SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The Columbus Crew continued its preseason training Sunday night with a 1-1 tie against the Los Angeles Galaxy in an exhibition match before an estimated 5,900 fans at Cougar Stadium on the campus of the College of the Canyons. The Crew continues to build on its successful preseason campaign and has now registered nine straight matches without a defeat, recording a 7-0-2 record over that span. For the complete preseason schedule and results, please click HERE.
The Galaxy would draw first blood in the match, with Kyle Martino registering its lone goal of the day just eight minutes in. The game took another turn for the worse for the Crew just before halftime, when defender Rusty Pierce was shown a red card in the 43rd minute. But Columbus would battle back to tie just two minutes into the second half. Ned Grabavoy drew a foul in the penalty area and converted the ensuing penalty himself, tying the score 1-1. Grabavoy's goal would prove to be last of the match as neither team was able to notch the game-winner before the full 90 expired.
The team will fly back to Columbus today and resume training on Thursday morning. The next preseason match will feature a battle against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday (March 24) at the Crew Training Center at Obetz. Indiana, one of the nation's premier college soccer programs, has several alumni populating the Crew roster - Ned Grabavoy, Danny O'Rourke and Jed Zayner. The trio won an NCAA championship together at IU in 2003 and Zayner and O'Rourke would return in 2004 to lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back titles.
Columbus Crew vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (Exhibition)
Sunday, March 18, 2007 - College of the Canyons Cougar Stadium, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
L.A - Kyle Martino, 8th minute
CLB - Ned Grabavoy 2 (pk), 49th minute
Crew Lineup - Gruenebaum (Gaudette 46), Ward, Marshall, Pierce, Moss, Gaven (Evans 70), Oughton, (Miglioranzi 70), O'Rourke, Thomas (Rogers 46), Kamara (Garey 65), Grabavoy (Chandler 70)
UPCOMING PRESEASON SCHEDULE
MARCH
19 Return to Columbus
20 OFF
21 OFF
22 10 a.m. - Training
23 10 a.m. - Training
24 11 a.m. - Exhibition vs. Indiana University at Crew Training Center at Obetz
