CREW SC OFF TO BEST REGULAR-SEASON START SINCE 2010
Through six matches in the 2019 MLS regular season, Crew SC has posted a winning record of 4-1-1. Notably, this is the Club’s best record since the 2010 regular season, when the club posted a 4-0-2 record through its first six matches. In 2019, the Crew is also undefeated when playing at MAPFRE Stadium, with a regular-season record of 3-0-1.
BLACK & GOLD DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST IN MLS
This season, Crew SC has only allowed four goals in six regular-season matches, while posting four shutouts. The Black & Gold currently lead the League in shutouts and have conceded the second-fewest number of goals, behind only Seattle Sounders FC (three goals). At home, the Crew has only allowed one goal in regular-season action this year, having conceded in the sixth minute of a match against the New York Red Bulls (March 2).
STEFFEN EXTENDS SHUTOUT STREAK TO 444 MINUTES
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen registered a shutout against New England in Saturday’s 1-0 home victory. With the clean sheet, Steffen extended his shutout streak to 444 consecutive minutes, having last conceded in the sixth minute of a home contest against the New York Red Bulls (March 2). Since then, Steffen has posted four shutouts, earning two clean sheets against the New England Revolution (March 9 and April 6), FC Dallas (March 16) and Atlanta United FC (March 30). Should Steffen play another 82 minutes without conceding a goal, he would set a new Club record for longest consecutive shutout streak, surpassing his previous record of 525 minutes, set just last year.
WILLIAMS SCORES GAME-WINNER AGAINST THE REVS
Defender Josh Williams scored Crew SC’s game-winning goal – his first strike of the 2019 regular season – in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution. Williams scored in the 42nd minute on a cross from a Federico Higuain free kick, which Williams headed into the back of the net. The tally was Williams’ first regular-season goal since he scored in a road contest against New York City FC on October 22, 2017, with the match resulting in a 2-2 draw for the Black & Gold. To date, Williams has made 116 regular-season appearances (102 starts) for Columbus, scoring eight goals.
HIGUAIN ADDS THIRD ASSIST OF 2019 REGULAR SEASON
Midfielder Federico Higuain registered his third assist of the 2019 regular season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. Higuain’s game-winning helper came in the 42nd minute of the contest, as he crossed a ball from a free kick, allowing Josh Williams to score from a header. Through six regular-season appearances (all starts) in 2019, Higuain leads the Black & Gold in assists with three helpers, including one game-winning assist.
HIGUAIN: JOINT REGULAR-SEASON ASSIST LEADER FOR CREW SC
Federico Higuain’s helper in the 42nd minute of Crew SC’s home match against the New England Revolution was his 61st regular-season assist since joining the Black & Gold in 2012. Higuain is now tied with Robert Warzycha on the Crew’s list of all-time regular-season assist leaders and needs only one more helper to overtake Warzycha as the outright all-time leader. Notably, Higuain’s assist against New England was also his 20th game-winning assist in regular-season action, extending his lead as Columbus’ leader in this category.
HANSEN MAKES 2019 REGULAR-SEASON DEBUT
Niko Hansen made his 2019 regular-season debut in Saturday’s match against the New England Revolution, coming in as a substitute in the 85th minute for Pedro Santos. This was Hansen’s first regular-season appearance since starting in a home contest against Minnesota United FC (October 28) last year. Hansen was selected by Crew SC in the First Round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft on January 13, 2017 and has made 37 regular-season appearances (14 starts) to date, scoring four goals and providing five assists.
FRANCIS NEARING 100TH REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE IN MLS
Defender Waylon Francis is on the verge of making his 100th regular-season appearance in Major League Soccer. Francis, 28, played for Crew SC from 2014 to 2018 before spending that 2018 season with Seattle Sounders FC. Since joining Major League Soccer in 2014, he has made 99 regular-season appearances (85 starts) and has provided 19 assists.
TRAPP SURPASSES MCBRIDE IN REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCES
With his start in Saturday’s home win over the New England Revolution, Wil Trapp surpassed Crew SC legend Brian McBride in regular-season appearances (162) for the Club, to take sole possession of eighth-place On Columbus’ list of all-time regular-season appearance leaders. Additionally, Trapp is currently tied with McBride for sixth-place in regular-season starts (158) for the Club. Trapp, a Crew SC Academy product, signed with the Club as a Homegrown Player on December 13, 2012. To date, he has scored two goals and provided 15 assists. McBride played for the Black & Gold from 1996-2003, scoring 62 goals and providing 45 assists.
