D.C. United announces preseason California friendlies

Black-and-Red will face Ventura County Fusion, UCSB, and Chivas USA during West Coast trip

Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2011) - D.C. United announced today an updated preseason friendly schedule for its trip to Ventura, Calif. beginning February 16. The Black-and-Red are currently training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. until Sunday, February 13. On Monday, February 7, the Black-and-Red defeated Canada’s Under-20 side 5-1 behind a Joseph Ngwenya hat trick. United rounds out its stay in South Florida with a friendly against Florida International University this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. ET, followed by a match with Trinidad and Tobago’s U-20’s on Saturday, February 12 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
      
Following two off days in Washington, United will train on the West Coast from February 16 until February 26.  The Black-and-Red are set to train at Oxnard College, with a local match against Premier Development League side Ventura County Fusion slated for Saturday, February 19 at 3:30 p.m. PT. On Tuesday, February 22, United will head to the University of California Santa Barbara for a friendly match at Harder Stadium. Kickoff for that match will take place at 7:00 p.m. PT. Lastly, the club will finish off its stay in California with a friendly at the Home Depot Center training fields against Chivas USA. That game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PT on Friday, February 25.

 United heads back to Washington for four days before traveling to Charleston, SC. on March 3, where the club will make its sixth appearance in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Hosted by the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium, D.C. is set to face MLS foes Toronto FC and Chicago Fire along with the host club. United claimed the 2010 Challenge Cup, and Ben Olsen’s team will aim to replicate this feat when it takes on Charleston on March 5 (7:15 p.m. ET), followed by Chicago on March 9 (5:00 p.m. ET). The Black-and-Red concludes the tournament on March 12 (5:00 p.m. ET) against Toronto FC. 

The players return to Washington permanently on March 13, where United will make final preparations for the MLS regular season opener at home against Columbus on Saturday, March 19. Kick-off for the opener is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

D.C. United 2011 Preseason Schedule (all times EST):
January 31 - February 12:  Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
February 7: Match vs. Canada U-20’s; D.C. United 5 - Canada U-20’s 1
February 9: Match vs. Florida International University (4:00 p.m.)
February 12: Match vs. Trinidad and Tobago U-20’s (9:30 a.m.)
February 14 - February 15: Players off in Washington, DC
February 16 - February 26: Ventura, Calif.
February 19: Match vs. Ventura County Fusion (6:30 p.m.)
February 22: Match vs. UCSB (7:00 p.m.)
February 25: Match vs. Chivas USA (12:00 p.m.)
February 27 - February 28: Players off in Washington, DC
March 1 - March 2: Training in Washington, DC
March 3: Travel to Charleston, SC
March 5:  Match vs. Charleston Battery (7:15 p.m.)
March 9:  Match vs. Chicago Fire (5:00 p.m.)
March 12: Match vs. Toronto FC (5:00 p.m.)
March 14 - March 18: Training in Washington, DC
March 19:  Season-opening home match versus Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m.)
* All kickoff times are local

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