The Columbus Crew announced today that it has signed forwards George Josten and Steven Lenhart and defenders Ryan Miller and Andrew Peterson to developmental contracts. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed. The Crew opens the 2008 regular season Saturday (March 29) vs. Toronto FC at 4 p.m. at Crew Stadium.
Josten, the first of two Crew selections in the second-round (No. 20 overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, scored 34 goals, with 17 assists, in 79 career collegiate games at Gonzaga. The Idaho Falls, Idaho, product finished his career ranked third in school history in goals and assists and fourth in points (85). He was named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team for three consecutive seasons (2005-07), the NSCAA All-Far West Region First Team in 2007 and 2006, the NSCAA All-Far West Third Team in 2005, the WCC All-Freshman Team in 2005 and was Honorable Mention All-WCC in 2004.
Lenhart was selected in the fourth round (No. 48 overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native totaled 38 goals and 12 assists in 61 career collegiate games at Azusa Pacific University. He was twice named to the All-GSAC Team (2006-07) and the NAIA All-Tournament Team (2006-07), as well as being honored as the NAIA Tournament Outstanding Offensive Player (2006-07). He was also named a NAIA All-American in 2007, when he helped lead Azusa Pacific to the NAIA national title.
Miller was the Crew's third-round pick (No. 31 overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. A native of Barrington, Ill., Miller scored seven goals, with 11 assists in 91 career collegiate appearances at Notre Dame. Miller was named to the NSCAA All-American Second Team, the All-Big East First Team and the Big East All-Tournament Team in 2007. He was also named to the NSCAA All-Scholar Team.
Peterson joined the Crew in the middle of the 2007 campaign after starting his season with the Cleveland City Stars of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division. The Edina, Minn., native made his MLS and Crew debut in the club's final regular season match of the 2007 season at D.C. United, where he logged 75 minutes for the Black & Gold. He also started all six Reserve Division games in which he appeared for Columbus in 2007. Peterson was a standout defender who started 74 of the 85 matches in which he appeared at Creighton University. He was named a second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a senior in 2006. As a junior, he was named second-team NSCAA All-Midwest Region and was named to the MVC all-tournament team in helping the Bluejays to the tournament title.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it will open its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 29, when it plays host to Eastern Conference-rival Toronto FC.
TRANSACTION:
Columbus Crew (MLS) - Signed F George Josten, F Steven Lenhart, D/M Ryan Miller and D Andrew Peterson.
