Crew Notch Two Shut-Out Wins in Final Florida Exhibition

The Crew will head home from Florida Thursday with a 3-2 preseason record after defeating the University of Tampa and the University of Central Florida in a double header of 60-minute exhibition matches at the IMG Academies in Bradenton on Wednesday.

Tampa went down 2-0 in the first game on goals by midfielders Emmanuel Ekpo and Brian Carroll. Kenny Schoeni recorded the clean sheet in goal.

The second match was a lopsided 6-0 affair with Central Florida looking like school boys matched up against the Black & Gold, even with Coach Robert Warzycha mixing up the line up considerably.

Trialists Ty Shipalane and Jordan Seabrook both scored. Hebrew Hammer Andy Gruenebaum got the shutout.

The Crew head to Liverpool, England on Wednesday, Feb. 25, to train at the facility of Warzycha’s old Club, Everton and play exhibition games against the Everton and Liverpoll development teams.

Who is the Next Steven Lenhart?

Newbie Score Card: New Columbus Crew Comrades to Follow in 2009.
The record of draftees and trialists in MLS is not all that good. For every Steven Lenhart there are 10 guys you never heard of who tried and failed. Our friends at Crewture cite several sources reporting that the Crew have added another trialist in Jordan Seabrook, as they head to a pre-season double header in Bradenton this Thursday.

Let’s take a look at the main new guys to watch this year. Tell me comrades, who among these men below will rise to the challenge?

SUPERDRAFTERS
Alex Grendi: A promising playmaker, Grendi is a 21-year-old U of Pennsylvania midfielder from Cold Spring Harbor, NY. He was drafted by the Crew in the third round (45th overall) of the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. His 20 career assists put him in a tie for third all-time for the Quakers. Led Penn in assists three of his four seasons and was twice named Offensive MVP.

Chris Clements: A 6’2”, 187 lb defender from Allen, Texas, snatched by the Crew in the SuperDraft from Tulsa, where Clements started in 56 of 60 career games. He posted three goals and one assist for seven points in his senior year.

Paul Gerstenberger: A scrappy, smaller defender whose energy and deep runs make him a scoring threat, this Schenectady, N.Y., native is 6-0, 160 lbs, and earned All-Tournament Team honors at the ACC Tournament for Boston College.

ON TRIAL
Ty Shipalane: Played in 19 matches scoring 3 goals and 1 assist for the Michigan Bucks at midfield. Scored the game winner in the 2006 PDL Championship Game vs. Laredo. A native of Tzaneen, South Africa, Shipalane stands 5’11” at 165 lbs. and is 23 years old.

Anthony Peters: 25-year-old University of Kentucky standout from Baton Rouge, LA. Has labored in small semi-pro clubs since 2005. At 6’4”, 200 lbs, brings a strength and size to the offense as an attacking midfielder/forward.

Jordan Seabrook: A forward from Indianapolis with the University of South Florida. Was let go after being selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids.

El Luchador wishes good luck to all the Newbies.