The 2002 Columbus Crew season was the club's seventh season of existence and their seventh consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. The first match of the season was on March 23 against Chicago Fire. It was the second season under head coach Greg Andrulis. The Crew's USL A-League affiliates this season were Cincinnati Riverhawks, Indiana Blast, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Western Massachusetts Pioneers, and Reading Rage.
The Crew would win their first trophy as a club, the 2002 U.S. Open Cup, during this season. In the MLS playoffs, they would fall to the New England Revolution, the eventual MLS Cup runner-up.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive
Preseason The Crew brought in Antonio Otero, Jason Moore and Chris Houser into camp as non-rostered invitees while they were in Florida.
Midseason
Competitive Overview
MLS
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
U.S. Open Cup
Statistics Appearances and goals Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
|colspan=12 align=center|Players who left Columbus during the season:
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total 1 GK Jon Busch00000000 3 DF Mike Clark70101090 4 DF Daniel Torres71100081 5 DF Chad McCarty820031113 7 MF John Harkes30000030 8 DF Duncan Oughton70101090 9 FW Dante Washington00000000 10 MF Brian Maisonneuve50100060 11 FW Jeff Cunningham20100030 12 FW Edson Buddle20001030 13 DF Brian Dunseth50101070 14 MF John Wilmar Pérez00000000 15 MF Freddy Garcia20100030 16 DF Eric Denton10100020 17 FW Brian West30000030 19 MF Robert Warzycha10000010 20 FW Brian McBride10100020 21 MF Kyle Martino31001041 22 GK Tom Presthus00000000 23 DF Chris Leitch30000030 24 MF Jeff Matteo00000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 2 DF Mike Lapper00000000 6 MF Todd Yeagley00000000 25 MF Scott Powers00000000 31 GK Chris Wanamaker00000000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 Jon Busch512923 22 Tom Presthus200215Players who left Columbus during the season: 31 Chris Wanamaker00000
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource DF Brian Dunseth Miami Fusion F.C. Drafted in round 1 of the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft January 11, 2002 DF Eric Denton Tampa Bay Mutiny Drafted in round 1 of the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft January 11, 2002 DF Chad McCarty Tampa Bay Mutiny Drafted in the 2002 MLS Waiver Draft January 17, 2002 MF Kyle Martino Virginia Cavaliers Drafted in round 1 of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft February 10, 2002 GK Jon Busch Hershey Wildcats Drafted in round 2 of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft February 10, 2002 MF John Harkes Columbus Crew Free agent; signed to a one-year contract March 13, 2002 DF Chris Leitch North Carolina Tar Heels Drafted in round 4 of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to developmental contract. Signed a standard contract on August 16, 2002. March 15, 2002 MF Freddy García C.S.D. Municipal Signed via discovery July 15, 2002 MF Jeff Matteo St. John's Red Storm Drafted in round 2 of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to developmental contract. August 13, 2002
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Chris Wanamaker Cincinnati Riverhawks Short term agreement April 26, 2002 April 28, 2002
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource DF Tenywa Bonseu Dallas Burn Traded with a fourth round draft pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft for a second round draft pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft January 15, 2002 DF Ancil Elcock San Juan Jabloteh F.C. Placed on waivers January 15, 2002 MF John Harkes Columbus Crew Contract expired January 15, 2002 GK Mark Dougherty Retired February 18, 2002 MF Scott Powers New England Revolution May 17, 2002 MF Todd Yeagley Retired Took position of Assistant to the President/General Manager June 25, 2002 DF Mike Lapper Retired Took position of Director of Soccer Business Development July 11, 2002 MF Robert Warzycha Retired Took position of Assistant Coach December 16, 2002 MF John Harkes Retired Contract expired December 31, 2002 MF John Wilmar Pérez Independiente Medellín Contract expired December 31, 2002
MLS Draft picks
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. The picks for the Columbus Crew are listed below: Round Pick Player Position Team 17 Brian DunsethDFMiami Fusion F.C.19 Eric DentonDFTampa Bay Mutiny
Round Pick Player Position Team 14 Chad McCartyDFTampa Bay Mutiny
Round Pick Player Position College 18 Kyle MartinoMFVirginia220 Jeff MatteoMFSt. John's223 Jon BuschGKUNC Charlotte335 John Barry NusumFWFurman447 Chris LeitchDFNorth Carolina551 Christof LindenmayerFWLoyola University Maryland667 Scott LeberDFStanford
Round Pick Player Position Team 17 Luchi GonzalezFWSan Jose Earthquakes
Awards
MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 20 Jeff Cunningham NY/NJ MetroStars
MLS Player of the Month MonthPlayerStatsLink August Edson Buddle 4 goals, 2 assists
2002 MLS All-Star Game Starters MF Brian Maisonneuve FW Brian McBride Reserves MF John Harkes
Postseason MLS Rookie of the Year MF Kyle Martino MLS Best XI FW Jeff Cunningham
Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Jeff Cunningham Defensive Player of the Year – Jon Busch Scoring Champion – Jeff Cunningham Man of the Year – Brian McBride Coach's Award – Edson Buddle Goal of the Year – Edson Buddle Humanitarian of the Year – Brian Dunseth Hardest Working Man of the Year – Duncan Oughton Comeback Player of the Year – Brian McBride
References