A CHANCE FOR ROAD TRIP HISTORY
The Crew heads back on the road looking to improve upon its hot start away from Crew Stadium in 2014 (2-0-0) ... the Black & Gold are looking to accomplish something not done in club history before -- win the first three road matches of the year ... the team has gone unbeaten on the first trio of road trips to open a campaign before -- going 2-0-1 in 2003 and 2-0-3 through the first five away contests in 2010 -- but a win in San Jose Sunday would make club history for a perfect three road matches.
WHAT A ROAD WIN COULD ALSO MEAN
While the Crew could make early-season history Sunday should it win on the road, a win also gives three consecutive road victories for the first time since 2007 ... during that season, the Black & Gold defeated Toronto FC 2-1 (September 22), New England 3-2 (October 13) and DC United 3-2 (October 20) ... the 2007 Columbus Crew finished 9-11-10 (37 points) and sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
LEARNING FROM A LOSS
The Black & Gold look to rebound from a 2-0 loss last Saturday against Toronto FC ... Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter addressed the best way a team can learn, telling local reporters, “No, you never need a loss [to learn] ... we always want to win. I honestly believe it’s better to learn from wins. I’m disappointed that we lost. Toronto played a great game and executed their game plan perfectly, but I’m still disappointed that we lost, no question.”
HIGUAIN CREEPING UP THE CHARTS
Federico Higuain is one goal away from moving up the Crew’s all-time top 10 goal- scoring list ... in just 46 career regular-season matches, he currently has 19 goals as a member of the Crew and sits in a three-way tie for 10th place alongside Robert Warzycha and Pete Marino (19 goals) ... his next goal moves him move him into a tie for ninth place with Alejandro Moreno (20 goals) ... Higuain will have to score five more goals this season to take over eighth place, which is held by Brian Maisonneuve (23 goals).
