The Schedule, Some Small International Game, and Training Camp

By: Matt | February 16th, 2009

As we slowly inch towards the day many call “Crewsmas”, or the first day of the season, we now know when exactly that day is. Saturday March 21st will be the first game of the season for the defending MLS Cup Champs, as they travel to the great Southwest to Houston to take on the Dynamo. The next week, the Crew return home for the home opener against Toronto FC. The traveling hordes from the Great White North will be in for a special treat, as I’m sure the Crew will be honoring the Cup winning team from the previous season. Here is the rest of the schedule, along with TV Options:
March
03/21 – Saturday @ Houston Dynamo 8:00 p.m. FSC, FSE
03/28 – Saturday Toronto FC 4:00 p.m.
April
04/02 – Thursday @ Real Salt Lake 9:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
04/05 – Sunday @ Chivas USA 8:00 p.m.
04/11 – Saturday Colorado Rapids 7:30 p.m.
04/25 – Saturday Chicago Fire 7:00 p.m. FSC, FSE
May
05/02 – Saturday @ Toronto FC TBD
05/09 – Saturday Kansas City Wizards 7:00 p.m. FSC, FSE
05/17 – Sunday @ Los Angeles Galaxy 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura
05/27 – Wednesday San Jose Earthquakes Currently MLS has this game listed as a 3:30 AM start. I am doubtful of that.
05/30 – Saturday @ Seattle Sounders FC 10:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
June
06/06 – Saturday @ Kansas City Wizards 8:30 p.m.
06/14 – Sunday Chivas USA 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura
06/20 – Saturday @ FC Dallas 8:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
06/27 – Saturday New York Red Bulls 7:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
July
07/04 – Saturday D.C. United 7:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
07/11 – Saturday @ Chicago Fire 8:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
07/18 – Saturday Real Salt Lake 8:00 p.m.
07/25 – Saturday Toronto FC 7:30 p.m.
August
08/01 – Saturday @ Colorado Rapids 9:30 p.m.
08/08 – Saturday @ San Jose Earthquakes 10:30 p.m.
08/15 – Saturday FC Dallas 7:00 p.m.
08/30 – Sunday @ New York Red Bulls 6:00 p.m.
September
09/13 – Sunday Houston Dynamo 5:00 p.m.
09/20 – Sunday @ Chicago Fire 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura
09/26 – Saturday Los Angeles Galaxy 7:30 p.m.
October
10/03 – Saturday Seattle Sounders FC 7:30 p.m.
10/10 – Saturday @ New England Revolution 7:30 p.m.
10/17 – Saturday @ D.C. United 8:00 p.m.
10/25 – Sunday New England Revolution 4:00 p.m.

So apparently there was some international game involving the US last week. Personally, I didn’t hear anything about it until now. All jokes aside, the Crew organization certainly played a huge part in the United States’ 2-0 victory over Mexico. The most obvious contribution was the home field advantage provided by Crew Stadium. CCS has basically become Fort Hunt for the USMNT. After last Wednesday’s victory, the USMNT record at Crew Stadium was moved to 5-0-3. Pretty impressive. While US Soccer was hoping for a little more winter-like conditions for Columbus in February, Ohio’s change on the fly weather certainly played its part as well. After facing months of preparation for the cold weather and facing relentless questions about past Mexican teams folding like a cheap suit in the cold, it must have been a bit unnerving to come to Columbus and to get high winds and rain.

Crew players also played their part on the field, and a bit off of it. Four Crew players were invited to the initial training camp for this game. Frankie Hejduk, a constant for the USMNT, was in the Starting XI for the Nats and youngster Robbie Rogers was on the bench for the match. Of course, Frankie got himself involved with a bit of controversy at the end of the match. My $0.02 on the matter is that I have been a few feet away from Frankie coming to celebrate with the Nordecke after Crew games. I’ve seen the Surfer Dude chug a beer handed to him from the crowd, rip off his shirt, and engage in man hugs with the crowd after games, so Frankie’s got a history of celebrating with the crowd. It is much more like Frankie to be saying “F*** yeah!” to the crowd than “F*** you!” to an opposing player/team.

The actual Crew teas has begun preseason play in its training grounds at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida. It is important for fans not to get caught up in the results of these friendlies, but rather hope and pray that no one gets hurt in these matches and to hope that all the players gain match fitness. The Crew dropped their first exhibition match of the season against DC United 2-1. Jason Garey got the lone Crew goal in a match that saw lots of changes an experimentation. Here were the lineups that the Crew put out each half.
Crew Lineups
First Half – Andy Gruenebaum, Jed Zayner, Anthony Peters, Danny O’Rourke, Chris Clements, Emmanuel Ekpo, Duncan Oughton, Brian Carroll, Alex Grendi, Eddie Gaven, Steven Lenhart

Second Half – Andy Gruenebaum, Paul Gerstenberger, Andy Iro, Chad Marshall, Cory Elenio, Ty Shipalane, Brian Carroll (Eddie Gaven 67), Stanley Nyazamba, Pat Noonan, Jason Garey, Guillermo Barros Schelotto
The Crew’s second preseason game came against USL side the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Islanders two first half goals were enough to carry the day, but once again the focus of these matches is developing match fitness for the players. Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum was forced to leave the match due to ankle injury in the 20th minute. Here again are all those that lined up for the Black and Gold.
Crew Lineups
First Half – Andy Gruenebaum (Kenny Schoeni 20), Danny O’Rourke, Chris Clements, Andy Iro, Gino Padula, Ty Shipalane, Brian Carroll, Stanley Nyazamba, Emmanuel Ekpo, Steven Lenhart (Jason Garey 30), Guillermo Barros Schelotto

Second Half – Kenny Schoeni, Jed Zayner, Anthony Peters, Chad Marshall, Paul Gerstenberger, Cory Elenio, Duncan Oughton, Eddie Gaven, Alex Grendi, Pat Noonan, Jason Garey

The third game of the preseason saw the Crew get a win against the United States Men’s National U20 team. The Crew got on the board in the 37th minute when Alejandro Moreno was taken down in the penalty box and Guillermo Barros Schelotto calmly put away the resulting penalty. After bringing in a completely new line up after sixty minutes of play, the Crew added another goal when third round draft choice Alex Grendi sent in a corner that trialist Anthony Peters got his head on and put into the back of the net in the 74th minute. The U20 team was able to get a goal back in the 83rd minute, the Crew got one more for the scoreboard when kid from Bad Santa look alike Steve Lenhart found the ball, after another decent Grendi corner, and was able to finish. Here are the line ups for the friendly against the USMNT U20 team.
Crew Lineups
First 60 mins. – Kenny Schoeni, Jed Zayner, Danny O’Rourke, Chad Marshall, Gino Padula, Eddie Gaven, Emmanuel Ekpo, Brian Carroll, Robbie Rogers, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno

Last 30 mins. – Kenny Schoeni, Cory Elenio, Anthony Peters, Andy Iro, Chris Clements, Pat Noonan, Stanley Nyazamba, Duncan Oughton, Alex Grendi, Steven Lenhart, Jason Garey

Finally, if my coverage of the Crew is not complete enough for you, you an now follow the Crew on Twitter. No word if you can know when the Crew is bathing or going to the mall, but only one way to find out. http://twitter.com/Columbus_Crew