The 2004 Columbus Crew season was the club's ninth season of existence and their ninth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. The first match of the season was on April 3 against NY/NJ MetroStars. It was the fourth season under head coach Greg Andrulis.
The Crew won their first MLS trophy this season, the Supporters' Shield, by leading the league with 49 points. They would be upset by the New England Revolution by an aggregate score of 2–1 in the conference semifinals. They reached the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup.
This would be the final season for longtime Crew members Jeff Cunningham (who was traded to the Colorado Rapids) and Brian Maisonneuve (who retired). This was also the first season for longtime Crew defender Chad Marshall, the second pick of the draft.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive
Preseason The Crew started their slate of preseason matches in Bradenton, FL. For these initial games, they brought in Paweł Drumlak on trial. The Crew then went to Spain for another series of preseason matches against local opponents before returning to the US and winning the first Carolina Challenge Cup.
Midseason During the season played a couple charity matches. In the Keith Evans Memorial Match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the Crew brought in Kirk Harwat from the Akron Zips.
Competitive Overview
MLS
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
Conference Semifinals
U.S. Open Cup
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 MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total 1 GK Jon Busch30000030 2 DF Frankie Hejduk41101061 4 DF Robin Fraser31100041 5 DF Stephen Herdsman10000010 6 DF Eric Denton40000040 7 DF Simon Elliott30000030 8 DF Duncan Oughton20000020 9 FW Erick Scott00000000 10 MF Brian Maisonneuve40001050 11 FW Jeff Cunningham10000010 12 FW Edson Buddle30100141 14 DF Chad Marshall10000010 15 FW Devin Barclay00000000 16 MF Ross Paule20000020 17 MF Danny Szetela30000030 18 DF Nelson Akwari40000040 19 DF Chris Wingert40000040 20 MF Tony Sanneh20000020 21 MF Kyle Martino10101030 22 MF Manny Lagos20000020 23 FW David Testo10000010 24 GK Matt Jordan00000000 25 FW Michael Ritch10000010 27 FW Jamal Sutton00000000 99 FW Dante Washington00000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 17 DF Jake Traeger00000000 31 GK Clint Baumstark00000000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 Jon Busch1000033 24 Matt Jordan00001Players who left Columbus during the season: 31 Clint Baumstark00000
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource MF Simon Elliott Los Angeles Galaxy Traded for a first round draft pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft January 12, 2004 MF Manny Lagos Los Angeles Galaxy Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft January 13, 2004 DF Robin Fraser Colorado Rapids Traded for a second round draft pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft January 14, 2004 DF Chad Marshall Stanford Cardinal Drafted in round 1 of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft January 16, 2004 DF Chris Wingert St. John's Red Storm Drafted in round 2 of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft January 16, 2004 DF Stephen Herdsman Colorado Rapids Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft January 16, 2004 FW Jamal Sutton Southwest Missouri State Bears Drafted in round 4 of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Signed developmental contract on March 26, 2004. January 16, 2004 FW Devin Barclay D.C. United Traded for a fourth round draft pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft January 30, 2004 FW Erick Scott Liga Deportiva Alajuelense Signed via discovery March 26, 2004 GK Matt Jordan Odense Boldklub Transfer, terms undisclosed April 2, 2004 MF Danny Szetela IMG Soccer Academy Allocated via lottery July 22, 2004 DF Tony Sanneh 1. FC Nürnberg Allocated by Major League Soccer August 27, 2004 FW Dante Washington Virginia Beach Mariners Multi-year contract October 8, 2004 FW David Testo Richmond Kickers Loan contract buy option triggered December 31, 2004
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource FW David Testo Richmond Kickers Signed via discovery. One-year loan with an option to purchase contract. February 20, 2004 End of Season GK Clint Baumstark MLS Pool Multiple loans April 17, 2004June 12, 2004September 4, 2004 May 1, 2004July 24, 2004September 18, 2004
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource GK Tom Presthus Retired January 14, 2004 MF Diego Walsh Kansas City Wizards Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft January 15, 2004 FW Brian McBride Fulham F.C. Transfer, $1,500,000 January 20, 2004 FW Freddy García C.S.D. Municipal Transfer, terms undisclosed February 12, 2004 DF Mike Clark Retired March 16, 2004 DF Jake Traeger Columbus Crew Reserves Placed on waivers July 22, 2004 DF Nelson Akwari Real Salt Lake Selected 10th in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft November 19, 2004 FW Erick Scott Real Salt Lake Selected 20th in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft November 19, 2004 FW Michael Ritch Retired Contract expired December 31, 2004
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 12 Chad MarshallDFStanford212 Chris WingertDFSt. John's432 Jamal SuttonFWSouthwest Missouri State541 Adom CrewMFBrown542 Luke VercolloneMFSeton Hall652 Matthew HaefnerGKPenn
Awards
MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 11 Jeff Cunningham Kansas City Wizards 18 Edson Buddle Dallas Burn 21 Kyle Martino D.C. United 23 Ross Paule Los Angeles Galaxy 25 Edson Buddle NY/NJ MetroStars
MLS Player of the Month MonthPlayerStatsLink September Jon Busch 4 wins, 17 saves
2004 MLS All-Star Game Starters DF Frankie Hejduk DF Robin Fraser Reserves GK Jon Busch
Postseason MLS Coach of the Year Greg Andrulis MLS Defender of the Year DF Robin Fraser MLS Fair Play Team Award MLS Commissioner's Award Lamar Hunt MLS Best XI DF Robin Fraser MLS Equipment Manager of the Year Tucker Walther Group Ticket Sales Leaders David Zorn Dylan Hanlon
Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Jon Busch Defensive Player of the Year – Robin Fraser Scoring Champion – Edson Buddle Man of the Year – Duncan Oughton Coach's Award – Simon Elliott Newcomer of the Year – Chad Marshall Goal of the Year – Edson Buddle Humanitarian of the Year – Nelson Akwari Hardest Working Man of the Year – Chris Wingert Comeback Player of the Year – Brian Maisonneuve Fan of the Year – Susie Gasbarro
References