MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew Selects Chad Marshall with Second Pick in MLS Draft

Published on January 16, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio (Friday, January 16) - The Crew selected six players in the MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas, held today at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center, including Stanford defender Chad Marshall with the second overall pick, and MAC Hermann Trophy award winner Chris Wingert with the No. 12 selection overall.

"We went in with a plan and were fortunate enough to execute most of that plan," said Crew Head Coach Greg Andrulis. "We are certainly not finished putting the team together but this was an important step of the process."

FIRST ROUND PICK (No. 2 Overall) CHAD MARSHALL (Defender, Stanford University)

Marshall signed early with Major League Soccer as a Nike Project-40 player after finishing his sophomore year with the Cardinal. The 19-year-old central defender has been a regular on the U.S. Under-20 national team the past two years and is currently one of 26 players with the U-23 National Team as they prepare for Olympic qualifying set for Mexico in February.

The 6-4, 190-pounder is an imposing figure in the back and is excellent in the air.

He has 30 caps (appearances) with the U-20 national team and had 12 with the U-17 squad. Marshall also started all five games at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in December, helping the U.S. to the quarterfinals.

At Stanford, he was a First-Team All-Pac 10 selection as a sophomore and was named Soccer America Freshman of the Year in 2002. He also has a knack for the dramatic, having scored a pair of game-winning overtime goals in the 2002 NCAA tournament, one in a 2-1 third-round win over Furman and one in a 2-1 victory over Creighton in the College Cup semifinals.

"I am really excited to be joining The Crew," said Marshall. "It is a great opportunity for me with a great organization. I want to come in and work hard and help any way I can. The team has made some good moves in the offseason, with Simon Elliott, Manny Lagos and Robin Fraser. Fraser is a great defender and I am looking forward to learning from him."

"Chad Marshall is clearly an outstanding player who has excelled in college and on the world stage," said Andrulis. "He is a very valuable addition, not only short term, but can have a long-term effect on this team and organization."

SECOND ROUND PICK (No. 12 OVERALL) CHRIS WINGERT (Defender, St. John's University)

Wingert had a tremendous 2003 season for St. John's as he was named the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy award winner, presented to the top male player in NCAA Division I soccer. In addition to winning the Hermann Trophy, he was also named the NSCAA Scholar-Athlete Award winner and the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American of the Year. He was the first player ever to win the top Player and Scholar award in the same season.

He is currently in camp with the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team as they prepare for Olympic qualifying in February. At St. John's, he helped lead them to the NCAA title game in 2003 (a 2-1 loss to Indiana at Crew Stadium), and was the Big East Defender of the Year in 2003 and 2002.

"I am really happy to be heading to Columbus," said Wingert. "I know some of the guys on the team already in Kyle Martino and Edson Buddle and I am just looking to come in to preseason camp and compete for playing time."

"We were thrilled to have him available with the 12th pick," said Andrulis. "He is incredibly talented and we love his versatility. He can play all four positions in the back and is a proven winner and his credentials speak for themselves."

THIRD ROUND PICK (No. 25 OVERALL) Traded to Colorado

Columbus traded its third round pick (No. 25 overall) to Colorado in exchange for the 2005 conditional draft pick that Columbus had sent to the Rapids in the Robin Fraser trade, and also obtained the rights to defender Steven Herdsman.

FOURTH ROUND PICK (No. 32 OVERALL) JAMAL SUTTON (Forward, Southwest Missouri State University)

In the fourth round, 32nd overall, The Crew selected forward Jamal Sutton from Southwest Missouri State. Sutton is a speedster who finished his college career with 70 points on 26 goals and 18 assists.

"I am very excited to be coming to Columbus," said Sutton. "I just want to come in and mesh with my teammates and try to fit in where needed. Our ultimate goal is to win a championship and I want to help The Crew do that."

"Jamal is a very fast forward who will add some depth up front," said Andrulis. "He is a great athlete who can also play out wide."

FIFTH ROUND PICK (No. 41 OVERALL) ADOM CREW (Forward, Brown University)

Columbus had two picks in the fifth round, the 41st and 42nd overall selections, and took midfielders Adom Crew of Brown University and Luke Vercollone of Seton Hall University, respectively.

Crew was named the Ivy League Player of the Year as a senior as he led the league in scoring with 10 goals and two assists for 22 points. He finished his career with 57 points on 24 goals and nine assists.

"Adom has a tremendous upside," said Andrulis. "He had a great career at Brown and is a terrific finisher."

FIFTH ROUND PICK (No. 42 OVERALL) LUKE VERCOLLONE (Midfield, Seton Hall University)

Vercollone was a first-team All-BIG EAST selection as a senior after leading Seton Hall in scoring with 21 points on five goals and 11 assists. Finished his career with 11 goals and 24 assists for 46 points.

"He has a great engine," said Andrulis. "Luke will be the hardest working player on the field and he can play a variety of positions."

SIXTH ROUND PICK (No. 52 OVERALL) MATT HAEFNER (Goalkeeper, University of Pennsylvania)

In the sixth and last round, 52nd overall, The Crew tabbed goalkeeper Matt Haefner of the University of Pennsylvania. Haefner is an imposing goalkeeper at 6-4 who was a third-team All-American as a junior.

"Matt is a huge guy with great presence," said Andrulis. "He also has good quickness for a big guy who will be able to come into camp and compete for a roster spot."

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