The sun is shining...

Finally seeing some sun out here in Columbus, although its still a bit cold.  Sun does wonders tho, love seein it.  We wound up tying our home opener 0-0 which I am sure everyone noticed.  Without a doubt the better team, just couldnt find the back of the net.  But it was good we created chances, the finishing will come hopefully.  We got a good FC Dallas team coming in Fri night for our next one.  Should be a great game, and hopefully the weather is a tad warmer and we see a bit more Crew fans. 

Hung out with the team a lot this past weekend, it was a lot of fun.  My family was in town too! :) So it was awesome to see my parents, Greg and his gf Becky, and Casey Bowman also visited me.  We had game then we all went out to dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse.  I had an amazing Prime Rib, pops and I both.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.  Saw them off Sunday, and then watched the NCAA bball tourney.  Crazy man how Butler, reppin the Horizon league, and VCU makin it.  Hope Butler takes the whole thing, what a team they have.  SO likeable with Coach Stevens, and Shelvin Mack just torchin teams.  Dude is averagin 28 a game in the tourney. That's unbelievable.  Got some Chipotle with Justin and picked up some groceries, and the weekend was complete.

Trained this morning, then made lunch and beat Justins butt in FIFA.  We got the updated rosters so it was the first time we played with the current Crew team and ourselves.  Crazy man!  Fifa got my golden locks and everything, it nuts. Training the rest of the week and like i said earlier FC Dallas Fri night, and a reserve game Saturday.  So thats it for now.  Much love, gonna go make dinner.  Be back soon.


EG # 16


Shoutout to the band Rebelution, a reggae band who I have come to love!

Home opener vs NY Saturday!!!

What's up yall!  Just home from training, and it was prettty fricken cold :( weather was a tease for a few days.  We trained today at Crew Stadium, the surface looks great!  Two days away from our home opener and I think everyone is eager for it!  Should be a good game, we are motivated as a team to rebound from DC.  Hopefully Crew Stadium is poppin!  My family and a buddy is comin in for it so I am excited to see all of them. 

Our apartment is officially complete, and it really is a cozy lil pad.  Between the living room, basement, and my room itself Justin and I are very happy with the way everything turned out.  It's nice to come "home" too :)  We have had training all week since Tuesday, had Monday off so I was able to organize some things.  Our neighborhood is called Little Turtle, ha that was pretty funny.  It's nice though, in a nice wooded area with a golf course so should make for a sweet summer. 

Gonna watch the NCAA sweet 16 tonight with a few teammates, should be fun.  Butler repping that horizon league, pretty remarkable how they get it done game after game.  I'm excited to see how the rest of the tourney unfolds.  That's pretty much it for now, hope everyone is well.  Appreciate the texts and calls I am still getting, everyone knows I am a big family and friends guy.  Much love.  I will be back soon hopefully with a WIN after Saturday.  Black and Gold!

EG #16

Shoutout to my high school, Lake Central for providing me with 4 of the best years of my life! Indians!

Setback in DC

We lost both our first team game and our reserve game this past weekend.  3-1 and then 3-2, so it was not a good start for us.  I think we all know we are capable of better, for sureeeeeee. We have been playing so much better lately too, its rather unfortunate.  But with that being said, the season just started and its only one game.  DC was packed too, they were fired up and the crowd was raucous. RFK was rockin.  Our hotel was super nice, it was the Renaissance Hotel in downtown DC.  Pittsburgh basketball was staying at our hotel, it was pretty crazy how much coverage and support they got.  However, they did lose to Butler ha.  Bummer. 

We just got back today to Columbus and it feels good to be back. Startin to feel like home, once again love the group of guys we got man. The more time we train, travel, chill together the closer we get.  I think it's gonna translate into good things both on and off the field this year.  Whether its veterans or rookies, we are starting to build a solid team chemistry.  We got a weeek ahead of training and then our home opener against Red Bull, which will be exciting.  Hopefully the fans come out and make the place crazy!  Lookin forward to it.  We are off tomorrow, think I might be some apartment things to decorate the place a bit.  Justin Meram and I are settling in quite nicely out here in New Albany.  That is all for now.  Much love people!


EG # 16

Been awhile, and I am sorrryyyy

Ever since we got back from Atlanta, things been hectic.  In the process of moving into new apartment and taking care of all that so, been always on the go and of course training everyday.  Everything is well and I will be back soon with pics and updates! We fly to DC this weekend for both first team game sat night and reserve game sunday morning!  Hope everyone is well!  Much love!


EG # 16


Shoutout to the Indiana Magic for allowing me the opportunity to coach young kids with my brother.  No doubt in my mind the club will continue to do great things and I look forward to returning to help out at some point down the road!

Crew 3 Revolution 1

We pulled off a very nice win last night, as we beat the Revs 3-1, this time in Atlanta.  I started at center mid and switched to center back in the second half, so it felt good to go the full 90. I had some early nerves as I was basically matched up with Shalrie Joseph, who some consider to be among the MLS's best.  Overall though, I did quite well.  I thought defensively him and the other midfielder I did very well.  First half consisted of me connecting our defense to attack and then in the second was more ball-winning and instruction from the central of defense.  Overall, a very good game and like I said, it felt good to get a comfortable win.  I think anyone that watched the game knows who the better team was without a doubt.  We played some very good soccer, with two goals from Tommy H and one from Bernado.  The playing surface was lovely too, it had rained all day so it was slippery, but nothing bad at all.  The weather turned out to be pretty good come gametime so all in all, a very good night I thought.


Passed few days have been the usual training and then relaxing in our hotel.  The hotels been putting on almost all of our lunch and dinners so I don't have many sweeet food updates.  Pretty sore today, that's for sure.  We close out preseason tomorrrow night with our last preseason game against the Houston Dynamo.  Should be a good game as they have a quality team, and last time we played them in Arizona it turned out to be a physical heated battle.  We fly home Saturday morning and we can move into the apartments so that will be exciting. Hope everyone is well back home, miss you guys.  Almost completed preseason so.  Been a long but fun month and a half so gotta keep it going!  I will be back soon!  Much love.


EG #16


Shoutout to the little guy's hand I held when we walked out on to the field last night before kickoff.  His name was Jackson, cute little fella he was!

Revolution 2 Crew 1

We lost last night 2-1 to the Revs, in front of about 5,000 people up in Chattanooga.  The atmosphere was rockin, the fans were really into it.  Literally, outplayed them from start to finish, and fell asleep on two set pieces, which in soccer are very important.  You can kill a team and lose, so that was not good.  Other than that, the soccer we played was really good, we were really moving the ball from the back to the front and had numerous chances.  I started the second half at Center back and finished the match.  I was nervous heading into the game but once the half got underway, I just played, and played well at that.  Organizing, passing, tackling, heading, it all felt really good for me.  I was just having a lot of fun man, felt good to get out there.  I was pleased with my personal performance, and the teams for that matter.  Just gotta be sharper on set pieces.  The team's got a very bright future ahead for this season I would say.


After the game we headed back to Atlanta and pretty much relaxed till sleep.  We had training this morning, although it was really light and actually spirits were high.  Played some handball and then some 11 v 11 to goals with everyone playing in different positions ha.  I was up top with Sebastian Miranda with Chad Marshall at attacking mid.  We all had fun with it, and then got outa there.  Nice little workout, regeneration session.  We had a team lunch when we got back and that brings me to now.  Laying in my bed, showered, and comfy.  May do some bowling later with Josh, Cole, Justin, Chad, and a few others later.  Dinner is on our own so.  Hope everyone is well, and Crew fans be excited for this season!  We got a prettty sweet group coming together and I think it's gonna be a fun season.  Much love!


EG #16


Shoutout to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, making me so proud these days! Let's keep pushing to the playoffs baby!

Greetings from the ATL

We got in last night, after a  nice 1 and 15 min flight aboard delta.  They had Wi-fi so I was on my computer the whole time.  A short bus ride later we reached our hotel, the Doubletree, which is pretty nice.  The beds are money which is big, and overall its a clean, big hotel.  We trained this morning at the Atlanta Beat of the WPS facilities and I must say, pretty darn nice.  We play the Revolution tomorrow in a preseason match up in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Sounds like I will be playing some center back for about half the game so I am looking forward to it.  Between injuries and personnel available right now they are putting me there, which is fine because I have played it before.  It will be my first game with a significant amount of playing time so I am excited, plus I can show that I can play in different positions, not just defensive mid.  So should be fun, hope it goes well.

Training today consisted of some technical work, which is vital.  Always gotta focus on the small stuff because that's where you become technically sharp and warmed up.  We then went on to some finishing while some guys did some 6 v 6 to goals.  Finished with 11 v 11 scrimmage and we were donezo.  Our goalie Will Hesmer bought our van some Bojangles for lunch, which is a good chicken place.   Thought that was pretty nice of the big fella.  After that, my roomate and I, Josh Gardner once again ha just watched some College bball.  Crazy games between West Va vs Louisville, and ND vs UCONN.  I am an indiana boy so I love seein the golden domers do well, wish the Hoosiers would pick it up a bit :/ 

We then did some pushups and abs, little workout, and then the hotttub and pool.  Leads me to right now, which we are leaving for our Team Dinner tonight.  Hungry, so I am looking forward to it!  Really starting to settle in with the Crew, and very much enjoying it.  I love it.  Appreciate the love from home, whether via message, text, email, etc...means a lot.  Can't stress it enough.  I will be back tomorrow or Monday with hopefully a good report from the game.  Much love.


EG #16


Shoutout to one of my good buddies back home who I have become close with over the past 6 years Shane Cloutier, keep battling with the knee bro.  You'll be back stronger than ever once all the hard work is done and use this setback to fuel you even more! Love you my man

Atlanta tomorrow

Well the game didnt go as planned obviously.  Real Salt Lake is very good at home and it showed.  Plus, injuries and the altitude didn't help the cause.  It's ok though, the team fought hard.  Now we can move on and focus on to the beginning of the regular season.  We leave for Atlanta tomorrow, and we will be gone 10 days playin the Revolution twice, Dyanmo once, and lots of training.  It basically is the conclusion of our preseason so, should be a good week and a half of some hard training.  Lookin forward to it very much so. 

Guess what the fellas and I did last night? Yep, went bowling again ha.  This time it was Rich, Cole, and I vs Korey, Justin, and Josh.  My team went 3-1 :) So it was fun, we went downtown for a little afterwards.  Columbus has a nice little downtown area, met some cool people.  Today we just woke up, showered, and then went back out to Easton to the huge mall area.  Had some lunch, hit the bank, and nowww I am back here.  Skyped a bit today with my father and brother.  It was great to see them.  My pops is a legend.  Finally checkin outta this hotel tomorrow before we depart for Atlanta so thatll be nice to get out.  Believe we moving into our apartment when we return from the trip so it'll be awesome to finally get the "home" feeling and deck it out.  That's about it for now though, gonna get some panera tonight and lay low with the fellas.  Appreciate you checking in, and I hope everyone is having a good week!  Almost the weekend!  Much love!


EG #16


Shoutout to Gino Sciortino, who coached me at Loyola and has turned into a brother to me. Love ya big guy!

Crew Real Salt Lake 10 ET on FSC

Tonight's a huge game for our team.  With the first leg a scoreless tie at home, a goal on the road would be huge! Tiebreaker could be away goals so. We trained well this past week, and its gonna be a great game!  Hopefully, we can come away with a good result and advance to be the first ever american team to make it this far in the competition.  Game is being televised on Fox Soccer Channel at 10 eastern time so hopefully everyone tunes in! 

Been training hard the past few days, feelin better and better every day definitely.  I am starting to get in a nice routine of going to "work" everyday and giving it everything I have. I have been leaving a bit tired but fulfilled knowing I am working hard and getting better.  Gotta keep it goin.  Hope everyone is well especially back home to my friends and family.  I will keep this one brief for now.  Let's go Crew! Be back soon.


EG#16


Shoutout to Crew fans!  I have been fortunate to meet a few since I have been here, you guys are awesome!