MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew News & Notes: Exhibitions Vs. Michigan State and West Virginia Saturday Fill Bye Weekend

March 16, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew has a bye this weekend but will not sit idly, instead hosting a pair of exhibition matches Saturday (March 17) at Crew Stadium. The Black & Gold will face Michigan State at 11 a.m. and West Virginia at 1:30 p.m. Both games are free and open to the public.

The Michigan State Spartans finished the 2011 season with a 7-9-4 record, stunning Akron 1-0 in their regular-season finale but exiting the Big Ten Tournament in the first round with a 2-1 loss against Indiana. They are led by sophomore midfielder Adam Montague, who recorded five goals and five assists in 18 matches during his freshman season.

West Virginia finished its season with an 11-8-1 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament but losing to St. John's in the quarterfinals. The Mountaineers then earned a berth in the 2011 NCAA tournament, and after defeating Xavier in the first round, fell to Maryland in the second. WVU is led by forward Andy Bevin, who tallied seven goals and two assists as a freshman, and junior midfielder Shadow Sebele, who recorded six goals and seven assists in 2011.

The Black & Gold will have one more week of training before its home opener, First Kick 2012, which is set for Saturday, March 24, at 4 p.m., when hosts the expansion Montreal Impact at Crew Stadium.

KEVAN GEORGE AT TRINIDAD & TOBAGO UNDER-23 NATIONAL TEAM CAMP

Newly-signed Crew midfielder Kevan George has been called into Trinidad & Tobago's Under-23 National Team camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in advance of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, which they kick off against Mexico on March 23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson Calif. The Soca Warriors will play five tune-up matches in Florida before the Olympic qualifying roster is announced.

OLMAN VARGAS TO REPRESENT COSTA RICA IN FRIENDLY

Black & Gold forward Olman Vargas has been called in to represent his native Costa Rica in a friendly against Jamaica this Wednesday, March 21. Vargas will join his countrymen on Monday and return to Columbus after the match in time for the Crew's home opener against Montreal on March 24.

CREW BEGINS DEFENSE OF MLS RESERVE LEAGUE TITLE AGAINST MONTREAL MARCH 24

The Crew will open its MLS Reserve League season on March 24 at Crew Stadium, immediately following the First Kick 2012 match against the Montreal Impact. The Black & Gold are defending Eastern Division champs, having fashioned a league-best 9-1-0 record (27 pts.).

CREW SOCCER ACADEMY SPLITS RESULTS OVER THE WEEKEND

The Crew Soccer Academy continued its U.S. Soccer Development Academy season last weekend with matches at Indiana United Fire. The U-15/16s were defeated, 2-0, by their Indiana counterparts, while the U-17/18s won by a score of 3-2, behind a pair of goals from Connor Klekota and one from Brett Elder. CSA now travels to Dallas, Texas, to face the FC Dallas Academy on March 17 and the Dallas Texans Soccer Club on March 18.

CSA U-15/16 GOALKEEPER CARTER RICHARDSON NAMED DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Crew Soccer Academy U-15/16 goalkeeper Carter Richardson posted back-to-back shutouts against Texan clubs Solar Chelsea SC and Andromeda FC on March 3 and 4 to earn U.S. Soccer Development Academy Player of the Week accolades. The 15/16s are 4-1-1 so far this season, with all four wins and the draw being shutouts.

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