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 Columbus Crew SC

Crew Selects Three at MLS SuperDraft Thursday

January 15, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


ST.LOUIS - The MLS Cup-champion Columbus Crew today selected three players in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, held at the St. Louis Convention Center.

The Crew began its day by utilizing its second-round selection (No. 30 overall) on defender Paul Gerstenberger, a product of Boston College. Columbus then tabbed midfielder Alex Grendi from the University of Pennsylvania with its third-round selection (No. 45 overall), before completing its 2009 SuperDraft by selecting defender Chris Clements out of the University of Tulsa in the fourth round (No. 60 overall).

"We are pleased with the three players we were able to select today," said Crew head coach Robert Warzycha. "Gerstenberger is a perfect fit for us, a left-sided defender whose style is very similar to Gino Padula's - and Gino has obviously set a very high standard at that position in our league. He is a good passer, fast and reads the game pretty well.

"Grendi is very skillful and we like his presence. He is also pretty quick, good in the box, shoots well from distance and has good vision. Clements is a big defender we've had on our radar for a while and we thought he was the best player still available."

Gerstenberger, a 6-foot, 21-year old native of Schenectady, N.Y., recorded four goals and 10 assists in 65 games during his four-year career at Boston College. He was selected to the 2007 All-ACC Tournament team and, prior to attending BC, was a NSCAA All-East honoree and NSCAA All-State second teamer during his senior season at Colonie High School. He also participated in two friendlies with the U,S. Under-18 Men's National Team in April 2005.

"I am so excited to be drafted by the Crew," Gerstenberger said. "I was watching on the Web with friends and family and when my name came up on the screen, I was ecstatic. My heart is in my throat. Words can't describe the feeling you get inside when a dream comes true."

Grendi, a 5-11, a 21-year old native of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., notched eight goals and 20 assists in 65 career games at Pennsylvania. He finished his four-year collegiate career third on Penn's all-time assists list, and was twice named the team's Offensive MVP. He was also selected to the All-Ivy League First Team and the NSCAA All-Northeast third team in his senior season, and was also an All-Ivy selection as a sophomore in 2006.

Clements, a 6-2, 21-year old native of Allen, Texas, totaled three goals in 78 career games at the University of Tulsa. He was twice named to the NSCAA All-Midwest first team (2007, 2008), as well as the C-USA All-Conference first team (2007) and second team (2008). He was also selected to the NSCAA/adidas NCAA All-America third team and the C-USA All-Tournament team in 2007. As a sophomore in 2006, he was a C-USA All-Conference third team selection and was also a member of the C-USA All-Freshman team in 2005. Clements was also a member of the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team in 2006.

"We came into the draft with fairly specific priorities and we were fortunate, given our circumstances, that there was a player available at No. 30 (Gerstenberger) who fit our needs," said Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers. "We really had no meaningful opportunities to improve our draft position, so to be able to add depth at left back - and on that side of the field, in general - is definitely a positive."

For more information on the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and the Crew's selections, please visit TheCrew.com, MLSnet.com and the Crew's Official Blog, The Black and Gold Standard (www.blackandgoldstandard.com).

Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it is currently the reigning MLS Cup Champion and it has also won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship and MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004 and 2008. It will open its 14th season and defense of its MLS Cup championship on Saturday, March 21, at the Houston Dynamo and will open its 11th season in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 28, against Toronto FC.


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