(Sports Network) - Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad believes last month's 3-0 loss to Columbus was "a rude awakening." The Wizards winless streak reached six games after the loss to the Crew on June 14 and the team was at the bottom of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference.

Conrad, a First XI All-Star, said the team needed to look in the mirror and ask "what kind of season do we want to have? Do we want to let it pass us by or do we really want to make something of it?"

Kansas City hasn't lost since, going 2-0-2 with victories over current Western Conference leader Real Salt Lake and Red Bull New York. The Wizards' draws were on the road at Toronto FC and FC Dallas.

K.C. managed to pull level on points with New York at the bottom of the Eastern Conference - the Red Bulls have one more loss - and have another chance to make a jump up the standings in its last game before the All-Star break Thursday.

And it's only fitting that K.C. plays Columbus, which dropped the Wizards to a new low in early June and has won both of the teams' meetings this season.

Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo was proud his team was able to overcome the long winless streak, which dropped the club to 3-5-3.

"[It was] a very difficult stretch for us," Onalfo said. "I feel proud of the group, and I feel we're a little bit hardened. That's going to help as us we head down the home stretch of the season."

That experience helped Kansas City win its last match against New York, 2-1, in a game Onalfo said was a "must-win."

"We're extremely pleased to get the three points. It puts us right back in the mix," Onalfo said.

Amazingly, K.C. could move past D.C. United and Toronto FC this week with a win over Columbus. The Wizards, who have the second-lowest amount of goals with 14, also get a boost with the addition of U.S. national team forward Josh Wolff.

Wolff was signed recently but had to wait for the transfer window to open July 15 before he could play for the Wizards.

Wolff's arrival gives K.C. a dynamic offensive duo. Argentine Claudio Lopez was signed as a designated player this season and should add to his three goals and three assists playing alongside Wolff.

If the Wizards' offense gets going, it could make a move up the standings. K.C. goalie Kevin Hartman has six shutouts - which is tied with Real's Nick Rimando - for the league lead.

The one team Hartman and K.C. have struggled with is Columbus, which has five goals in the teams' two meetings. Alejandro Moreno had two goals in the 3-0 win last month.

Columbus had its four-match unbeaten streak snapped last Saturday at Real Salt Lake in a 2-0 loss, but the Crew will be motivated to bounce back this week. A win over Kansas City will pull Columbus within three points of first-place New England at the All-Star break.



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