The Wizards took on local college side Baker University in a series of three 30-minute scrimmages this morning at Swope Park. The team was split into two groups, white and yellow, and had a special scoring system setup for the competition: one point for each goal scored, a bonus half point for goals from set pieces, and one point for a shutout.
The white squad opened the competition with an impressive five points in a 3-0 win, led by a goal from rookie Teal Bunbury in the match’s opening minutes. They also gained a full bonus point for set piece goals from Matt Besler on a well-executed free kick and Davy Arnaud’s penalty kick. Jimmy Nielsen earned the shutout point in goal.
The two squads then faced off in an intrasquad match for the next 30 minutes with both squads earning a point in the 0-0 draw. Bunbury nearly scored his second of the day for the white team early on and the crossbar denied a shot from distance by the yellow squad, but Eric Kronberg was the hero late for his save on a header by Shavar Thomas.
The yellow squad finished off the day with two points in a 1-0 win over Baker. Jamar Beasley got the lone goal with a first-time finish from a cross into the middle of the penalty area. Kronberg again kept a clean sheet with Jimmy Conrad anchoring the backline in front of him.
Best of luck to Baker and head coach Nate Houser, a former Kansas City Comets star under Wizards assistant Zoran Savic, in their upcoming season.
In other news, MLS pool goalkeeper Alex Horwath was called up by San Jose after Joe Cannon suffered a broken ankle in training Tuesday. Horwath has been based with Kansas City all season, after becoming a regular at Wizards training last summer while playing with the Kansas City Brass. Horwath worked out one last time this morning before receiving plenty of well wishes from Wizards staff and players before his flight to California tonight.
Wizards Play Baker in 11-v-11
