The Kansas City Wizards announced their team award winners Saturday at halftime of their opening 2008 MLS Cup Playoff match. Kansas City experienced a successful year that included an improved place in the Eastern Conference Standings, a move to a temporary home venue and the opening of a lighted, synthetic turf field at the team's Swope Park Training Center.
After 12 seasons at 79,000-seat Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards moved to temporary home venue CommunityAmerica Ballpark (CAB) while awaiting the opening of a soccer-specific stadium. CAB quickly became one of the toughest places in Major League Soccer for visiting teams to win, as the Wizards posted a 9-2-4 home record in front of loud, supportive crowds. This home field advantage helped the Wizards improve their point total over the 2007 campaign and move up one place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Kansas City also opened another facility, state-of-the-art Field 3 at their Swope Park Training Center. Field 3 is a synthetic-turf surface from FieldTurf with lighting from MUSCO lights. The field allows the Wizards first team to train on any of the three surfaces seen around Major League Soccer: Bermuda natural grass, Bluegrass or synthetic turf. Field 3 also provides a professional-quality field for the members of the KCW Juniors Youth Development Program. The Wizards also increased their community programming when the field became available early in the summer, hosting Verano MLS and the inaugural Mayor's Night Kicks tournament that was a rousing success.
2008 Kansas City Wizards Team Award Winners:
Defender Jimmy Conrad - Team MVP
After a strong 2007 campaign in which Conrad was named the Wizards team Defender of the Year, the 31-year-old has followed up with an even more impressive 2008 season. Conrad serves as the team captain and played an instrumental role in a defense that tied for the MLS lead with 10 shutouts. He has been named one of three finalists for the Visa Defender of the Year, given to the best defender in MLS. Throughout the 30-game regular season, Conrad pulled together a defense that saw eight different starters log time, including just one player (Jack Jewsbury) with more than three years of MLS experience. Three rookies and two second-year players started alongside Conrad on the back line.
Conrad played with the following back-line players, in order of starts, in defense: Michael Harrington (25 starts, 22 years old), Tyson Wahl (15 starts, 24 years old), Aaron Hohlbein (14 starts, 23 years old), Jonathan Leathers (11 starts, 22 years old), Jack Jewsbury (11 starts, 27 years old), Chance Myers (7 starts, 20 years old), Matt Marquess (4 starts, 22 years old). Conrad has been instrumental in the development of these young players while maintaining a stingy defense.
Conrad has also been an attacking threat of historic proportions. Conrad's six goals this season rank second-best among central defenders for a single-season in MLS history. Only Lubos Kubik's 1998 season for the Chicago Fire tops Conrad, and Kubik scored four goals on penalty kicks that year. Conrad played every minute of every game for the Wizards as a central defender. Jay Heaps of New England was the only other field player who logged every minute of the season. Five of Conrad's six goals came off of headers from set-piece situations. His other goal, a stoppage-time equalizer against FC Dallas, came with his feet from close range as the entire team pressed forward looking for a draw.
Midfielder Davy Arnaud - Budweiser Golden Boot & KCW Heart Award
Midfielder Davy Arnaud earned the team's 2008 Budweiser Golden Boot with seven goals for his first-ever team Golden Boot award. Arnaud notched three game-winning goals and one stunning long-range bomb that is currently up for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Year Award. Arnaud's shot against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 13 from a full 35 yards out froze goalkeeper Josh Wicks on his line and buried itself just inside the upper-right corner. Since Sept. 13, the Wizards are 5-1-1 and have outscored their opponents 13-6. Arnaud also recorded three assists on the season and played a large role in the late-season run.
Arnaud also received the 2008 Kansas City Wizards Heart Award for his hard work and dedication. Arnaud came back from off-season microfracture surgery to play a vital role in the success of the Wizards in 2008. Arnaud also won the award in 2007 and is often seen as a leader on and off the field.
Midfielder/Defender Jack Jewsbury - Defensive Player of the Year
Jewsbury was an anchor in the defensive scheme all season, from his time as a right back to his current role as a defensive midfielder. In addition to his ability to shut down opposing attacks, Jewsbury contributed three goals and seven assists this season, which tied for the team lead. His contributions were vital to the Wizards League-leading 10 shutouts and to the late-season playoff push.
The Wizards went 5-1-1 in their last seven matches after Jewsbury moved from right back to a holding midfield role directly in front of the back line. From that position, Jewsbury cut out many attacks from opposing teams and quickly turned the ball into the offensive end for Kansas City. Jewsbury's excellent ball-possession skills have helped defensively as well. When the Wizards maintain possession for long periods of time, it is harder for the opposition to mount significant attacks on goal. His work in the position in front of the back four was a major reason Kansas City allowed only six goals in its final seven games, posting three shutouts during that stretch.
Midfielder Roger Espinoza - Rookie of the Year
Kansas City has seen significant contributions from several young players this season, especially rookie midfielder Roger Espinoza. Espinoza appeared in 22 games (12 starts) and played 1169 minutes this season in a midfield role. Espinoza is a fast, attack-minded player who mans the left side of the field with a nose for goal. He posted one goal and three assists on the season and has troubled defenses regularly since making his first appearance in the third game of the season after suffering a broken foot midway through preseason preparations. Espinoza also appeared in two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, playing 240 minutes.
Espinoza was a first round draft pick in the 2008 SuperDraft and made immediate contributions to the first team. He was among the rookie league leaders in games played (5th), games started (3rd), goals (5th), assists (2nd) and minutes played (4th). Espinoza has shown the ability to play an important role in the Kansas City squad for years to come.
Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman - U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year
Hartman had an outstanding year both on and off the field. In addition to posting a League-leading 10 shutouts and stopping 117 shots, Hartman started his own foundation, the Kevin Hartman Foundation that will donate money to literacy-focused charities of Hartman's choice.
During his time with the Los Angeles Galaxy, he authored a children's book entitled Boots Saves the Day so he could read children a book about soccer when making appearances in schools. With the help of the Wizards, Hartman published the book en masse this season. It is currently available on this page at kcsoccerstore.com. He also presented a book tour around Kansas City for the book during the 2008 campaign and spoke on behalf of several other charities, including: D.A.R.E. (drug use awareness), Nothing But Nets (Malaria awareness/fundraising) and Young Survival Coalition (breast cancer awareness/fundraising). Hartman wore pink goalkeeper jerseys during the Oct. 11 match against the New England Revolution that are currently up for auction at kcwizards.com.
Forward Ivan Trujillo - Reserve Team Player of the Year
Trujillo was a key member of the Reserve Division team that went an impressive 8-1-2 this season. Trujillo contributed six goals and two assists, while starting 10 out of 11 games for the reserves. Trujillo also scored one goal in 17 games for the Wizards first team. He recorded three game-winning goals and one game-winning assist for the KCW Reserves, while his lone MLS goal was a game-winner. He also scored three goals in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play and twice against CSD Municipal of Guatemala in an international friendly.
