The 2003 Season

We're on to the 2003 season.

1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002

The 2003 season saw the Wizards return to form, finishing second in the Western Conference and making it to the conference finals in the playoffs. Facing off against San Jose in the Western Conference finals, the Wizards had taken a 2-1 lead thanks to Chris Klein. The Wizards looked like they'd be on their way to MLS Cup for the second time in history, but San Jose came back with an 83rd minute equalizer from Brian Mullan, and then a Golden Goal by Landon Donovan 3 minutes before it went to PKs ended the Wizards season, 3-2. That score line came into play the next season when the 2 met in the first round of the playoffs, in a 2 legged affair. San Jose won the first leg 2-0 and looked to eliminate the Wizards. In the second leg at Arrowhead though a Khari Stephenson strike, a Brian Ching own goal, and a Jack Jewsbury goal deep into stoppage time helped the Wizards reverse the score line from the previous season.

The number in parenthesis after the goal total is the players change in position from the year before. Pictures on this entry will only be of players who are making their first appearance on the list, for pictures of each player, check previous entries.

1. Preki - 69 (-)

2. Mo Johnston - 31 (-)

3T. Chris Klein - 28 (+1)

3T. Vitalis "Digital" Takawira - 28 (-)

5. Mark Chung - 20 (-)

6. Chris Brown - 15 (-)

7. Matt McKeon - 13 (-1)

8T. Miklos Molnar - 12 (-)

8T. Chris Henderson - 12 (-)

10T. Igor Simutenkov - 11 (+6)

10T. Paul Wright - 11 (-)

12. Francisco Gomez - 10 (-1)

13T. Roy Lassister - 7 (-2)

13T. Frank Klopas - 7 (-2)

15. Dario Fabbro - 6 (-1)

16T. Kerry Zavagnin - 5 (-)

16T. Stephen Armstrong - 5 (N/A) - The South African Armstrong in his second season with the Wizards broke into the top 20 with 2 more goals in the 2003 season to go along with the 3 he scored in 2002.




















16T. Gary Glasgow - 5 (-1)

19T. Jimmy Conrad - 4 (N/A) - Now a first choice national team player and captain in the friendly against Denmark, Jimmy was traded to the Wizards before the 2003 season and since then has been a force in the Wizards defense, three times being named to the MLS Best XI as well as winning MLS defender of the year in 2005.












19T. Onandi Lowe - 4 (-3)

19T. Alex Bunbury - 4 (-3)

19T. Alexi Lalas - 4 (-3)

19T. Paul Rideout - 4 (-3)

19T. Mike Sorber - 4 (-3)

No one dropped off this season, but it's the last for the last 5, all of whom were able to score 4 goals in one season, but either retired, left, or didn't produce again for the Wizards.