Chivas USA Weekly Update: May 30, 2011
 
Chivas USA hosts Wednesday match against Whitecaps and Saturday match against Timbers;
Red-and-White get road point against Columbus; Boyens and Flores grab goals;
Mendoza approaches record; Special ticket offer with Dodgers announced
 
CHIVAS USA FACES OFF AGAINST WHITECAPS ON WEDNESDAY: Chivas USA returns home after a draw in Columbus for a Western Conference contest against the Vancouver Whitecaps.  The Red-and-White have played the first-year MLS side once already this season, a 0-0 draw hosted by the Whitecaps on April 16th. The second and final meeting between the teams kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday and will be broadcast live on FSWest and W Radio 690 AM. Single-game tickets are on sale now, and fans can also take advantage of great rates for Season Seats and multi-game packs, including a special offer of both games this week, all by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visiting cdchivasusa.com.
 
RED-AND-WHITE TAKE A ROAD POINT FROM COLUMBUS: Chivas USA led three times in the match at Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, with goals from Nick LaBrocca, Andrew Boyens and Jorge Flores.  The Crew gained a man advantage after Jorge Flores was sent off for a second caution in the 69th minute and ultimately evened the match at 3-3, forcing both sides to settle for one point.  For more information on the game, including highlights and reactions, please visit cdchivasusa.com. 
 
BOYENS AND FLORES GET THEIR SEASON OPENING GOALS: Nick LaBrocca opened the scoring in the 4th minute of Saturday’s game against the Crew, confidently finishing a Justin Braun cross.  It was LaBrocca’s second goal of the season.  In the 37th minute, defender Andrew Boyens rose high to head home a Heath Pearce corner kick and tallied his first goal for the Red-and-White.  Jorge “Sueño” Flores finished off the Goats scoring in the 57th minute, also notching his first goal of the season, and the fifth of his career. 
 
CHIVAS USA SET TO HOST PORTLAND TIMBERS ON SATURDAY EVENING: In the second match of the week, Chivas USA takes on first-year MLS side, Portland Timbers.  The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday and will be broadcast live on Prime Ticket and W Radio 690 AM.  Chivas USA have never faced the Timbers in MLS play, but met Portland in the US Open Cup earlier this season on March 26th, a 2-0 win for the home Timbers. Single-game tickets are on sale now, and fans can also take advantage of great rates for Season Seats and multi-game packs, including a special offer of both games this week, all by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visiting cdchivasusa.com.
 
MENDOZA APPROACHING CHIVAS USA APPEARANCE RECORD: Francisco ‘Panchito’ Mendoza has now played in 119 games for Chivas USA, getting close to Jonathan Bornstein’s record 123 appearances. Mendoza, the Mexican player with the most all-time Major League Soccer appearances, returned to Chivas USA this season after playing the past two years in Mexico.  The fan favorite and Chivas USA original has appeared in 7 matches this season, and passed Sacha Kljestan’s 114 appearances earlier this year. 
 
YOUTH TEAM TRYOUTS COMING UP IN BELL GARDENS AND SIMI VALLEY: Chivas USA will be holding ‘Sangre Nueva’ Youth Team tryouts coming up this summer at a pair of locations in Southern California. First is a tryout in Bell Gardens on June 3, followed by another tryout in Simi Valley on July 23. Chivas USA coaching staff members will be in attendance at each of these events to assess and evaluate the entire player pool with the goal of finding players for the  Chivas USA Youth Teams. For more information, please visit cdchivasusa.com/youthsoccer/tryouts or call Chivas USA at 310-630-4550.
CHIVAS USA WILL BE AT DODGER STADIUM ON «VIVA LOS DODGERS DAY» JUNE 19: The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chivas USA will offer two ticket packages for the first time ever that include tickets to both a Dodger game on “Viva Los Dodgers Day” (6/19 vs. HOU at 1:10 p.m.) and a Chivas USA match at The Home Depot Center (7/16 vs. New York Red Bulls at 7:30 p.m.). Chivas USA will bring their mobile experience to the “Viva Los Dodgers Day” on June 19th, with a free family festival in lot 6. Chivas USA Brand Ambassadors, the ChivaGirls and the ChivaFighter will be on site. Chivas USA forward Tristan Bowen and midfielder Gerson Mayen will take photos with fans and sign autographs in the “Viva Los Dodgers” autograph tent. Chivas USA defender and member of the US National team Heath Pearce will also throw out the first pitch on June 19 at Dodger Stadium.  For more info, see cdchivasusa.com/tickets/doubleplay
PEARCE PLAYS EVERY MINUTE: Defender Heath Pearce has played every minute so far this season, his first with Chivas USA.  He has started all eleven games, playing a total of 990 minutes.  Ben Zemanski, Ante Jazic and Nick LaBrocca are the only other players to have started all eleven games, but they have each been substituted at least once, leaving the 26-year old Pearce as the only Goat to play every possible minute thus far.
 
‘CHIVAS AT THE PARK’ CONTINUES SATURDAY, JUNE 11 AT BOYLE HEIGHTS RECREATION CENTER: Chivas USA’s popular ‘Chivas at the Park’ program will continue with a session on Saturday, June 11 at Boyle Heights Recreation Center, 933 Mott St., Los Angeles 90023. The clinics offer participating boys and girls ages 5-15 the opportunity to learn soccer techniques and practice drills that highlight teamwork in an environment that promotes the importance of fitness for the entire family.  For only $5 each participant receives 90 minutes of soccer instruction, a Chivas at the Park t-shirt, and a certificate of completion. For more information, please visit the program’s website, or contact Nadia Gonzalez at ngonzalez@cdchivasusa.com.
 
 
FROM CDCHIVASUSA.COM AND OTHERS:
Chivas USA duo off to play for New Zealand for June matches
Seizing the Moment
CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE: JUNE 1-4 *
 
Wednesday, June 1               Chivas USA @ Vancouver Whitecaps, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center (TV: FS West; RADIO: W Radio 690 AM)
Thursday, June 2                     Training, 10:00 a.m., Field 6
Friday, June 3                          Training, 10:00 a.m., Field 6
Saturday, June 4                    Chivas USA @ Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center (TV: Prime Ticket; RADIO: W Radio 690 AM)
 
*Subject to change. For latest information, or if you plan on attending a session, please contact Chivas USA’s Communications Department.
 
cdchivasusa.com