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.