Michael Nanchoff Q&A

I conducted this Q&A with the pride of Walsh Jesuit, Michael Nanchoff, after his Portland Timbers

lost 1-0 at the Columbus Crew back in early July.  In the 82nd minute of that match to mark his only MLS appearance of the season for the Timbers.  Currently on loan to Swedish side Jönköpings Södra, Nanchoff talked about growing up as the son of a former pro, about wearing his Buckeye pride on his sleeve while on the pitch and about the importance of family.

Q –  Talk about growing up playing in Cleveland.  Which clubs were you with?

Michael Nanchoff – My playing background started when I was three, but at the amateur level, at the club level, I grew up playing for my Dad’s club, Internationals.  I moved on and played high school locally at Walsh Jesuit and then moved on to play in college at the University of Akron.  That was a great experience.  I got drafted by Vancouver and then was definitely fortunate enough to get picked up by the Timbers and play for (Head Coach) Caleb (Porter) again.

Q – Having played for your Dad for so many years and with him being a former professional soccer player, what were some things that he imparted on you to help you on the road to follow in his footsteps?  [Nanchoff’s father, George, was a standout soccer player at the University of Akron from 1973-76.  He played professionally in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), as well as for the U.S. Men’s National Team and the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team during the late 1970s.]

MN – It came down to picking and choosing certain things that I needed to learn from him.  Both on and off the field, because he played for a lot of years, about ten years or so.  He was the one who was always saying, “Go out in the back yard and kick the ball around if you want to get to the next level.”  That type of thing.  But he never forced me, he always left the ball in my hands to make a decision for myself.  It was always fun.

Q –  Despite the loss, talk about how nice it was to finally get into your first MLS match as a Timber back here in your home state in front of a lot of your friends and family.

MN – We never like losing because we set a high standard here for sure, but it’s a bittersweet thing.  I love Ohio.  I always will.  But I love Portland at the same time and I love this team.  We can do a lot of great things as long as we stick together and keep moving forward.

Q – Your time in Vancouver [the 2011 and 2012 seasons] was spent more on the field than on it, with all the injury setbacks you had there.  Talk about the most important thing you’ve learned in your time as a pro, which to this point, has been spent in two very different environments.

MN – First and foremost, I realized that you gotta’ put a smile on your face no matter what, because if you’re not happy playing soccer then I don’t know what other job’s going to make you happy.  Second, I learned to always be consistent with a positive mindset.

Q –  Obviously your Dad was a tremendous influence on you from being your coach for so long, but besides him, who’s someone who played a huge role in helping you get to where you are today?  Whom are you most thankful for?

MN – I point my finger at my family.  Everybody.  My brother, my sister, my mom.  She did a lot and that’s not just soccer, that’s pushing me through school and making me maintain the right head.  Even grandma, too.

Q – Not to bring it up again, but despite the loss, what was it like to be a part of a game in which nine players from Ohio were on the field at the same time?  As far as we know, that’s some sort of record.  Pretty cool, huh?

MN – It was really special because we grew up playing with these guys.  I was in the home team locker room with these guys at one point and now we’re in different locker rooms, so it’s a little weird.  It’s a cool thing though, but next time I’ll be gunning for them and I’ll try to beat them just like I was trying to do today.

Nanchoff’s loan deal lasts through the remainder of the MLS season, unless he’s recalled early by the Timbers for some reason.  Let’s hope that his game advances there to the point that next season, he can win himself a spot in the First Team.  He’s a talented player who works hard on his game, and when he’s healthy, he’s someone who can contribute to the Timbers’ quest to get to the MLS playoffs and to ultimately win an MLS Cup for their rabid fans.

PHOTO CREDIT: Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon-Journal

Darlington Nagbe Q&A

A recent rainy Wednesday gave me a chance to post this Q&A with Lakewood native and St. Edward High School grad Darlington Nagbe, which I recorded back on Sunday, 7 July after the Timbers lost 1-0 to Columbus.  Since arriving in MLS two-and-a-half seasons ago, we’ve seen him grown from a player who scored highlight-reel goals to one whose weekly performances often dictate how his team will fare – and more often than not, he’s been lights-out for Portland this season.  He earned US Open Cup Player of the Round honors for the Quarterfinals – if you missed his goal at FC Dallas, go check it out – and is currently the Timbers’ all-time leading scorer.  Below, he talks about having a professional soccer playing father and about being a part of history on that July evening in Columbus.

Q – After coming to Lakewood at age 11, what was your soccer playing background?

Darlington Nagbe – I played with Cleveland Internationals, coached by George Nanchoff and Louie Nanchoff.  I played with them until I went to college.

Q – What did playing with Internationals do to prepare you to play big-time college soccer and then to take your game to the pro level?

DN – It gave me the opportunity to play against the other top-level competition in the state.  They’re the best club in Ohio, in my opinion, and I got to play in lots of big tournaments across the nation and play against good players and get seen by good colleges.  I was lucky enough to go to Akron, right down the road from us.

Q – What was it like having a Dad who was a former pro?  I’m sure he had all kinds of nuggets of information to throw at you to help you get on the road to becoming a pro.  [Joe Nagbe played professionally for clubs in France, Switzerland, Greece among others, and he also represented the national team of his native Liberia nearly 100 times during his career.]  

DN – It was good, but he never told me to be a pro.  Never forced me to play.  He said it was up to me if I wanted to play or not.  He just let me make the decision and it worked out great.

Q – Not that you were thinking about it during the game, but what was it like being a part of a game that saw a record number of Ohioans take the field?  [Nine native Buckeye-staters saw action in the match – three for the Timbers and six more for the Crew.]

DN – It was great.  Mikey (Nanchoff) came into the game and it was the first time I’d ever played with him as a pro in a regular season game.  Also Josh Williams and Ben Speas.  It was fun playing against guys I grew up playing with and against.

This season, Nagbe has six goals and three assists this season in his 22 starts for the Timbers.  Being reunited with his old college coach, Caleb Porter, has seemed to both raise his game to the next level and bring consistency to his play.  Currently, the Timbers sit fourth in the Western Conference standings, on 35 points from 22 games, which puts them in a good spot as the season winds towards the playoffs.  Rose City soccer fans recognize that Nagbe will play a major role in how far into the post-season their squad will go.  Could he be the first Clevelander to lift the MLS Cup?  We shall see.

Week Nineteen Report/Week Twenty Preview

Since MLS Week 19 and MLS Week 20 are so close together, we’ll kill two birds with one stone with this post, going over the teams’ action from Wednesday and Thursday, and then also previewing their matches this weekend.  Here you go, in order of weekend gametimes:

Saturday, 6 July

New England Revolution  v  SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES, 730pm

The Quakes, who lost 3-2 at Chicago on Wednesday night, are on the rebound as they travel to Foxboro, Mass. to take on the upstart Revs.  Justin Morrow [Cleveland/St. Ignatius] started  at right back and played all 90 in a match that saw the guests score first, give up two, draw level through an own goal and then surrender the final score in the 84th minute.  Here’s the match preview from mlssoccer.com and also the Fan Guide from sjearthquakes.com.

Sunday, 7 July

COLUMBUS CREW  v  PORTLAND TIMBERS, 5pm

Though the Timbers didn’t have a league game mid-week, they did host Monarcas Morelia in the inaugural version of their Copa Verde.  Portland won 1-0 on a second-half penalty kick from Futty Danso.  Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] and Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] both started in the midfield.  Zemanski played the first half before subbing out and Nanchoff went the distance.  Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] sat this one out to rest up.  The Crew lost 2-1 to the Galaxy in the late show on Thursday night.  Fellow Clevelander and match referee Sorin Stoica played a big part in the outcome, calling two penalty kicks that LA forward Robbie Keane stuck in the same location to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  Were the PK calls questionable?  Yes.  I just questioned them right there.  Were they the correct calls for Stoica to have made?  Hmmm… you decide.  Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] started and played all 90 at right back.  Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] subbed off in the 66th minute after some fine work at left mid.  Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] did not make the trip out west and is still dealing with a strained left adductor, not the kind of injury that goes away quickly.  How many times and in how many ways can it be written that it was a disappointing loss for the Crew?  They need to get a string of positive results going or it’ll be two years running with no playoffs.  There’s still plenty of time.  So on Sunday, it’ll be a match featuring the most Clevelanders yet this season.  It’ll be both a Cleveland Internationals reunion and a University of Akron 2011 National Champs reunion.  Given recent coaching tendencies and injuries, it’s a near-certainty all six won’t get into this contest, but we can dream, can’t we?  I hate to write this, but late in the game, Crew goalie Andy Gruenebaum looked like he tweaked his shoulder.  If it was a serious enough injury, could Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] be pressed into emergency backup duty from the MLS Pool GK list?  Here is the match preview from mlssoccer.com, as well as the related versions from thecrew.com and from portlandtimbers.com.

MONTREAL IMPACT  v  Chivas USA, 7pm

Coming off a 3-3 draw at Toronto FC on Wednesday night, Montreal will look to get back to its winning ways.  Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was the backup goalie for the goalfest, which continues the Impact’s run of zero wins at BMO Field.  Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] was not in the gameday roster.  Here is the gameday preview from impactmontreal.com/en for the game with Chivas USA, along with the match preview from mlssoccer.com.  In one other Cleveland tie, this match was refereed by Dover’s Chris Penso.  It’s pretty cool that the Impact is hosting an International Diversity Day at this game.  They’ll have tons of music and food representative of different countries and cultures.  Here is the match preview from impactmontreal/en.

Colorado Rapids  v  DC UNITED, 930pm

DC lost 2-0 at Seattle on Wednesday night.  Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] started at right back and played all 90.  Still mired in the Eastern Conference basement after this loss, the capitalinos work their way back east with a stop on Sunday in Denver to play the Rapids.  Here is the match preview from mlssoccer.com and the Tale of the Tape from dcunited.com.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY  v  FC Dallas, 1030pm

Los Angeles, fresh off the victory over the Crew, takes on FC Dallas late on Sunday night.  No love for Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] on Thursday, i.e. he wasn’t in the gameday 18, and given the recent trend, probably none on Sunday, but the next Galaxy Reserve Team game is coming up.  On Sunday, 14 July, they’ll host the Timbers Reserves at 6pm, plus there’s an outside chance he might see some action in the International Champions Cup matches in August.  Here is the mlssoccer.com match preview for the Dallas game, and also the lagalaxy.com preview.

PHOTO CREDIT: 

Josh Williams Q&A

Columbus Crew right back Josh Williams is off to a flying start this season.  The Black and Gold came out of its first four matches with a solid 2-1-1 mark, thanks in part, to Williams’ stellar play.  Not only is #3 leading the team in scoring with two goals, but he is also ranked fifth in the entire league in the Castrol Index – stunningly, he’s the only defender in the top 20!!  I conducted this Q&A with Williams at the Columbus Crew’s home opener.  Here are his responses to various questions about his time with the Crew, growing up playing soccer in Northeast Ohio and taking his game to the next level.  

Q – Talk about your progress to this point in your first team career.  What’s this year like for you compared to last year?

Josh Williams – This is my first opening day start, so that’s exciting.  I think last year it was against Montreal, I got in the game but I didn’t start.  It was a real cool experience for me.  This is my first time, so when I woke up this morning, it was like Christmas day.  I couldn’t wait to get to the stadium.  It’s just fun.  Right now, I’m still young, even though I’m a veteran on this team and my career is only going up from here, so I’m just going to keep working hard and grinding it out and we’ll see where it can go.

Q – Talk about your roots growing up playing soccer in Copley.  Did you play travel soccer and then get into club?

JW – I started off with the Copley Cosmos and I played with them for a couple years and then I linked up with the Cleveland Internationals and I was with them when I was nine and I played with Chris Korb and Mike Nanchoff.

Q – Was Korb wearing the same shin guards back then that he wears now?  

JW – I think he was, man!  [laughs]  You’ve seen those then, obviously?  Those things are Dixie cups, I always joke with him.  And he keeps those socks so low, looks like he’s not wearing anything…  yeah, Korby’s actually been my best friend since pretty much that first day (at Internationals).  We kind of linked up then and the rest is history.  I was with them from age nine until about 17.  A lot of my time playing premier was with Internationals, playing with Justin (Morrow) and (former DC United player) Barry Rice.  We had a really good team.  We had a lot of guys who had successful college careers and a lot of guys who are playing in MLS now were on that team.

Q – Talk about how that prepared you for making the jump to college?

JW – I actually stopped playing (year-round) when I went to high school.  I played baseball and basketball, so I quit playing club soccer.  So that didn’t really prepare me all that much.  It prepared me for the high school seasons, but that was it.  Cleveland State prepared me, along with my work after college.

Q – Talk about Cleveland State.  What was it about your time there that helped get you ready for the pros?    Was it the atmosphere, the training sessions, working under a former pro soccer player?

JW – Yeah, all of those things.  But also the individual hard work that I put in.  We started off kind of rocky.  Kaz (Head Coach Ali Kazemaini) and TJ Kolba were trying to get things together my first year.  We were 0-17-1 the year before I came in and he brought in a bunch of local guys to go about changing the program locally, but we were able to turn it around.  We were a part of that.  There were a couple of rough years in there, but my junior and senior year we started to pull it together and we ended up having a lot of success, reaching the Horizon League Championship Game (in 2008).  I think that’s when the tables started to turn and I could see a future for myself in soccer.

Q – What challenges have you set for yourself in this, your second season?

JW – Dominate the right side, is mostly what I want to do.  I’m a defender first, so I want to shut down the right side and always post a shutout.  I want to get forward too.  Bobby likes me getting forward, so let’s see if I can turn things around and get some goals this season.  I was kind of unlucky with that last year, but I like to get forward and contribute some goals and some assists to help out the offense.  I want to be an anchor back there on the right side.

Q – Have you played at the back all your life, or is this position something that you’ve been growing into now in the pros?

JW – Obviously, growing up if you’re a skilled player they stick you up top or in the middle.  In high school, I played mostly forward and center mid.  At Cleveland State I played mostly defensive mid and then when I came here they moved me to the back.  I’ve played mostly center back and wing back with the Crew.

Q – You’ve been a Crew fan all your life.  Who’s your favorite Crew player of all-time and why?  

JW – Brian McBride.  I grew up as a forward, so I would always love going to the games to watch him.  I loved watching the more athletic guys and no one was better at that time in front of goal than he was.

* PHOTO CREDITS:  Korb – dcunited.com; Williams – csuvikings.com/sports; McBride – mlssoccer.com

2012 Week 9 Review

No goals this week, but our guys did play in seven of 11 possible games last week (not including three guys who are out injured and missed four games).  This upcoming weekend, we’ll have two head-to-head possibilities, as well as two of our boys will get to check out the Houston Dynamo’s new stadium – BBVA Compass Stadium – which opens on Saturday.  The place looks really sweet, expecially if you like the color orange.

• Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] & Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] – Montreal Impact •  Bush was not in the team for either match this week.  Ubiparipovic played 84 minutes at mid in a 2-0 win on the road at Sporting Kansas City.  Followed that up with 90 minutes on Wednesday night, as the Impact was dumped out of the Amway Canadian Championship with a 2-0 loss.  The aggregate was the same, after a 0-0 draw the previous week.    This week: v Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, 12 May, 4pm

• Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] – DC United •  Got in at right back for the final 14 minutes of a 5-3 loss at San Jose  last Wednesday.  This week: @ Houston Dynamo, Saturday, 12 May, 430pm – match to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network

• Justin Morrow [Cleveland/St. Ignatius] – San Jose Earthquakes •  Just win, baby!  Right?  Ordinarily, a center back whose team allows three goals at home can’t reflect fondly on any such match.  But the first-place Earthquakes scored five, so it’s all good!  Morrow went the distance in last Wednesday’s 5-3 win over DC United, and the day before, the gang at the March to the Match podcast called him “the best center back in the league right now.”  Wow!  This week: v Chivas USA, Sunday, 13 May, 7pm – match to be televised live on Galavisión

• Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] – Portland Timbers •  Started up top and played 90 in the Timbers’ 0-0 home draw with the Crew.  This week: @ Houston Dynamo, Tuesday, 15 May, 830pm

• Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] – Vancouver Whitecaps •  Was an unused sub for the Whitecaps’ 2-1 home win against San Jose on Saturday.  On Wednesday, Nanchoff started and played 70 minutes at outside mid in a 3-1 victory over FC Edmonton in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinals.  Vancouver will play Toronto FC in the two-leg final, starting next week.   This week: @ New England Revolution, Saturday, 12 May, 730pm; v Toronto FC, Wednesday, 16 May, 1030pm

• Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] & Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] – Columbus Crew •  Another 90 at center back for Williams in the 0-0 draw at Portland.  Once more, he nearly scored, with a goal-line clearance denying him of a fine header off a corner kick.  Here’s a story on Williams pairing up with Eric Gehrig last week at center back.  Meanwhile, Speas is still on the DL as he recovers from sports hernia surgery.  This week: v FC Dallas, Saturday, 12 May, 730pm

• Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] – Los Angeles Galaxy •  Was not a part of the gameday roster for the mid-week 2-0 loss at Seattle.  Neither was he a part of the squad for the Galaxy’s 1-0 home loss to the Red Bulls.  He did put in 90 minutes’ work during a reserve team 1-1 draw with San Jose on Tuesday.  This week: @ Montreal Impact, Saturday, 12 May, 4pm

• Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] – Chivas USA •  Is currently out injured with a sprained MCL, but is on the recovery trail.  In the cdchivasusa.com preview for last week’s game with Chicago, Zemanski said, “I’m close, it’s just that final stretch of getting confidence back in my knee, but I feel like I’m close,” Zemanski said. “I can pass the ball. I’m doing some [running] and cutting. It’s getting stronger, but there’s just that final stretch. I’m trying to get back out this week, but hopefully this week or next.”  Also, check out this link.  Evidently, you could win a date with Ben.  Interesting.  Without Zemanski, Chivas lost 2-1 to the Fire at the Home Depot Center last Friday night.  This week: @ San Jose Earthquakes, Sunday, 13 May, 7pm – match to be televised live on Galavisión

2012 Week 8 Review

We got 1.5 goals last weekend and five of the boys got first team action, along with a 4-2-1 record (the two losses were head-to-head, so that didn’t help our guys’ record.)  Still no yellow or red cards on the season from this lot.  They play hard and clean.

• Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] & Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] – Montreal Impact •  Here’s an article on how our pair, along with four other Impact players who were with the team last year in the NASL are doing this year with the league switch.  Bush was not a part of the gameday 18 for the Timbers match last weekend.  Here’s an article about the goalkeeping trio that Montreal has, primarily focused on the #2, Greg Sutton.  But, help me out here – isn’t the photo of Bush and NOT of Greg Sutton?  Weird.  Ubiparipovic came on in the 68th minute at outside mid and scored the second goal in the Impact’s 2-0 victory over visiting Portland on Saturday.  That gives him two on the year, in just 97 minutes on the field, spread out over three matches.  Effective.   This week: v Toronto FC, Wednesday, 2 May, 7pm – Amway Canadian Championship semifinal; @ Sporting Kansas City, Saturday, 5 May, 830pm

• Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] – DC United •  Was an unused sub in a 3-2 win over Houston last Saturday night.  This week: @ San Jose Earthquakes, Wednesday, 2 May, 1030pm; @ Toronto FC, Saturday, 5 May, 4pm

• Justin Morrow [Cleveland/St. Ignatius] – San Jose Earthquakes •  90 minutes at center back for Morrow in a 2-1 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.  This week: v DC United, Wednesday, 2 May, 1030pm; @ Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, 5 May, 7pm

• Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] – Portland Timbers •  Started and played all 90 minutes of a frustrating 2-0 loss at Montreal.  This week: v Columbus Crew, Saturday, 5 May, 1030pm

• Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] – Vancouver Whitecaps •  Nanchoff made the gameday 18 for the first time this season, but did not get into the ‘Caps 1-0 road win in his home state against the Columbus Crew.  Team Nanchoff was in full voice for most of the match, though, as a couple hundred of his nearest and dearest made the trip down in hopes of catching a glimpse of their boy in action.  This week: v Edmonton FC, Wednesday, 2 May, 1030pm in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal; v San Jose Earthquakes, Saturday, 5 May, 7pm

• Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] & Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] – Columbus Crew •  On Saturday, Williams actually did score his first-ever MLS goal, only to have it called back for a foul in the box.  Minutes later, he pounded an overhead kick off the crossbar!  Maybe Crew Head Coach Robert Warzycha should try him up front!  His efforts were not enough to keep Crew from falling to visiting Vancouver 1-0.  Speas is still on the DL as he recovers from sports hernia surgery.    This week: @ Portland Timbers, Saturday, 5 May, 1030pm

• Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] – Los Angeles Galaxy •  Was not a part of the gameday roster for the 1-1 draw with FC Dallas at home on Saturday.  This week: @ Seattle Sounders, Wednesday, 2 May, 10pm; v New York Red Bulls, Saturday, 5 May, 8pm – match broadcast live on ESPN

• Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] – Chivas USA •  Is currently out injured with a sprained MCL and missed the Chivas 4-0 loss at Colorado on Saturday.  This week: v Chicago Fire, Saturday, 5 May, 1030pm

2012 Week 7 Review

It was another goalless week, but next weekend, there’ll be a big traveling contingent heading down I-71 to Columbus to hopefully watch Michael Nanchoff taking on Josh Williams.  Fingers crossed that they both get playing time.  I’ll be there.  Will you?

• Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] & Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] – Montreal Impact •  Bush is back in action after recovering from an ankle sprain, but he did not make the team for the Impact’s 1-1 draw at DC United last Wednesday.   Ubiparipovic was an unused sub in the match.   This week: v Portland Timbers, Saturday, 28 April, 2pm

• Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] – DC United •  Played the full 90 at left back in the 1-1 home draw with Montreal last Wednesday.  Was an unused sub for the Saturday match, a 4-1 shellacking of New York Red Bulls at home.  Korb probably would have played in the reserve match with the Red Bulls on 23 April, but it was postponed and will be rescheduled for later in the season.  This week: v Houston Dynamo, Saturday, 28 April, 730pm

• Justin Morrow [Cleveland/St. Ignatius] – San Jose Earthquakes •  A broken record isn’t a bad thing if this is the tune it plays: 90 minutes at center back in another San Jose victory.  This time, it was 3-1 at home to Real Salt Lake.  Don’t look now, but guess who’s in first place in the Western Division!  And here’s a nice feature story on Morrow’s season to date.  This week: @ Philadelphia Union, Saturday, 28 April, 7pm

• Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] – Portland Timbers •  Started and played 89 minutes of the Timbers’ 1-0 win against previously undefeated Sporting Kansas City.  This week: @ Montreal Impact, Saturday, 28 April, 2pm

• Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] – Vancouver Whitecaps •  Not a part of the team for either game last week, not the 3-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday nor the 1-0 home win over FC Dallas.  He’s fit now, and will be hoping for his first game action of the season next week in his home state.  This week: @ Columbus Crew, Saturday, 28 April, 730pm

• Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] & Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] – Columbus Crew •  Williams nearly scored his first-ever MLS goal late in the match with Houston, and it would have been a game-winner, too.  But the two teams shared the points in a disappointing (for the Crew) 2-2 home draw.  Next week, he’ll hope to take on one of his former teammates from back in the day when they both played for Cleveland Internationals.  Speas is still on the DL as he recovers from sports hernia surgery.    This week: v Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, 28 April, 730pm

• Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] – Los Angeles Galaxy •  Was not a part of the gameday roster for a 2-1 win at Colorado on Saturday.  This week: v FC Dallas, Saturday, 28 April, 1030pm

• Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] – Chivas USA •  Was not a part of the Rojiblancos’ 1-0 loss at home to Philadelphia last Saturday, thanks to a sprained right medial collateral ligament that he suffered during the week prior.  This week: @ Colorado Rapids, Saturday, 28 April, 9pm