Dayton Dutch Lions Feature -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Saturday, February 1, 2014
DAYTON, Ohio -- New Columbus Crew defender Matt Wiet credits his time with the Dayton Dutch Lions last year as a great transition between college soccer and Major League Soccer.
“It was nothing but a positive experience,” the Worthington Kilbourne High School graduate said recently. “It definitely helped. And I think there will be a lot of players to benefit from the experience.”
Wiet, pictured left, also played for the Ventura County Fusion in the PDL, and praised the Dutch Lions’ family-oriented attitude as he found everyone from the coaches to the front office staff to be incredibly welcoming and helpful.
A native of Columbus, Wiet recently became the Crew’s sixth Homegrown Player after an exemplary collegiate career at both Indiana and UCLA. He claimed a laundry list of awards during his time there, including Big Ten All-Freshman, Defensive MVP, Second Team All-Pac-12, and First-Team NSCAA All-Far West Region honors. He would go on to log four starts with the Dutch Lions in a shortened USL PRO season after beginning the summer out west with the Fusion.
It was little wonder that the Crew swooped in to sign Wiet, especially since he was a highly-touted prospect for the recent MLS SuperDraft. But signing with a team that has embraced the Homegrown Player program certainly has its benefits.
“I’ve played in the Crew’s system," Wiet said. "I know the system. Having good friends like Chad (Barson), Ben (Speas), and Wil (Trapp) on the team is really helpful. They were the trailblazers, paving the way for players like me.”
With a new head coach in Greg Berhalter, and new ownership group led by Andrew Precourt at the helm, Wiet knows that the 2014 Crew will be a different team from last season, but he is excited for the opportunity his first full professional season will offer.
“For them to put faith in me, it’s an honor. I’m excited to play for a great city. This is my home. I want to make an impact.”
Wiet seems primed to do just that, on and off the field. And it all started with an opportunity to play in USL PRO with the Dayton Dutch Lions. Given the newly established partnership between Columbus and Dayton, established this offseason, it's doubtful that Wiet will be the last young Crew player who will benefit from the opportunity the play for the Dutch Lions.