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MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew Trio Called In To U.S. National Team Camp

December 22, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew's Eddie Gaven, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers were all named by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley to the 30-player training camp roster that will gather Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The Crew trio - each of whom was also named to the January 2009 U.S. National Team training camp - will join the group preparing for the USA's first match of 2010, a friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup finalists Honduras on Jan. 23 at The Home Depot Center. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 25 players who ply their trade in the United States. Major League Soccer - and the Crew, in particular - is well represented, with 13 of 16 clubs contributing players to the Carson camp. The Black & Gold is one of only four MLS clubs to have three or more of its players named to the roster.

Gaven, Marshall and Rogers will join the training camp after leading the Crew to its second-consecutive MLS Supporters' Shield in 2009. Imposing defender Marshall once again anchored a Crew defense which allowed just 31 goals - the lowest in team history - on the way to earning his second consecutive VISA Defender of the Year award, while midfielders Gaven and Rogers helped to power the Crew attack, with Gaven tallying six goals and Rogers contributing a goal and five assists.

All three players also earned caps (international appearances) with the U.S. Men's National Team during its hectic 2009 schedule, with Gaven earning one appearance, Marshall tallying six and Rogers totaling nine, with Rogers also contributing a goal and three assists in that time. As part of their time with the USMNT in 2009, Marshall and Rogers also helped the Red, White & Blue to a second-place finish in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Following the Honduras match on Jan. 23, the United States will play third-ranked Netherlands on March 3 in Amsterdam, allowing the U.S. to face one of the top teams in the world prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Kickoff at the Amsterdam ArenA is set for 2:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision.

WALTHER PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF TEAM OPERATIONS

Longtime Crew team administrator Tucker Walther has been promoted to Director of Team Operations. Walther, who is entering his 10th season with the club, oversees team travel and logistics among a host of administrative duties, a role in which he works closely with the technical staff and players on all aspects day-to-day team operations. Walther came to the Crew from D.C. United as the club's equipment manager in December 2000. He is a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduate of Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.).

2010 MLS ADIDAS PLAYER COMBINE SET FOR JAN. 8-12 IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA.

The annual adidas Player Combine will be held at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 8-12. The coaching and technical staffs of all 16 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the combine, which concludes two days before the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, which will be held Jan. 14 in Philadelphia. The initial player list was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches representing all conferences who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Youth players from the Generation adidas program will join additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and Division I alternates to finalize the 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine. The combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day on Jan. 9, 10 and 12. Each team will be led by an experienced Division I coach who will be assisted by an experienced soccer professional. Visit MLSNet.com for more information.

CREW SOCCER ACADEMY CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE U.S. YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER POOLS

The Crew Soccer Academy (CSA) continues to makes its imprint on the U.S. National Team's youth player pools, as a number of current and former CSA players are currently participating in national team camps and residencies. Three players - Andy Lubahn, Justin Luthy and Ben Speas - are currently with the U.S. Under-20 National Team training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The camp is the first for head coach Thomas Rongen that is made up exclusively of players born in 1991 or later, making them age-eligible for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. At the Under-18 level,Chris Davis and Wil Trapp have been called in to a training camp that will commence Dec. 26 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., while Andrew Souder is currently one of only 40 members of the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.

CREW SOCCER ACADEMY PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO EARN COLLEGIATE POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

At the conclusion of the 2009 NCAA college soccer season, a number of former Crew Soccer Academy (CSA) players were rewarded with various accolades and awards. Four former CSA players were named to Soccer America's All-Freshman teams, with Andy Lubahn (Wake Forest) earning a first-team selection and Chad Barson (Akron), Matt Lampson (Ohio State) and Justin Luthy (Boston College) each earning second-team accolades. Lampson was also recently named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while Ben Speas (Akron) was selected to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team for helping lead Akron to the College Cup Final.

CREWZERS DANCE TEAM MEMBER APPEARING IN UPCOMING SEASON OF ABC'S 'THE BACHELOR'

Emily Harkins, a member of the Crewzers Professional Dance Team, will be a contestant in the upcoming season of ABC's "The Bachelor," which premieres on Monday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. Harkins, a 23-year old fit model who recently completed her sixth season as a member of the Crewzers, will be among 25 contestants vying for the affections of commercial airline pilot Jake Pavelka.

CREW GEAR STORE CONTINUES HOLIDAY SALE

The Crew Gear store, located in the administrative offices of Crew Stadium (One Black & Gold Blvd.), is currently holding a special holiday sale, featuring the majority of Crew merchandise and apparel marked down by up to 40 percent. The sale includes jerseys, t-shirts, jackets, pennants and a host of other discounted Crew items. Visit the Crew Gear store now to take advantage of these fantastic savings, while getting all your last-minute holiday shopping done.

"A MASSIVE SEASON," BY STEVE SIRK, IN STOCK AND ON SALE NOW AT CREW GEAR STORE

Steve Sirk's book chronicling the Crew's 2008 Championship season, through both his Notebook columns and new material, is in stock and available at Crew Stadium's Crew Gear store, which is open 9-5 Monday-Friday. Sirk is generously donating a portion of the proceeds of all books sold there to the club's charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation. The 480-page book, priced at $20, features all 19 of Sirk's 2008 Notebooks, including the epic MLS Cup recap from California; Recaps of those Notebook-less away games; The blog entries before and after MLS Cup; Several new essays sprinkled throughout; A foreword by Dante Washington; Footnote commentary; Over 140 pro and amateur black & white photos; Notebook snippets from yesteryear; Documentation of the joyous aftermath, from the Statehouse to the White House; and a special section featuring Crew alumni. A must-read for diehard Crew fans, "A Massive Season" is the ultimate championship season scrapbook!

- The Columbus Crew's Eddie Gaven, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers were all named by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley to the 30-player training camp roster that will gather Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The Crew trio - each of whomwas also named to the January 2009 U.S. National Team training camp - will join the group preparing for the USA's first match of 2010, a friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup finalists Honduras on Jan. 23 at The Home Depot Center. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 25 players who ply their trade in the United States. Major League Soccer - and the Crew, in particular - is well represented, with 13 of 16 clubs contributing players to the Carson camp. The Black & Gold is one of only four MLS clubs to have three or more of its players named to the roster.

Gaven, Marshall and Rogers will join the training camp after leading the Crew to its second-consecutive MLS Supporters' Shield in 2009. Imposing defender Marshall once again anchored a Crew defense which allowed just 31 goals - the lowest in team history - on the way to earning his second consecutive VISA Defender of the Year award, while midfielders Gaven and Rogers helped to power the Crew attack, with Gaven tallying six goals and Rogers contributing a goal and five assists.

All three players also earned caps (international appearances) with the U.S. Men's National Team during its hectic 2009 schedule, with Gaven earning one appearance, Marshall tallying six and Rogers totaling nine, with Rogers also contributing a goal and three assists in that time. As part of their time with the USMNT in 2009, Marshall and Rogers also helped the Red, White & Blue to a second-place finish in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Following the Honduras match on Jan. 23, the United States will play third-ranked Netherlands on March 3 in Amsterdam, allowing the U.S. to face one of the top teams in the world prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Kickoff at the Amsterdam ArenA is set for 2:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision.

WALTHER PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF TEAM OPERATIONS

Longtime Crew team administrator Tucker Walther has been promoted to Director of Team Operations. Walther, who is entering his 10th season with the club, oversees team travel and logistics among a host of administrative duties, a role in which he works closely with the technical staff and players on all aspects day-to-day team operations. Walther came to the Crew from D.C. United as the club's equipment manager in December 2000. He is a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduate of Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.).

2010 MLS ADIDAS PLAYER COMBINE SET FOR JAN. 8-12 IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA.

The annual adidas Player Combine will be held at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 8-12. The coaching and technical staffs of all 16 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the combine, which concludes two days before the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, which will be held Jan. 14 in Philadelphia. The initial player list was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches representing all conferences who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Youth players from the Generation adidas program will join additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and Division I alternates to finalize the 2010 adidas MLS Player Combine. The combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day on Jan. 9, 10 and 12. Each team will be led by an experienced Division I coach who will be assisted by an experienced soccer professional. Visit MLSNet.com for more information.

CREW

SOCCER ACADEMY CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE U.S. YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER POOLS

The Crew Soccer Academy (CSA) continues to makes its imprint on the U.S. National Team's youth player pools, as a number of current and former CSA players are currently participating in national team camps and residencies. Three players - Andy Lubahn, Justin Luthy and Ben Speas - are currently with the U.S. Under-20 National Team training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The camp is the first for head coach Thomas Rongen that is made up exclusively of players born in 1991 or later, making them age-eligible for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. At the Under-18 level, Chris Davis and Wil Trapp have been called in to a training camp that will commence Dec. 26 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., while Andrew Souder is currently one of only 40 members of the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.

CREW SOCCER ACADEMY PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO EARN COLLEGIATE POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

At the conclusion of the 2009 NCAA college soccer season, a number of former Crew Soccer Academy (CSA) players were rewarded with various accolades and awards. Four former CSA players were named to Soccer America's All-Freshman teams, with Andy Lubahn (Wake Forest) earning a first-team selection and Chad Barson (Akron), Matt Lampson (Ohio State) and Justin Luthy (Boston College) each earning second-team accolades. Lampson was also recently named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while Ben Speas (Akron) was selected to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team for helping lead Akron to the College Cup Final.

CREWZERS DANCE TEAM MEMBER APPEARING IN UPCOMING SEASON OF ABC'S 'THE BACHELOR'

Emily Harkins, a member of the Crewzers Professional Dance Team, will be a contestant in the upcoming season of ABC's "The Bachelor," which premieres on Monday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. Harkins, a 23-year old fit model who recently completed her sixth season as a member of the Crewzers, will be among 25 contestants vying for the affections of commercial airline pilot Jake Pavelka.

CREW GEAR STORE CONTINUES HOLIDAY SALE

The Crew Gear store, located in the administrative offices of Crew Stadium (One Black & Gold Blvd.), is currently holding a special holiday sale, featuring the majority of Crew merchandise and apparel marked down by up to 40 percent. The sale includes jerseys, t-shirts, jackets, pennants and a host of other discounted Crew items. Visit the Crew Gear store now to take advantage of these fantastic savings, while getting all your last-minute holiday shopping done.

"A MASSIVE SEASON," BY STEVE SIRK, IN STOCK AND ON SALE NOW AT CREW GEAR STORE

Steve Sirk's book chronicling the Crew's 2008 Championship season, through both his Notebook columns and new material, is in stock and available at Crew Stadium's Crew Gear store, which is open 9-5 Monday-Friday. Sirk is generously donating a portion of the proceeds of all books sold there to the club's charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation.

The 480-page book, priced at $20, features all 19 of Sirk's 2008 Notebooks, including the epic MLS Cup recap from California; Recaps of those Notebook-less away games; The blog entries before and after MLS Cup; Several new essays sprinkled throughout; A foreword by Dante Washington; Footnote commentary; Over 140 pro and amateur black & white photos; Notebook snippets from yesteryear; Documentation of the joyous aftermath, from the Statehouse to the White House; and a special section featuring Crew alumni. A must-read for diehard Crew fans, "A Massive Season" is the ultimate championship season scrapbook!

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