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Wizards still looking for first win

Apr 4, 2009 - 8:37 PM By Nicolino DiBenedetto Stats Writer

San Jose (1-1-0) at Kansas City (0-2-0), 3:00 p.m. EDT

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (AP) -- Kevin Hartman is setting records, but the Kansas City Wizards are still losing.

The Wizards hope Hartman can help them avoid opening a season with three losses in a row for the first time in 10 years Sunday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes.

Hartman set the MLS record for career saves (1,139) by making four stops, but he also allowed a goal in the 74th minute as the Wizards (0-2-0) lost 2-1 at Colorado on March 28. That came seven days after the goalkeeper made five saves in a 3-2 home loss to Toronto.

Hartman also holds the league's all-time records for wins (138), shutouts (77) and games played by a goalkeeper (305).

"Looking beyond the game, it is something I will look back and look really, really fondly on, just like the wins record and shutouts record," Hartman said after the loss to the Rapids.

He'll try to add to some of those totals and help Kansas City avoid a season-opening three-game losing streak for the first time since 1999. That season, the club finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with a franchise-worst 20 points.

The Wizards, who moved to the East in 2005, hope Davy Arnaud's possible return will provide a boost.

Arnaud missed the March 28 match due to neck spasms, and he's listed as questionable. The midfielder scored two long-range goals against Toronto.

If Arnaud is unable to play, the Wizards may opt to give Lance Watson a second consecutive start. The midfielder has played 17 games - six starts - in three-plus MLS seasons after being selected in the second round by Kansas City in the 2006 draft.

Arnaud had a team-high seven goals in 2008, including one in each meeting with San Jose (1-1-0). The teams split those two matchups with the Wizards winning 3-2 at home Oct. 18.

The Quakes open their road schedule looking to build on a 3-2 win over Houston on March 28 after falling 1-0 to New England in their season opener seven days earlier.

Despite the victory over the Dynamo, Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop isn't happy with his club's defensive play.

"In the two goals (Houston scored) they had somebody run with the ball for about 30 or 40 yards unopposed, and I told our guys we can't allow that to happen," Yallop said. "We're still learning as a team."

San Jose allowed the fourth-fewest goals in MLS last season (38) but failed to reach the playoffs. On Sunday, the team will be without central defender Jason Hernandez, who is out with a calf strain.

Cam Weaver looks to continue providing an offensive spark for the Earthquakes after netting the eventual game-winner and adding an assist March 28.

The forward was signed by San Jose from Norway's Haugesund, where he scored 21 goals in 51 games.