Wizards Beat Baker

In a 60 minute game, with a 30 minute Wizards intrasquad scrimmage in between, the Wizards/Swope Park Rangers defeated Baker University 4-0 today out at the Swope Park training complex. The Wizards opened the scoring through Teal Bunbury who finished from a tight angle in the early part of the game. KC doubled their lead through Matt Besler after a well worked free kick between Davy Arnaud and Chance Myers. KC took a 3-0 lead at the end of the first 30 minutes through Arnaud, who knocked home a penalty kick after Myers was brought down in the box.

In the second 30 minutes, the Wizards played an intrasquad scrimmage that ended up finishing 0-0 with a shot off the cross bar and Eric Kronberg coming up with a nice save on a Shavar Thomas header.

The final 30 minutes, it was against Baker again. Not a lot of scoring took place in the final 30 minutes. The one goal came from Jamar Beasley as he beat him man to a cross an slotted home his shot to give the Wizards a 4-0 win over Baker.

Wizards Beat Baker

Today in a scrimmage out at Swope Park, the Wizards took on Baker University. Like previous midweek friendlies against college teams, it appears the Wizards had the first team play the first half while the Swope Park Rangers played the second half. The Wizards opened the scoring through Kei Kamara who scored the Wizards first two goals, the first on a tap in after Josh Wolff crossed to him. Shortly after Kamara scored a second from the top of the box. Wolff got in on the scoring shortly after when he headed home a rebound to make it 3-0. Davy Arnaud added the fourth as he dribbled in and rounded the keeper before burying it in the net. Before the half ended though, Baker pulled a goal back and went into the half down 4-1.

Full lineups weren't provided, but based off of the goal scorers, the Wizards brought on the Rangers in the second half and they continued to put the ball in the net. The fifth goal will make all our Indian friends happy as Sunil Chhetri found net. Goal number six was apparently a very nice goal from Igor Kostrov who scored directly from a corner kick when the Baker keeper misjudged it with the wind. The scoring was finished up by Santiago Hirsig who found net after chipping the keeper to make it 7-1.

While it's always good to get games in I do have a problem with this game. First is the fact that it's another game against a college team. MLS needs a reserve division really badly, teams get very little out of these games against college kids, most of whom aren't going to be playing soccer anywhere near the Wizards level. My other issue is Coach Peter Vermes playing the first team in these games. With the Wizards out of the US Open Cup, these games are really the only chance for the reserves to get playing time in games outside of practice, let the Rangers get the full 90 minutes and see what you have on your bench.

More Games for the Wizards

In the past I've looked at this website to find preseason games the Wizards are playing, I was checking the website today and noticed there are more games than we had known about. Here is a list of the new games added to the schedule. All the opponents are TBA at this point.

3/11 (Thursday) 7pm at Community America Ballpark
3/16 (Tuesday) 7pm at Community America Ballpark
3/20 (Saturday) 2pm at Swope
3/24 (Wednesday) 10am at Community America Ballpark
3/31 (Wednesday) 10 am at Swope
4/3 (Saturday) 7pm TBD
4/7 (Wednesday) 10 am at Swope
4/14 (Wednesday) 10 am at Swope
4/21 (Wednesday) 10 am at Swope
4/28 (Wednesday) 10 am at Swope

The rumors of the home and home with AC St. Louis are still around, some people are saying the Wizards home leg would be March 20th, some are saying it'll be April 3rd. If this information is correct, it'd appear that March 20th would be the home game while April 3rd would be the Wizards away game in the series. Although the two evening games during the week at CAB could be the home leg as well. The majority of the rest of the games are likely Swope Park Rangers games, especially the ones at 10 am on Wednesday, one of those is likely a game against Baker.

This site isn't always 100% accurate so don't take it as the word of god, but something to think about and look into, especially if you're wanting to go to St. Louis for the home-home series.