The Columbus Crew announced today that it has signed both of its 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft selections, as midfielders Andy Adlard and Ben Sippola have agreed to terms with the club and will don Black & Gold for the 2011 season. Per club and league policy, no further terms were disclosed.
A second round Supplemental Draft selection (No. 30 overall), Sippola was a semifinalist for the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy who started 55 of the 56 games in which he appeared at Butler. He had his breakthrough year in college in 2010, when he scored eight of his 13 career goals and recorded nine of his 13 assists. The 5-foot-8 native of Northfield, Minn., was named to the 2010 NSCAA All-American First Team.
Adlard, the Crew's third-round Supplemental Draft selection (No. 48 overall), is a product of Indiana University where he saw action in 86 games, 69 of them starts, and was a teammate of fellow Crew rookie Rich Balchan. The 5-9 attacking midfielder scored 19 goals and recorded 17 assists in his four years as a Hoosier. He was a 2010 First Team All-Big Ten honoree as well as Third Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region.
