COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew announced today that it has signed forward Ricardo Pierre-Louis to a developmental contract and that he will occupy the roster spot previously held by midfielder Adam Moffat, who has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.
Pierre-Louis was one of the Crew's two second-round selections (No. 22 overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, out of Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. He trained with Columbus during portions of the preseason and recently rejoined the squad for regular training after completing his final college semester. Pierre-Louis started and went the first 67 minutes of the Crew's 3-2 Reserve Division victory Sunday at Kansas City.
A 23-year-old native of Leogane, Haiti, Pierre-Louis scored 101 goals, with 33 assists, in 63 career games at Lee. Pierre-Louis, who speaks five languages, was named the NAIA Player of the Year and the Region XIII Player of the Year in 2007. He was also named to the NAIA All-American First Team, the NAIA Region XIII First Team and the SSAC First Team for three consecutive seasons (2005-07). Pierre-Louis has scored six goals in 26 appearances for the Haitian National Team and also made contributions at the U-23, U-20 and U-17 levels.
Moffat, 22, underwent season-ending surgery last week to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee he suffered in training on June 5. He scored two goals in seven games this season.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it is currently in its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.