The Crew fell to the Austin Aztex by a score of 1-0 tonight in its final preseason match before the start of the MLS regular season. Austin scored the match’s lone goal in the 26th minute, and Crew defender Gino Padula was sent off in the 35th minute after drawing a straight red card for a late tackle. William Hesmer kept the Black & Gold in the match with several standout saves, but the Crew was unable to capitalize on its scoring opportunities to overcome the one goal deficit.

The Crew now sets its sights on the 2009 MLS regular season, as it travels to Houston to take on the Dynamo next Saturday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel.

Columbus Crew vs. Austin Aztex
March 14, 2009 - Austin, TX

Scoring Summary:
AUS - Eddie Johnson 26

Crew Lineup:
William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Danny O’Rourke, Gino Padula, Eddie Gaven (Jed Zayner 76), Brian Carroll, Emmanuel Ekpo (Kevin Burns 62), Alex Grendi (Cory Elenio 62), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Steven Lenhart 74), Alejandro Moreno

On a chilly, overcast afternoon, the Crew defeated St. Edward’s University by a score of 4-0 in the first of two scheduled preseason exhibitions in Austin, Texas.

The Crew first tallied in the 13th minute, when Duncan Oughton’s cross was accidentally redirected by a St. Edward’s defender into the net for an own goal. Trialist Tom Heinemann then scored two goals for the Black & Gold on either side of halftime, first in the 18th minute, thanks to an assist from Steven Lenhart and then in the 72nd minute with Duncan Oughton assisting. Heinemann then capped his successful afternoon with an assist to Chris Clements for the Crew’s fourth and final goal in the 90th minute.

The Crew will train tomorrow morning (March 13), before facing off against the Austin Aztex of the USL on Saturday (March 14) in its final scheduled preseason match.

Columbus Crew vs. St. Edward’s University (Exhibition)
March 12, 2009 – Austin, TX

Scoring Summary:
CLB – Own goal 13
CLB – Tom Heinemann (Steven Lenhart) 18
CLB – Tom Heinemann (Duncan Oughton) 72
CLB – Chris Clements (Tom Heinemann) 90

Crew Lineups:
Andy Gruenebaum, Jed Zayner, Andy Iro, Chris Clements, Eric Brunner, Stanley Nyazamba (Alex Grendi 55), Duncan Oughton, Kevin Burns, Cory Elenio, Steven Lenhart (Stanley Nyazamba 80), Tom Heinemann

As promised, we’ve got an abundance of images from the Crew’s recent successful trip to England to share with you, including shots from training sessions, the rained out match vs. Guiseley FC and the match vs. the Liverpool FC reserve squad. Many thanks to Dave Maud, who was kind enough to pass these along! Be sure to check out his other fine work here and here. We’ve split the photos into three slideshows, which you can view after the jump.
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In the final match of its England preseason trip, the Crew defeated the Liverpool FC reserve squad, 2-0, Thursday (March 5) at the Reds’ academy site in Knowsley. Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto each tallied for the Black & Gold in the second half, ensuring that the Crew went undefeated during its UK excursion. The folks at Liverpool have a quality write-up of the action that you can check out here. Complete line-ups and scoring summary are after the jump.

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The Crew concluded the Florida leg of its preseason schedule this afternoon as it took on the University of Tampa and the University of Central Florida in a pair of 60-minute exhibition matches at the IMG Academies in Bradenton.

The Black & Gold came away with a 2-0 victory over Tampa in the first session and defeated Central Florida, 6-0, in the day’s second session. The full match reports are after the jump.

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The Crew picked up its first preseason victory of 2009 this morning with a 3-1 win over the U.S. Under-20 squad at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. Check out the full match report after the jump.

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The Crew lost to the Puerto Rico Islanders, 2-0, this morning at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., in its second preseason exhibition match of 2009.

Puerto Rico started the match on a high note, scoring goals in the first and 13th minutes to take an early lead which it would not relinquish to a Crew side that continues to focus the early portion of its preseason trip in Florida on fitness and evaluation.

The Black and Gold will train Friday morning before taking the field for an exhibition match this Saturday (Feb. 14) at 10 a.m. vs. the U.S. Under-20 National Team.

Notes:
- Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was forced to leave the match early in the proceedings due to an ankle injury and was replaced by Kenny Schoeni in the 20th minute.
- Second-year forward Steven Lenhart picked up a red card in the 30th minute. Due to the match being an exhibition, the Crew was not forced to go a man down and Lenhart was replaced by Jason Garey.
- Yellow cards were given to Jed Zayner (48th min.), Anthony Peters (78th min.) and Duncan Oughton (85th min.).

Columbus Crew vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (Exhibition)
February 12, 2008 – IMG Academies (Bradenton, Fla.)

Scoring Summary:
P.R. – Delgado 1
P.R. – Nuñez 13

Crew Lineups
First Half – Andy Gruenebaum (Kenny Schoeni 20), Danny O’Rourke, Chris Clements, Andy Iro, Gino Padula, Ty Shipalane, Brian Carroll, Stanley Nyazamba, Emmanuel Ekpo, Steven Lenhart (Jason Garey 30), Guillermo Barros Schelotto

Second Half – Kenny Schoeni, Jed Zayner, Anthony Peters, Chad Marshall, Paul Gerstenberger, Cory Elenio, Duncan Oughton, Eddie Gaven, Alex Grendi, Pat Noonan, Jason Garey

The MLS Cup-champion Columbus Crew fell to D.C. United, 2-1, Tuesday morning at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., in its first preseason exhibition match of 2009.

The match was an energetic, up-and-down affair as both sides looked to hit the ground running and make a good first impression for the upcoming season. The Crew recorded its lone tally in the 58th minute, off an unassisted goal by forward Jason Garey.

The Black and Gold will train this morning before taking the field for exhibition matches tomorrow at 11 a.m., against the Puerto Rico Islanders (USL1), and Saturday (Feb. 14) at 10 a.m. vs. the U.S. Under-20 National Team.

Columbus Crew vs. D.C. United (Exhibition)
February 10, 2008 – IMG Academies (Bradenton, Fla.)

Scoring Summary:
D.C. – Luciano Emilio 22
CLB – Jason Garey 58
D.C. – Chris Pontius 76

Crew Lineups
First Half – Andy Gruenebaum, Jed Zayner, Anthony Peters, Danny O’Rourke, Chris Clements, Emmanuel Ekpo, Duncan Oughton, Brian Carroll, Alex Grendi, Eddie Gaven, Steven Lenhart

Second Half – Andy Gruenebaum, Paul Gerstenberger, Andy Iro, Chad Marshall, Cory Elenio, Ty Shipalane, Brian Carroll (Eddie Gaven 67), Stanley Nyazamba, Pat Noonan, Jason Garey, Guillermo Barros Schelotto