Brad Stuver probably didn’t join with the Columbus Crew SC with the intention of seeing action only in U.S. Open Cup competition.
But with Steve Clark being an ironman in goal for the past several years, Stuver’s opportunities for game action have been next to nil. His only playing time this year has been in an international friendly against Veracruz a month ago.
That’s why the Open Cup means so much to Stuver and other Crew backups. Stuver was in goal for the Crew’s two Open Cup games last year and will again be the last line of defense tonight when Columbus plays the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a fourth-round (Round of 32) game at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.