COLUMBUS, Ohio — In last week's clash against conference foes the Houston Dynamo, Columbus Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was a late scratch due to a nagging shoulder injury that began weeks earlier.
Gruenebaum is again listed as questionable for Columbus' Saturday match against the New York Red Bulls (7:30 pm ET, TICKETS), and backup 'keeper Matt Lampson said that he had "no clue" whether he would be playing over the weekend.
But on Thursday, Crew head coach Robert Warzycha revealed to MLSsoccer.com that Gruenebaum would miss his second match in a row, giving the 23-year-old Lampson another start. Warzycha said that the team's loss in Houston does not make him any less confident in Lampson's abilities.
"We gave up three goals last week, but that's not his fault. He's a good goalkeeper, and at this point he's the best we have," he said. "He's learning and getting better, and obviously he needs some confidence. But he's very strong mentally, so I'm sure he's going to play well."
The likely spot in the starting lineup will be Lampson's third of the season, and the Ohio State product feels that the experience is crucial to his development.
"My goal is to be the future goalkeeper of this team for quite a few years to come, and these games are invaluable to me to get consistent play at this level and constantly be learning," he said.
While the team gave up three goals in Saturday's loss to Houston, Lampson's other start was a shutout victory over Portland in July, and the young 'keeper says that he hopes to show his worth in his few starting opportunities.
"I'm trying to make the saves that I should make and make the big saves to keep the team in the game that you need to," Lampson said. "I'm hoping that the coaching staff and the fans have seen enough that they'd be happy and confident enough in me to take over whenever that time may come."
Andrew King covers the Columbus Crew for MLSsoccer.com
