Crew not lacking in big game experience

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Crew as an organization is making its first postseason appearance in four seasons. However, the players making up the team are not lacking in big games, whether it be in the MLS Cup Playoffs or other competitions.

"A lack of experience is not even a question," captain Frankie Hejduk said.

It might or might not be a factor when the Crew open their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series Saturday at Kansas City. The Crew had the best record in the league (17-7-6) to win the Supporters' Shield while the Wizards (11-10-9) won five of the final seven to earn the fourth seed in the East.

Although the Crew certainly have veterans with a wealth of experience domestically and internationally, the key to success could be those with limited or no exposure to playoff pressure.

Midfielders Brad Evans and Robbie Rogers and goalkeeper William Hesmer will make their postseason debuts and center back Chad Marshall's only two games came in 2004 when the Crew also won the Supporters' Shield but went out in the first round against New England.

On the other hand, forward Alejandro Moreno, defensive midfielder Brian Carroll and reserve defender Ezra Hendrickson have five MLS Cups between them.

"It's good to have those guys with the experience of winning it. It's good to have guys that have been there before," midfielder Duncan Oughton said. "It's also good to have fresh guys who are eager to get after it. We have a really good blend of people here. Even the coaching staff has been there."

Head coach Sigi Schmid is no stranger to championships, having won the MLS Cup (2002), the U.S. Open Cup (2001) and three NCAA titles at UCLA. His 16 postseason victories are the most in MLS history.

"He's prepared us. Even these last couple of weeks he's been telling us the playoffs are a different beast and let's be prepared. He's got it in our minds," Hejduk said. "The preparation and experience and all the stuff people talk about is out the door with the team because we know what we have to do and we've been doing it throughout the year consistently."

A look at the wide range of experience, not necessarily in MLS, for the top 20 players on the Crew:

• High. It seems ludicrous to classify 35-year-old forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto as a playoff rookie but that's what he is -- in MLS, anyway. The MVP candidate (7 goals, 19 assists) has more titles (17) than any Argentinean ever, including 15 in various competitions with fabled Boca Juniors.

He is conductor that makes the Crew train motor to the tune of 50 goals this season, second only to Los Angeles. His set pieces could be the deciding factor at a time of the year when goals are at a premium.

In terms of MLS playoff appearances, no one on the Crew has more than Hendrickson. He has 31 over a distinguished career and won on MLS Cup winners with LA in 2002 and D.C. United two years later.

Moreno was also on the champion Galaxy of 2002 coached by Schmid. That team was also the last to win the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield in the same season. Moreno, who has 15 playoff games in the bank, also started for Houston's title team in 2006.

Although forward Pat Noonan hasn't experienced the thrill of winning the MLS Cup, he played in the past three finals for the New England Revolution. He has five goals in 17 playoff games.

The stats say Hejduk has only nine postseason matches for Tampa Bay and Columbus since 1996 but his international resume can't be ignored. The defender is the only U.S. player to appear in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. He was named to the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad but could not play because of injury. He has also played more than 80 matches for the U.S. national team.

"Enough of us have played in big games that we know what's at stake," said Hejduk. "We know how to prepare ourselves for these types of games. We're trying to keep that steady keel."

• Medium. Carroll, acquired in the offseason from D.C, had 10 postseason matches with United and started all four matches when they won MLS Cup in 2004.

"You had a good feeling all throughout" the playoffs, he said. "Guys were bonding together, willing to fight for each other. You had a feeling it was your year. It feels that way again."

Oughton is the longest tenured Crew but the memories from his rookie year of 2001 are not pleasant. He played in 20 games and made 12 starts in the regular season but coach Greg Andrulis did not play him in the two losses to San Jose that ended the season.

Defender Gino Padula, 32, is another Argentinean veteran without any MLS playoff games but no one can question his credentials. After two seasons in his native country, he moved to Spain before playing at several levels of English soccer from 1999-2006, where he was involved in numerous cup competitions.

Midfielder Eddie Gaven falls in the mid-range of experience. Although he played six times in the postseason for New York, his last appearance was in 2005. He also helped the U.S. U-23s qualify for the Olympics this year.

Brazilian-born reserve midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi, 31, has never been the part of the MLS postseason but has extensive experience in the first, second and third English divisions for Swindon Town FC and Portsmouth from 1999-2006. He was also on St. John's 1996 NCAA championship team.

• Low or zero. Rogers is in his second season with the Crew so he has not yet experienced the MLS Cup Playoffs. That doesn't mean he hasn't been in big matches. He played in all three Olympic matches in Beijing this summer for the U.S. That's called performing before a world audience.

The same holds true for first-year midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo. His Nigerian team knocked the USA out of the Olympics and Ekpo eventually received a silver medal after losing to Argentina in the final match.

"Look at the starting 11, Guillermo's played in huge games. Alejandro's been on championship teams. Eddie Gaven's been in there. Brian Carroll's been a champion," Hejduk said. "Myself, I've played in some big games through World Cups and this and that. Chad's been in the playoffs before. There's plenty of experience. Robbie's been in the Olympics. He's played on a big stage. Gino had some big games with the clubs he's played for. There's no question all of us to some degree have played in big games."

Marshall started both games as a rookie four years ago and he, Oughton and Hejduk are the only remaining players from the Crew's last playoff excursion. Two of his four goals this season were against Kansas City.

Central defender Danny O'Rourke's only experience is one game with San Jose in 2005 but he was captain when Indiana won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2003-04. (Crew reserve defender Jed Zayner also played for the Hoosiers those seasons). O'Rourke will likely pair with Marshall against the Wizards.

Evans, in his second season, will get his initial postseason start after having the MLS goal of the week, a 30-yard strike on Sunday that gave the Crew a 1-0 win against D.C.

Rookie forward Steven Lenhart is looking to come off the bench for his first postseason appearance but won an NAIA title last year for Azusa Pacific.

Forward Jason Garey did not play in the postseason for the non-qualifying Crew his first two seasons but could get an opportunity over the next two matches as a substitute. He and Rogers helped Maryland to the 2005 NCAA College Cup title.

Rookie defender Andy Iro was a central figure on UC-Santa Barbara's 2006 NCAA championship. He would start for O'Rourke if Schmid decides to go with a taller presence alongside Marshal because the narrower field at CommunityAmerica Ballpark is conducive to a lot of service into the box.

Neither goalkeeper has played in the postseason. Third-year pro Andy Gruenebaum, who started the first 10 matches of 2007, helped Kentucky reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore in 2003.

Hesmer has started 49 of the past 50 matches over the past two seasons after coming over from Kansas City where he played three matches over the previous three years.

"I'm not reading too much into playing my old team. It's a big series for the whole Crew organization, the team," he said. "They've completely reshaped and retooled the team that I was a part of (at K.C.). They've got a lot of new players. I still have a handful of good friends there so it will be fun going up against them."

He isn't worried about lacking playoff experience.

"I don't see it being any different," Hesmer said. 'I've put pressure on myself and made sure that every week I've been in there counted. I don't see how I could have made it more intense for myself during the season. I took every game seriously. I'll just keep doing what I've done all year."

His coach echoes those feelings even though Schmid knows what Hesmer's counterpart can do. Kevin Hartman was in goal for the Galaxy's titles in 2002 and also in 2005 when Steve Sampson was in charge. Hartman has 14 shutouts in 42 playoff games.

"He and I are good friends. I've known him a long time. I coached him at UCLA and coached him with the Galaxy," Schmid said. "He's a competitor. He's really worked hard going into this season. He's as fit as he's been and as sharp as he's been in a long time. He's obviously, in my mind, a very good shot-stopper, but I'm very happy with our goalkeeper."