Tuesday's confirmation that Alex Crognale signed with Columbus Crew SC to become the club's 11th Homegrown Player is another move toward the future. Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter is propelling toward 2017 with Crew SC's goals and challenges clearly defined.
Crew SC has already maneuvered through Major League Soccer's ½-day trade window following MLS Cup, the 2016 Expansion Draft, Waiver Draft and Re-Entry Draft Stage 1. The coming days and weeks will see the Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 come and go, along with the MLS Free Agency period and January's MLS SuperDraft in Los Angeles — a mechanism that Crognale was spared of by signing as a Homegrown Player.
PHOTOS: Crew SC Homegrown Player Alex Crognale
"What I like about Alex is – you know, we’ve been able to watch him over the last three years – and he’s really developed," Berhalter said. "He’s really matured, and I think every year he’s improved his game from both the mental and physical standpoint. We’re excited to see if he can keep going with that development.”
Crognale is a promising prospect. He's fast, he's positionally aware and he's a monstrosity in the air on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-5 center back rode an accolade-riddled senior season with the University of Maryland to the Big Ten title and into the second round of the NCAA tournament. Crognale and the Terapins dominated as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation from September 18 to November 20.
As a senior in 2016, Crognale earned All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, a First Team All-Big Ten selection and MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist honors. In four years with the Terps, Crognale made 73 appearances (69 starts), scoring 11 goals with three assists. Between 2013-2016, he helped record a +84 goal differential.
READ & WATCH: 3 things to know about Crew SC Homegrown Player Alex Crognale
“Making the step from college soccer to MLS is a big step, but we think – because of his progress over these last years and because of the way he’s been getting better and improving his game – he’s going to be able to do it,” Berhalter said.
Crognale will not be at it alone as a rookie, entering the Crew SC locker room amongst familiar faces and former teammates. His Columbus ties connect him with Crew SC Vice-Captian, MLS All-Star and fellow Homegrown Player Wil Trapp as well as Grove City native and Homegrown Player Ben Swanson. Crognale grew up across the street from Trapp, and — according to Crognale's mother, Karen — Swanson and Crognale were born and delivered under the same doctor's care. The 22-year-old Crognale participated in the Crew SC Academy with both the 23-year-old Trapp and 19-year-old Swanson.
The Crognale, Trapp and Swanson trio represent Crew SC's fourth, 10th and 11th Homegrown Players in club history.
“I think it’s hugely important to have local community members representing Columbus Crew SC," Berhalter said. "Alex is one of those players. We’ve had 10 Homegrown Players (before Alex) and he’s the next one. That’s special. When the people, when the public can come out to MAPFRE Stadium and see him on the field – to see local products on the field – it means a lot. It really ties that connection.”
Crognale's comfortability extends beyond Columbus as well. He played two seasons at Maryland with Crew SC goalkeeper Zack Steffen, calling the 21-year-old "one of his best friends." As teammates in 2013-14, Crognale and Steffen led the Terps to a 30-10-8 record with 17 shutouts.
“There’s going to be many elements of this new year for him that will be unfamiliar," Berhalter said. "So, having said that, it’s nice to have familiar faces around. It’s nice to have some comfort, because the whole process does get pretty uncomfortable for rookies.”
With Crognale in the plans moving forward toward 2017, Berhalter faces a busy 11-week period. When the season kicks off in early March, Crew SC will have trained in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Columbus, played a threepiece of friendlies at the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., and held the No. 5 and 9 picks in the first round of the SuperDraft.
While there's still much to be done, Crognale's Homegrown Player signing is a step toward the future.
