2014 Columbus Crew season

The 2014 season was a significant break from the past, particularly off the field. New owner Anthony Precourt, having purchased the team from Hunt Sports Group midway through 2013, made his presence felt often through the year. The team enjoyed its best performance in several years, including an appearance in the playoffs for the first time in three years. Gregg Berhalter was handed the helm, serving both as head coach and sporting director. He was joined by a trio of assistant coaches that included fellow World Cup veteran Josh Wolff, and longtime MLS goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

Columbus started the season with three consecutive victories, including a road win over Seattle Sounders FC. This torrid beginning then cooled dramatically as Columbus won only one of their next 16 games. Dominic Oduro, the leading scorer from the previous year, was dealt to Toronto while Jairo Arrieta likewise struggled to make an impact. Defensively a pair of new Costa Rican signings, Giancarlo Gonzalez and Waylon Francis, missed significant time due to Costa Rica's run to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The defensive changes could have been more drastic, however, as Michael Parkhurst was left off the American squad.

A handful of players emerged in the latter half of the season, however, leading the team to a dramatic turnaround and ultimately a postseason berth. Federico Higuain was joined atop the scoring charts by third-year winger Ethan Finlay, with both ending the year with 11 goals and seven assists. Other significant players included the pairing of Tony Tchani and Wil Trapp at holding midfield and goalkeeper Steve Clark.

Ultimately, however, the team's quest for its first hardware since 2009 came up empty. It was eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup after two games, falling once again to the Chicago Fire. The mid season doldrums ruled the club out of contention for Supporters Shield (won dramatically on the last day of the season by Seattle). Finally, the team was comprehensively outplayed in the playoffs by the New England Revolution, defeated 7–3 on aggregate over a two-game series. The team finished their last playoff game with only nine players on the field after ejections to Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram.

Off the field, new owner Anthony Precourt made sweeping changes. Long-serving General Manager Mark McCullers left the organization in the spring, replaced by Andy Loughnane after a nationwide search. While there was widespread criticism of the team's new television contract with Time Warner Sportschannel Ohio, the team continued its success at the turnstile. Three years after team attendance plummeted to less than 12,000, the team enjoyed five sellout crowds during 2014 and finished the year with the highest total attendance in the history of Crew Stadium.

The most significant change, however, was the revelation of a new team identity. The team's logo, unchanged since 1996, was jettisoned in favor of a new design that tried to better reflect the team's relationship to central Ohio. The name of the team was also changed slightly, becoming Columbus Crew SC. These changes were nearly unanimously applauded, in sharp contrast to the reaction to a new MLS logo that was also unveiled during the course of the season.^[1]

As of October 6, 2014^[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  USA Steve Clark 2 DF  USA Tyson Wahl 3 DF  USA Josh Williams 4 DF  USA Michael Parkhurst (Captain) 5 DF  AUT Emanuel Pogatetz (INT) 6 MF  CMR Tony Tchani 7 MF  VEN Bernardo Añor (INT) 9 FW  IRQ Justin Meram 10 FW  ARG Federico Higuaín (INT; DP) 11 MF  USA Daniel Paladini 12 MF  USA Hector Jiménez 13 MF  USA Ethan Finlay 14 DF  CRC Waylon Francis (INT)

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 DF  USA Eric Gehrig 17 FW  USA Ben Speas (HGP; SUP) 18 FW  USA Aaron Schoenfeld 19 FW  CRC Jairo Arrieta (INT) 20 MF  USA Wil Trapp (HGP; SUP) 21 DF  USA Chad Barson (HGP) 22 DF  USA Ben Sweat (SUP) 24 DF  URU Agustín Viana 25 MF  USA Romain Gall (SUP) 28 GK  USA Matt Lampson (HGP) 29 FW  USA Adam Bedell (SUP) 30 MF  GHA Fifi Baiden (INT; SUP) 31 DF  USA Matt Wiet (HGP; SUP)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 MF  TRI Kevan George (on loan to Dayton Dutch Lions) 27 MF  USA Ross Friedman (HGP; SUP) (on loan to Dayton Dutch Lions) 33 MF  USA Matt Walker (HGP; SUP) (on loan to Dayton Dutch Lions) 41 GK  USA Brad Stuver (SUP) (on loan to Dayton Dutch Lions)

The Crew started preseason in Columbus and played games in Florida before returning to Ohio. The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp: Konrad Warzycha and Patrick Slogic.

Unsigned draft picks Ben Sweat, Fifi Baiden and Adam Bedell also joined the team for preseason.

Last updated: 19 October 2014
Source: Columbus Crew
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Columbus Crew (MLS) v Indy Eleven (NASL)

June 17 Fourth Round	Columbus Crew (MLS)	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Indy Eleven (NASL)	Akron, OH
7:30 PM EDT	Añor 4' Bedell  34' Paladini  110' Clark  112' Arrieta 114' (pen.)	Report	Corrado  45+1' Smith 62' Estridge  78' Moore  105'	Stadium: FirstEnergy Stadium Attendance: 1,913 Referee: Dimitar Chavdarov Assistant referees: Cory Richardson Igor Reznik

Chicago Fire (MLS) v Columbus Crew (MLS)

June 25 Fifth Round	Chicago Fire (MLS)	4–2 (a.e.t.)	Columbus Crew (MLS)	Bridgeview, IL
8:30 PM EDT	Ianni 34' Pause  54' Anangonó 83', 108' Amarikwa 92' Ward  118'	Report	Arrieta 55' Añor 70' Parkhurst  87'	Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 5,124 Referee: Robert Sibiga Assistant referees: Matthew Nelson Khalaf Al-Latayfeh Fourth official: Alejandro Mariscal

Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		MLS		MLS Cup Playoffs		U.S. Open Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	USA	Steve Clark	38	0	34+0	0	2+0	0	2+0	0
2	DF	USA	Tyson Wahl	21	0	15+3	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
3	DF	USA	Josh Williams	16	0	13+1	0	0+1	0	1+0	0
4	DF	USA	Michael Parkhurst	37	0	32+1	0	2+0	0	1+1	0
5	DF	AUT	Emanuel Pogatetz	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
6	MF	CMR	Tony Tchani	37	1	33+0	0	2+0	1	2+0	0
7	MF	VEN	Bernardo Añor	30	8	18+9	6	0+1	0	2+0	2
9	FW	IRQ	Justin Meram	36	9	19+13	8	2+0	1	1+1	0
10	FW	ARG	Federico Higuaín	30	12	28+1	11	1+0	1	0+0	0
11	MF	USA	Daniel Paladini	5	0	3+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
12	MF	USA	Hector Jiménez	28	1	19+5	1	2+0	0	2+0	0
13	MF	USA	Ethan Finlay	32	11	21+8	11	2+0	0	1+0	0
14	DF	CRC	Waylon Francis	26	0	24+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
16	DF	USA	Eric Gehrig	24	0	14+6	0	1+1	0	2+0	0
17	FW	USA	Ben Speas	16	1	8+5	1	0+1	0	2+0	0
18	FW	USA	Aaron Schoenfeld	16	3	7+8	3	1+0	0	0+0	0
19	FW	CRC	Jairo Arrieta	27	7	14+9	5	1+1	0	0+2	2
20	MF	USA	Wil Trapp	31	1	28+0	1	2+0	0	0+1	0
21	DF	USA	Chad Barson	15	0	8+5	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
22	DF	USA	Ben Sweat	1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
23	MF	TRI	Kevan George	5	0	2+2	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
24	DF	URU	Agustín Viana	4	1	4+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0
25	MF	USA	Romain Gall	3	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
27	MF	USA	Ross Friedman	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
28	GK	USA	Matt Lampson	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
29	FW	USA	Adam Bedell	18	2	7+9	2	0+1	0	1+0	0
30	MF	GHA	Fifi Baiden	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
31	DF	USA	Matt Wiet	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
33	MF	USA	Matt Walker	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
41	GK	USA	Brad Stuver	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
			Own goal	0	1	-	1	-	0	-	0
Players who left Columbus during the season:
5	DF	CRC	Giancarlo González	17	1	17+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0
8	FW	GHA	Dominic Oduro	11	0	6+5	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
25	MF	ESP	Álvaro Rey	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
26	FW	USA	Ryan Finley	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
40	GK	USA	Daniel Withrow	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

No.	Pos.	Name	MLS		MLS Cup Playoffs		U.S. Open Cup		Total
1	GK	Steve Clark	2	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
2	DF	Tyson Wahl	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
3	DF	Josh Williams	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
4	DF	Michael Parkhurst	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
5	DF	Emanuel Pogatetz	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	MF	Tony Tchani	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
7	MF	Bernardo Añor	5	0	1	0	0	0	6	0
9	FW	Justin Meram	2	0	2	1	0	0	4	1
10	FW	Federico Higuaín	8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
11	MF	Daniel Paladini	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
12	MF	Hector Jiménez	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
13	MF	Ethan Finlay	2	0	0	1	0	0	2	1
14	DF	Waylon Francis	4	0	1	0	0	0	5	0
16	DF	Eric Gehrig	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
17	FW	Ben Speas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
18	FW	Aaron Schoenfeld	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
19	FW	Jairo Arrieta	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
20	MF	Wil Trapp	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
21	DF	Chad Barson	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
22	DF	Ben Sweat	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	MF	Kevan George	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
24	DF	Agustín Viana	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
25	MF	Romain Gall	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	MF	Ross Friedman	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	GK	Matt Lampson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	FW	Adam Bedell	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
30	MF	Fifi Baiden	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	DF	Matt Wiet	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	MF	Matt Walker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
41	GK	Brad Stuver	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Players who left Columbus during the season:
5	DF	Giancarlo González	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
8	FW	Dominic Oduro	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
25	MF	Álvaro Rey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	FW	Ryan Finley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
40	GK	Daniel Withrow	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0