the public.
The Crew has enjoyed tremendous success since the Reserve League returned for the 2011 season. After opening last season with a 3-1 loss at D.C. United, the Black & Gold went on to win the rest of its matches to capture the 2011 MLS Reserve League East Division title with a 9-1-0 record.
The Crew is off to another strong start this season and will enter Sunday’s match with a 3-1-0 record. After losing to the Montreal Impact 2-1 on March 24, the Black & Gold posted three consecutive wins, a 1-0 win at Toronto on March 30, in which Ethan Finlay scored the game-winner; a 2-1 victory over New York, with Aaron Schoenfeld and Justin Meram scoring for the Crew; and a convincing 4-0 defeat of Philadelphia on April 14, in which Emilio Renteria recorded a hat-trick, Cole Grossman added a goal and the Crew ended the match down three men due to ejections.
The Revolution has posted a 1-1-1 record so far, losing their season opener 4-2 to Philadelphia on April 9, drawing D.C. United 0-0 on May 21 and defeating the Montreal Impact 2-1 on June 5. Last season, the Revs lost both Reserve League matches to the Crew – 1-0 on May 9, at Crew Stadium, behind a goal by Meram, and 5-1 on Oct. 16 at Gillette Stadium with a Tommy Heinemann hat-trick and goals by Meram and Kevin Burns.
The Black & Gold returns to MLS regular-season play next Saturday, June 16, as it travels to Foxborough, Mass., to face the Revolution at Gillette Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
VARGAS CALLED IN BY COSTA RICA FOR FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Crew forward Olman Vargas has been called up to represent his native Costa Rica in a pair of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Ticos will face El Salvador at home on June 8, before traveling to face Guyana on June 12. Vargas will rejoin the Crew following the Guyana match and should be available for selection when the Crew travels to New England on June 16.
CREW JUNIORS U-19s WIN THIRD STRAIGHT STATE CUP
The Crew Juniors Under-19s, under the direction of Crew technical director Brian Bliss, captured their third straight OSYSA State Cup title last weekend. On Saturday (June 2), the 19s defeated CUP Crew Juniors, 5-0, in the semifinals, behind goals by Chris Davis, Erik Zavaleta, Matt Walker, Kofi Agyapang and Adam Montague. In the championship match, on Sunday (June 3), they blanked Club Ohio Blast, 3-0, with goals by Zavaleta, Cole Denormandie and Fatai Alashe. The Crew 19s now advance to regionals, which will be held June 23-27 in Saginaw, Mich.
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY CLOSES OUT REGULAR SEASON THIS WEEKEND WITH PLAYOFFS ON THE LINE
The Crew Soccer Academy returned to action last weekend as the teams traveled to Michigan for games against Vardar and the CSA Wolves. On Saturday (June 2), the U-15/16s tied Vardar, 2-2, with goals by William Bayemi and Taylor Scott, while the U-17/18s fell to Vardar, 2-1, with Connor Klekota scoring for CSA. On Sunday (June 3), the 15/16s lost to CSA Wolves, 2-0, but the 17/18s topped the Wolves, 2-0, behind goals from Gavin Craig and David Witkoff. While the 15/16s are out of the U.S. Development Academy League playoff race, the 17/18s have a chance to qualify for postseason play this weekend. Both CSA teams square off against the Cleveland Internationals at the Crew Training Center at Obetz on Sunday, June 10. The 17/18s will kick off at 1 p.m. followed by the 15/16s at 3:30 p.m., and both matches being free and open to the public.
