COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew selected Major League Soccer Pool Goalkeeper Brad Stuver with its first selection (fourth overall) in the 2013 MLS Waiver Draft, held today via a League conference call. With the selection, the club exercises Stuver’s 2014 option and the 22-year-old goalkeeper is immediately added to the club’s roster.
Columbus was one of two teams to make a selection in the Waiver Draft, joining the New England Revolution, who selected Paolo DelPiccolo with the second selection (12th overall).
Originally drafted in the Second Round (32nd overall) by the Montreal Impact in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Stuver spent a significant segment of the 2013 season with the Black & Gold as an MLS Pool Goalkeeper, and he served as the primary back-up to Matt Lampson on Saturday, September 21 with Andy Gruenebaum and Dan Withrow unavailable for selection due to injury. The Twinsburg, Ohio native also made training and gameday roster appearances with Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake and New England but has yet to make his MLS – and professional – debuts.
Stuver compiled a 33-27-7 record in four seasons collegiately at Cleveland State University, including a senior season in which he started all 20 of his team’s matches, posting a 11-6-3 record with a 0.86 goals against average. As a junior and a senior, he earned Second Team All-Horizon League honors after being tabbed Horizon League Goalkeeper of Year and All-Horizon League First Team honors as a sophomore. He posted a team-best 58 saves in his freshmen season in just 10 starts, becoming the number one goalkeeper for the Vikings by the end of his first campaign.
Goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, forward Dominic Oduro and defender Josh Williams remain out of contract following the 2013 MLS season, but the Crew is currently in discussions with all three players, and future roster announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
The Crew’s current 19-man roster follows:
Goalkeepers (3): Matt Lampson, Daniel Withrow, Brad Stuver.
Defenders (5): Chad Barson, Eric Gehrig, Chad Marshall, Agustin Viana, Tyson Wahl
Midfielders (8): Bernardo Anor, Ethan Finlay, Kevan George, Justin Meram, Shawn Sloan, Ben Speas, Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp
Forwards (3): Federico Higuain, Ryan Finley, Aaron Schoenfeld
TRANSACTION:Columbus Crew selects goalkeeper Brad Stuver in the 2013 Major League Soccer Waiver Draft (first selection, fourth overall pick).
Name: Brad Stuver
Pronunciation: Brad STEW-vur
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Born: April 16, 1991 in Mayfield, Ohio
Hometown: Twinsburg, Ohio
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Selected with the Crew’s first pick (fourth overall) in the 2013 MLS Waiver Draft
Professional Experience: MLS Pool Goalkeeper w/ Columbus Crew, Chivas USA, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake (2013)
