The Crew Soccer Academy U-16 and U-18 squads were idle once again this week ahead of the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy Winter Showcase in Sarasota, Florida next weekend. Similarly, the U-16, U-17 and U-18 Crew Juniors Gold girls squads will head to Raleigh, North Carolina for the CASL Women's Showcase Soccer Series.
Ben Swanson, CSA Wolves product Ahinga Selemani and the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team have a busy week ahead. The Stars and Stripes host Brazil on Wednesday, Turkey on Friday and Portugal on Sunday for the 2012 edition of the Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
On the college stage, CSA product Eric Erb excelled on the field and in the classroom during his senior season at Case Western Reserve University. The Worthington native registered four goals and two assists to go with his 3.96 grade point average as a nutritional biochemistry and chemistry double-major to earn Capital One Academic All- District VII First Team and Second-Team All-UAA hon
ors this season. On Tuesday, Erb added to his accolades by earning a spot on the Capital One Academic All-American team.
Erb was an instrumental player on the U-19 and U-20 teams that won the national championships in 2010 for Crew Juniors. He played on the U-17 team that won the Ohio South State Cup. Coached by Billy Thompson for a number of years, Thompson said this of Erb: "Eric always had a great work rate and a fantastic attitude. He gave 100% every time he stepped in the field – committed to getting better every day.”
The NCAA Division I Tournament held its Sweet Sixteen round on Sunday while the Division III tourney was idle in preparation for next weekend's Final Four. Here are how the remaining Crew Youth alumni performed in the Sweet Sixteen:
No. 5 AKRON -- Chad Barson, Wil Trapp (Assist), Eric Stevenson, Tommy Schmitt, Andrew Souders, Alex Ranalli (DNP), Andrian MacAdams (DNP): 1-1 (5-4) L vs. Creighton in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
No. 10 LOUISVILLE -- Alex Obbey (Assist): 2-1 W vs. Northwestern in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
No. 1 NOTRE DAME -- Connor Klekota(DNP): 2-1 L vs. Indiana in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
No. 3 GEORGETOWN -- David Witkoff(DNP): 1-0 (4-2) W vs.Syracuse in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
MESSIAH (DIII) -- Luke Helmuth,Jack ThompsonandLogan Thompson: November 30 vs. Loras in Final Four
OHIO NORTHERN (DIII) -- Ryan Saboland Austin Windsor: November 30 vs. Williams in Final Four
MESSIAH WOMEN (DIII) -- Mackenzie Clapper: November 30 vs. Misericordia in Final Four
*CSA Manager Karen Crognale contributed to this article
