The 2007 Columbus Crew season was the club's 12th season of existence and their 12th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States and Canada. The first match of the season was on April 7 against New York Red Bulls. It was the second season under head coach Sigi Schmid. Columbus also competed in the U.S. Open Cup but failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Although the Crew faced FC Dallas in the regular season, control of the inaugural edition of the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup was decided in the preseason. Columbus claimed a 3–0 victory and hoisted the cup for the first time. The Crew were eliminated in the U.S. Open Cup qualification semifinals by Los Angeles Galaxy and finished three points out of a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the third consecutive season without a playoff berth for Columbus.
Background In the 2006 season the Crew finished sixth place in the East, finished last in the Supporters' Shield table, and failed to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup or the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Columbus lost defender Ritchie Kotschau to expansion team Toronto FC, but he would be replaced by 2007 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection Brad Evans. Coach Sigi Schmid would also bring in Danny O'Rourke, Robbie Rogers, Alejandro Moreno, William Hesmer, and the team's very first Designated Player, Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
The 2007 season was ultimately unsuccessful, but would be a rebuilding year for Columbus in preparation for the 2008 season, in which they would win both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive Preseason The Crew started preseason in Columbus and played games in Florida, Arizona, Texas, California and North Carolina before returning to Ohio. The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp: Juan Cobián
Unsigned draft picks Aaron Chandler, Ryan Junge, Tonci Skroce and Teddy Niziolek also joined the team for preseason.
Midseason
Postseason Damian Blackburn and Jack Stewart were rostered as guest players against Tecos UAG
Competitive Overview
MLS
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
The Columbus Crew failed to qualify for the playoffs in this season.
U.S. Open Cup
Reserve League Overall table Pos Club Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts1Colorado Rapids Reserves (C)10703228 +14242Chivas USA Reserves116322523 +2202New England Revolution Reserves126422014 +6204Kansas City Wizards Reserves126512219 +3195D.C. United Reserves124351612 +4176FC Dallas Reserves124441718−1167Columbus Crew Reserves114431714 +3157New York Red Bulls Reserves95401415−1157Real Salt Lake Reserves115601917 +21510Toronto FC Reserves123541419−51311Houston Dynamo Reserves123631621−51212Chicago Fire Reserves112631219−7913Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves112721429−158
Match results
Statistics Appearances and goals Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
|colspan=12 align=center|Players who left Columbus during the season:
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name MLS U.S. Open Cup Total 1 GK William Hesmer100010 2 DF Frankie Hejduk500050 3 DF Brad Evans000000 4 DF Rusty Pierce500050 5 DF Danny O'Rourke610061 6 DF Marcos González410041 7 FW Guillermo Barros Schelotto500050 8 DF Duncan Oughton301040 9 FW Jason Garey100010 10 FW Alejandro Moreno300030 11 MF Ned Grabavoy200020 12 MF Eddie Gaven100010 13 DF Andrew Peterson000000 14 DF Chad Marshall000000 15 MF Stefani Miglioranzi300030 16 FW Kei Kamara000000 17 MF Danny Szetela000000 18 GK Bill Gaudette000000 19 DF Robbie Rogers000000 20 DF Tim Ward001010 21 MF Brandon Moss000000 22 MF Adam Moffat000000 23 FW Ezra Hendrickson310031 24 DF Jed Zayner000000 25 DF Ricardo Virtuoso100010 26 FW Andy Herron200020 27 DF Ryan Junge000000 28 FW Ben Hunter000000 29 MF Andrei Pacheco000000 30 GK Andy Gruenebaum000000 31 DF Leonard Griffin000000 34 MF Jacob Thomas000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 10 FW Joseph Ngwenya000000 17 MF Danny Szetela100010 29 FW Aaron Chandler000000 40 GK Kenny Schoeni000000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 William Hesmer50520 18 Bill Gaudette0001 30 Andy Gruenebaum30311Players who left Columbus during the season: 40 Kenny Schoeni0000
Reserve League Statistics Appearances and goals Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name MLS Reserve League Total 26 FW Adrian Balc0000 22 FW Damion Blackburn0000 - MF Taylor Canel0000 - FW Mike Caso0000 29 FW Aaron Chandler1010 - MF Danny Drăgoi0000 3 DF Brad Evans0000 9 FW Jason Garey0000 18 GK Bill Gaudette0000 12 MF Eddie Gaven0000 6 DF Marcos González0000 11 MF Ned Grabavoy1010 31 DF Leonard Griffin0000 30 GK Andy Gruenebaum0000 23 FW Ezra Hendrickson1010 26 FW Andy Herron1010 1 GK William Hesmer0000 28 FW Ben Hunter0000 13 DF Ryan Junge0000 16 FW Kei Kamara0000 - DF Ritchie Kotschau0000 14 DF Chad Marshall0000 32 FW Ryan Martin0000 15 MF Stefani Miglioranzi0000 22 MF Adam Moffat0000 - DF Richard Moodie1010 20 MF Brandon Moss1010 8 DF Duncan Oughton3030 29 MF Andrei Pacheco0000 - MF Raul Palomares0000 13 DF Andrew Peterson0000 4 DF Rusty Pierce2020 - MF Derek Potteiger0000 19 DF Robbie Rogers0000 - FW David Roman0000 40 GK Kenny Schoeni0000 - FW Jamal Sutton0000 17 MF Danny Szetela0000 - DF Ashleigh Townsend0000 - MF Christian Turizo1010 25 DF Ricardo Virtuoso1010 20 DF Tim Ward1010 36 FW Dante Washington0000 24 DF Jed Zayner2020
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS Reserve League Total Games Played 18 Bill Gaudette1.51.55 30 Andy Gruenebaum0.50.55 1 William Hesmer001 40 Kenny Schoeni112
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource FW Andy Herron Chicago Fire Traded with a first round draft pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft for Ryan Coiner January 12, 2007 MF Stefani Miglioranzi Los Angeles Galaxy Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft January 19, 2007 DF Brad Evans UC Irvine Anteaters Drafted in round 2 of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft February 28, 2007 FW Aaron Chandler San Francisco Dons Drafted in round 4 of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to a developmental contract. February 28, 2007 DF Robbie Rogers SC Heerenveen Allocated by the league by weighted lottery. March 9, 2007 FW Guillermo Barros Schelotto Boca Juniors Contract through 2008 April 19, 2007 FW Alejandro Moreno Houston DynamoTraded for Joseph Ngwenya May 9, 2007 DF Ryan Junge Cleveland City Stars Drafted in round 2 of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. Signed to a developmental contract. May 2007 FW Ben Hunter North Carolina Tar HeelsDrafted in round 4 of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to a developmental contract. June 2007 DF Andrew Peterson Cleveland City Stars Signed to a developmental contract July 3, 2007 MF Andrei Pacheco W Connection August 31, 2007 DF Leonard Griffin Portland Timbers Rights acquired from Chicago Fire for a fourth round pick in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft September 14, 2007 MF Adam Moffat Cleveland City Stars Signed via discovery. Signed to a developmental contract. September 18, 2007 MF Brian Carroll D.C. United Traded for Kei Kamara November 26, 2007
Loans in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Kenny Schoeni MLS Pool April 27, 2007 May 6, 2007
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource FW Ryan Coiner Chicago Fire Traded with a first round draft pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft for Andy Herron January 12, 2007 GK Jonny Walker Retired January 26, 2007 GK Jon Busch Chicago Fire Placed on waivers March 1, 2007 DF Ivan Becerra Ventura County Fusion Placed on waivers March 1, 2007 DF Chris Leitch New York Red Bulls Placed on waivers March 1, 2007 MF José Retiz California Victory Placed on waivers March 1, 2007 FW Marc Burch D.C. United Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft April 4, 2007 FW Joseph Ngwenya Houston Dynamo Traded for Alejandro Moreno May 9, 2007 FW Aaron Chandler California Victory Placed on waivers July 3, 2007 MF Danny Szetela Racing Santander Transfer, terms undisclosed August 31, 2007 MF Ned Grabavoy San Jose Earthquakes Selected third in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft November 21, 2007 FW Kei Kamara San Jose Earthquakes Traded for Brian Carroll November 26, 2007FW Ben Hunter Richmond KickersPlaced on waivers November 28, 2007 GK Bill Gaudette Puerto Rico Islanders Contract expired December 31, 2007 FW Andy Herron Puntarenas F.C.Contract expired December 31, 2007
Loans out Pos.PlayerLoanee clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource FW Aaron Chandler Cleveland City Stars DF Ryan Junge Cleveland City Stars FW Ben Hunter Cleveland City Stars
MLS Draft picks
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. The picks for the Columbus Crew are listed below: Round Pick Player Position College 215 Brad EvansMFUC Irvine441 Aaron ChandlerFWSan Francisco449 Ben HunterDFNorth Carolina
Round Pick Player Position College 215 Ryan JungeDFCreighton223 Tonci SkroceMFUIC441 Teddy NiziolekMFSeton Hall450 Kevin BurnsMFUConn
Awards
MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponentLink 16 Guillermo Barros Schelotto Toronto FC 28 Guillermo Barros Schelotto New England Revolution
MLS Player of the Month MonthPlayerStatsLink July Guillermo Barros Schelotto 3 goals, 1 assist
2007 MLS All-Star Game Reserves FW Guillermo Barros Schelotto DF Frankie Hejduk
Postseason MLS Fair Play Team Award MLS Best XI FW Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Guillermo Barros Schelotto Defensive Player of the Year – Frankie Hejduk Scoring Champion – Alejandro Moreno Man of the Year – Duncan Oughton Coach's Award – Ezra Hendrickson Newcomer of the Year – Guillermo Barros Schelotto Goal of the Year – Alejandro Moreno Humanitarian of the Year – Danny O'Rourke Hardest Working Man of the Year – Alejandro Moreno Comeback Player of the Year – Frankie Hejduk Fan's Choice – Guillermo Barros Schelotto Fan of the Year – Andrew Goodrich
References
Notes