Columbus Crew 2's Jacen Russell-Rowe Wins 2022 MLS Next Pro Golden Boot

September 18, 2022 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) News Release

NEW YORK CITY - Columbus Crew 2 forward Jacen Russell-Rowe won the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot with a League-leading 21 goals in the regular season.

Entering Sunday's season finale against FC Cincinnati 2, Russell-Rowe held a one-goal advantage over North Texas SC's Bernard Kamungo in the Golden Boot race and punctuated his incredible first season with Crew 2 by scoring four goals in Columbus' 9-0 win.

Russell-Rowe's 21 goals placed him ahead of Kamungo, 16 goals, Orlando City B's Jack Lynn, 15 goals, and Inter Miami II's Shanyder Borgelin, 14 goals.

Russell-Rowe has played an integral role for Columbus this season, leading Crew 2 to a League-best record of 16-3-5 (55 points) and the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the upcoming 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.

The 20-year-old Toronto native signed with Crew 2 on March 18 and made an immediate impact. After scoring 11 goals in a nine-game span, he was rewarded with a Columbus Crew first team contract, becoming the first Crew 2 player to sign with the first team.

Since then, Russell-Rowe has split his time between the MLS and MLS NEXT Pro teams. He appeared in 19 total games for Crew 2, starting all but the first two. He has also played in five MLS games, earning three starts and recording two assists in 207 minutes.

Crew 2 will host its first game of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs on Saturday, September 24 against Rochester New York FC at Historic Crew Stadium (3:00 p.m. ET, mlsnextpro.com).

MLS NEXT Pro Stories from September 18, 2022

• Tacoma Defiance Falls to Portland in Regular Season Finale, Set to Face Houston in Western Conference Semifinals - Tacoma Defiance
• First Round Schedule Set for 2022 MLS Next Pro Playoffs - MLS NEXT Pro
• Colorado Rapids 2 Round Out Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season - Colorado Rapids 2
• MNUFC2 Loses 4-1 to Earthqakes II in Final Match of the Season - Minnesota United FC 2
• Columbus Crew 2's Jacen Russell-Rowe Wins 2022 MLS Next Pro Golden Boot - MLS NEXT Pro
• SKC II Picks up Extra Point in Shootout Win at St Louis CITY2 in the Team's 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Finale  - Sporting Kansas City II
• Real Monarchs Finish Season with 2-1 Win Over Colorado Rapids 2 - Real Monarchs
• Mondi Magic Lifts Monarchs to Victory - Real Monarchs
• Inter Miami CF II Falls 1-0 on the Road in Final 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season Match  - Inter Miami CF II
• Revolution II Fall to Philadelphia Union II, 3-1 - New England Revolution II
• Union II secure 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Playoff spot - Philadelphia Union II
• Orlando City B Falls to Toronto FC II - Orlando City B
• Tacoma Defiance Hosts Timbers2 in Regular Season Finale - Tacoma Defiance
• MNUFC2 vs. Earthquakes II Preview - Minnesota United FC 2
• FC Cincinnati 2 Close out MLS NEXT Pro Season against Columbus Crew 2 - FC Cincinnati 2
• Savarino's Offensive Spark Not Enough Against FC Cincinnati  - Real Monarchs
• Real Salt Lake Fall at Home - Real Monarchs

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