The following is a press release from Columbus Crew SC Communications.
COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that it has signed standout goalkeeper Steve Clark to a new contract. Since entering Major League Soccer prior to the 2014 season, the native of Mason, Michigan has consistently been among the league’s top goalkeepers, ranking in the top five in clean sheets, saves and clearances over that span. He was named a finalist for the 2014 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year thanks to his efforts in net and now inks a new deal with the Black & Gold. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Clark, 28, joined Crew SC via trade on December 16, 2013. In 2014 under new Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, Clark started every match and played every minute for the club in his first full campaign with Columbus, one of just five players league-wide to achieve that milestone. He notched a 14-10-10 record with a goals-against average of 1.24 and 111 saves, numbers that tied him for both second in the league in saves and fourth in wins. On nine separate occasions, Clark recorded five or more saves for Columbus.
As a leader on the field and in the community, we are excited to have Steve Clark committed to Columbus for the foreseeable future,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “His attributes complement our system and over the course of a year, Steve has established himself among the league’s top goalkeepers.”
Clark also contributed to the club’s style of play thanks to his ability to play the ball with his feet, evidenced by his total passes (866), successful passes (673) and passing accuracy (77.7%), all of which were MLS highs for goalkeepers in 2014.
In recognition of his immediate impact on the Black & Gold, Clark captured both the club’s Defender of the Year honor and the Kirk Urso Heart Award last season. He became the seventh goalkeeper to earn the Defender of the Year award in club history, joining Andy Gruenebaum (2012), Jonny Walker (2005), Jon Busch (2002), Tom Presthus (2001), Mark Dougherty (1999) and Brad Friedel (1996, 1997).
By stopping 111 shots in 2014, the former Oakland University goalkeeper became just the second member of the Black & Gold to reach 100 or more saves over the last 10 seasons. Clark’s 111 stops are tied for the fifth-most by any Columbus goalkeeper in any one campaign.
In 2014, during the pivotal month of September as the club fought for an MLS Cup Playoffs berth, Clark notched a record of 3-0-1, keeping three clean sheets over the span. He earned a nomination for the MLS Player of the Month award in recognition of his play. Additionally, Clark was nominated for MLS Save of the Week eight times in 2014, winning the award twice: Week 19 and Week 29, both against Montreal. Both stops would go on to become nominated for the MLS Save of the Year. The goalkeeper earned his first 2015 nomination for the weekly league award this week for his left-handed stop on New York’s Lloyd Sam.
Prior to joining Crew SC, Clark spent four seasons in Norway with Honefoss BK. In four campaigns, he posted a record of 30-32-32 and had a 1.34 goals against average and 26 shutouts. In 2011, as the club made a run for promotion, Clark led the team with 12 shutouts and a 0.93 goals against average, helping the club secure points in 25 of 30 matches en route to a 16-5-9 record. He played collegiately at Oakland University from 2005-2008, where he was a two-time All-Summit League player and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
The Black & Gold return to action next week and begin a two-match road swing on Wednesday, April 8 with a test at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10:00 p.m. ET / Time Warner Cable SportsChannel).
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew SC signs goalkeeper Steve Clark to a new contract on April 2, 2015.
Name: Steve Clark
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 192
Born: April 14, 1986 in Mason, Michigan
Hometown: Mason, Michigan
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Traded to Columbus from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for a 2015 fourth round MLS SuperDraft selection on December 16, 2013. Signed to a new contract on April 2, 2015
Professional Experience: Columbus Crew SC (2014-present), Honefoss BK (2010-2013)
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