Ben Crawley
Encyclopedia
Ben Crawley is a retired American soccer player. He was a member of the United States teams at both the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
and 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship but spent most of his professional career with lower division teams. He played five games in Major League Soccer
with D.C. United
in 1996.
, moving with his family to Austin, Texas
when he was six. He spent his early years as a goalkeeper in the Capital Soccer Club, but was put on the front line as a freshman in high school. He was a 1989 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player at Westlake High School
. He attended the University of Virginia
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1989 to 1992. He led the Cavaliers in scoring in 1990, 1991 and 1992, finishing his career with forty-seven goals and thirty-three assists. In 1992, he was selected as a First-Team All-American
. Crawley and his teammates won the 1989, 1991 and 1992 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
.
as it prepared for the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
. The team successfully made it through qualification and Crawley played all three U.S. games at the World Championship. On July 12, 1987, he scored the winning goal in the opening game for the U.S., a 1–0 win over Ecuador. But two losses put the team out of contention for a spot in the second round. In 1988, he moved up to the U-20 national team
which qualified for the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. Crawley again played every game as the U.S. took fourth.
. In the fall of 1994, he had trials with the Baltimore Spirit and Wichita Wings
of the National Professional Soccer League, but was not signed by either team for the regular season. On January 27, 1995, he signed with the Richmond Kickers
in USISL where he was named a 1995 USISL All Star. In August 1995, the Kickers take the "double" when they win the league and 1995 U.S. Open Cup
titles. On February 7, 1996, D.C. United
selected Crawley in the tenth round (100th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played five games for United. On June 8, 1996, D.C. sent him on loan to the Richmond Kickers
, then waived him on June 30, 1996. He finished the season in Richmond. In 1997, he returned to the Austin Lone Stars
in USISL. In 2000, he played a single season with the Palm Beach Pumas
in the Premier Development League.
1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1987 was held in the cities of Toronto, Saint John, Montreal, and St. John's in Canada between 12 July and 25 July 1987...
and 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship but spent most of his professional career with lower division teams. He played five games in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
in 1996.
Youth
Crawley spent his early youth in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, moving with his family to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
when he was six. He spent his early years as a goalkeeper in the Capital Soccer Club, but was put on the front line as a freshman in high school. He was a 1989 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player at Westlake High School
Westlake High School
Westlake High School may refer to:*Westlake High School , Westlake Village, California*Westlake High School , Atlanta, Georgia*Westlake High School - Westlake, Louisiana*Westlake High School , Waldorf, Maryland...
. He attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1989 to 1992. He led the Cavaliers in scoring in 1990, 1991 and 1992, finishing his career with forty-seven goals and thirty-three assists. In 1992, he was selected as a First-Team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. Crawley and his teammates won the 1989, 1991 and 1992 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
.
National team
Crawley was a regular on the junior national teams during the late 1980s. In 1986, he joined the U-17 national teamUnited States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
as it prepared for the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1987 was held in the cities of Toronto, Saint John, Montreal, and St. John's in Canada between 12 July and 25 July 1987...
. The team successfully made it through qualification and Crawley played all three U.S. games at the World Championship. On July 12, 1987, he scored the winning goal in the opening game for the U.S., a 1–0 win over Ecuador. But two losses put the team out of contention for a spot in the second round. In 1988, he moved up to the U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
which qualified for the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. Crawley again played every game as the U.S. took fourth.
Professional
In 1990, during the collegiate off-season, Crawley played for the Austin Sockadillos in the SISL outdoor league. He spent the 1991 with the Sockadillos as well. Following his graduation from Virginia in 1993, he signed with TuS Celle F.C. in the German Regionalliga NordRegionalliga Nord
The Regionalliga Nord is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the northern and eastern part of Germany. It covers ten of the sixteen states of Germany...
. In the fall of 1994, he had trials with the Baltimore Spirit and Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
of the National Professional Soccer League, but was not signed by either team for the regular season. On January 27, 1995, he signed with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in USISL where he was named a 1995 USISL All Star. In August 1995, the Kickers take the "double" when they win the league and 1995 U.S. Open Cup
1995 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* AAC Eagles 1-2 Chicago Stingers * Connecticut Wolves 0-3 New York Centaurs * Tampa Bay Cyclones 2-4 Atlanta Ruckus * Richmond Kickers 6-1 Maryland Spartans...
titles. On February 7, 1996, D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
selected Crawley in the tenth round (100th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played five games for United. On June 8, 1996, D.C. sent him on loan to the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, then waived him on June 30, 1996. He finished the season in Richmond. In 1997, he returned to the Austin Lone Stars
Austin Lone Stars
The Austin Lone Stars were a soccer club that competed in the SISL, USISL and United Soccer Leagues from 1987 to 2000. The club originally started in 1987/88 as the Austin Sockadillos in the original indoor SISL league. They became the Austin Lone Stars in 1994.-History:In 1987, Fernando Marcos...
in USISL. In 2000, he played a single season with the Palm Beach Pumas
Palm Beach Pumas
Palm Beach Pumas was an American soccer team based in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. Founded in 2000, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played...
in the Premier Development League.