Our Schedule...

The fields have been sloppy (see exhibit A above) with sitting water and a lot of mud and more mosquitoes than I have ever seen in my life.


So I have been asked what the heck we actually do all day. With our games being at 8pm each evening it leaves a lot of free time. We are staying in the hotel with 14 other MLS teams as Houston is not staying in a hotel and Galaxy is staying some where else. So it is an overload of players especially with a lot of meals being here.

We usually have breakfast around 9:30am and then head for a jog/stretch or a pool workout around 11:30am. Lunch is late, 3pm, since our game is so late,we eat later.(not ideal but has worked out) During down time the boys will play video games, watch movies, or we will get really wild and crazy and go to the grocery store. The drive to the fields has been about 1hr with traffic so we head out about 6pm for an 8pm kick-off and then return for dinner around 10:45pm. Then it is wind-down time and ice-bath time. Today we are headed to the MLS All-STAR game which should be pretty exciting. Kick off-7:50pm.

Tough Times in Houston

Chris Tuso a day after surgery. He had six screws, a plate and one VERY large screw put in his ankle. His injury happened in the first match against Galaxy.


We have now played 4 of our 5 games here in Houston and lets just say Kansas has never looked so good. We have had two major injuries, Chris Tuso and Emilio Quezada, and 1-3 players sick per day. There is an awful bug going around the team and hotel and has affected us greatly.

We have had trouble coming together as a team and being organized on the field the last few matches. This, along with injuries and illness has contributed to three loses against Real Salt Lake, NY Red Bulls and NE Revs.

As you may or may not know the team we did put together was a mix of our U18, U16 and players who just made the Juniors so the SUM Cup team had about three weeks to prepare. The bright side is we realized we have a few amazing players coming into the program for the 2010-11 season. Clay Stewart, Cameron Wallace and David Leichty are just a couple of players that have been showing well this week and we are excited to welcome to the Juniors.

Although we are very frustrated after 6days in hot, humid Houston we need to remind ourselves that it isnt always about results and more about development. And we will continue to develop our players in a professional environment.

SUM CUP is in Full Swing

Derek Schrick scores on a free-kick against Galaxy for the game winner.



The KCW Juniors created a U17 team to participate in the annual SUM Cup tournament. We composed a team of current U18 and U16 players and then a few new players who just made the DA teams. The SUM Cup is a tournament that only MLS Juniors team participate in. This year it is in Houston, TX surrounding the ALL-STAR match.

We are in a difficult group with Galaxy, Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake. We were able to find success in our first game last night against Galaxy. We went down 0-1 in the first half and then game back to tie and then win the match 2-1 with both goals coming from Derek Schrick. All three goals, ours and Galaxy's goal all came from free-kicks

Unfortunately, one of our new players, Chris Tuso, got tackled and broke his ankle. He is in a splint right now and will be getting surgery in Houston on Monday. Lets hope for a speedy recovery as we need him back on the field.

We play Red Bulls tonight at 8pm. For updated info click here and for photos here!

U19 KCW Juniors fall to Columbus Crew Juniors

It might have been a preview of a future MLS match-up in the Under-19 Boys final between Kansas City Wizards and Crew Juniors (OH-S). Eric Erb scored off a corner to give Crew the 1-0 lead in the 19^th minute and that lead would hold through the first and most of the second half. Crew teammate, Joseph Haught added a second in the 70^th minute. Down 2-0 with time running out Alex Sweetin was a magician in the remaining minutes with goals in the 81^st, off a corner, and in extra time, with a PK, to tie the score for the Wizards at 2-2. In overtime, the Crew, with eight Youth National Team players, made the most of their opportunities and added two goals to the Wizards one, in the 4-3 Crew win. Crew moves on to play for the storied James P. McGuire Cup, awarded to the Under-19 Boys US Youth Soccer National Champion. 2010 marks the 75^th anniversary of the McGuire Cup.

Under-19 Boys
Kansas City Wizards (KS) 3, Crew Juniors (OH-S) 4
CJ - Eric Erb (19:00) | CJ - Joseph Haught (70:00) | CJ - John Wargo (95:00) | CJ - Ryan Lee (107:00) | WIZ - Alex Sweetin (81:00) | WIZ - Alex Sweetin (90:00) | WIZ - Nicholas Aguilar (110:00)

U16s Top Chivas USA, Head Home

Today, our U16s defeated Chivas USA 2-0, but unfortunately the boys are heading home without a place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Round of 8. Lucas Throckmorton opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute, banging home a shot off the post. Then in the 10th minute, Derek Schrick chipped the goalkeeper from 50 yards. Jon Kempin held on for his second straight shutout, but unfortunately the result was not enough to advance.

Heading into the day, we needed the Baltimore Bays (who we lost to 2-1 Friday) to lose (and for goal differential to then end up in our favor) for us to advance. Baltimore took care of business against the Dallas Texans and were one of only two clubs to go a perfect 3-0-0 at the event. Take a look at the full, final standings here.

Former First Team Head Coach Bob Gansler watched today's game. The boys put on a great performance for our first year in the Development Academy. Teams around the country fully respect the KCW Juniors.

Dallas Texans and Pool Work-Out

Last night the U16 Jrs took on the Dallas Texans who were the 2009 National Champs. It was a must win match if we wanted to have a chance to go on to the Finals. As we need to finish 1st in our group; so we need to win tomorrow and need Baltimore Bays to lose. Anyway, it took us about 25mins before we settled down and started actually moving the ball around and looking like a team. Shortly asfter Jordy Rideout scored a goal that was very similar to Friday's goal. Jon Kempin got the ball to Derek Schrick and Rideout chipped the keeper once again. The second half was very physical with Kempin making a few huge saves and one of their players getting a red card. The "extra time" of four minutes honestly felt like an HOUR. But we came away with a 1-0 victory.

Today we started with a pool workout that was comedy. We did jumping jacks, leg kicks, skipping all in the water and then ended the session with some relay races. Konner Knoll was an expert in the back stroke and Romeo Munoz really wanted NOTHING to do with swimming. All in all is was good to get the boys moving on their day off. The rest the day was spent at the mall, movies or visiting colleges (UNC & Duke).

We play Chivas USA tomorrow at 11am so stay TUNED.

Team Dinner and Baltimore Bays

We arrived here is Greensboro on Thursday Mid-day after a very early departure from MCI. Had a few problems at Enterprise Rental car (of course) before finally getting vehicles and driving to the hotel. Jimmy Johns is across the street from the Hyatt and has been the go-to for lunch. And man they are FAST.

Last night(Friday) we played our first match against Baltimore Bays the #1seed. The game was super intense from from the beginning and we got on the board first. Jordan Rideout chipped the keeper and the goal was big time. Minutes later we had a PK after their GK fouled us. Derek Scrick stepped up to take it, but unfortunately it was saved. A few minutes later...they got a PK on us after one of the Bays "flopped" inside our 18.

They converted the PK to equalize the match 1-1. Their were a couple more opportunities created by us in the second half by Lucas Throckmorton and Nate Opperman; but none went in. Bays had a free kick in about the 60min that they converted which made the score 1-2 which stood as the final. Such a bummer, our boys played so well and the game could have gone either way. Our defenders, especially Konner Knoll and Eric DeJulio played amazing along with keeper Jon Kempin.

We play Dallas Texans this evening and we just saw them eating Steak and Shake for lunch...hopefully it has an effect on them! haha