A few weeks after defender Alex Crognale signed a Homegrown Contract with Columbus Crew SC, Maryland associate head coach Brian Rowland said that the Black & Gold were acquiring a player that “had the ability to be a very, very special center back at the next level.”
After Crognale’s first three MLS matches, Rowland’s words make even more sense than they did in January as the 22-year-old defender has been nothing short of impressive, not only being part of the Eastern Conference leader’s three wins, but also helping the club to two clean sheets and no goals allowed in the 197 minutes he has been on the field.