Major League Soccer

Elbow injury forces Presthus to retire from Crew; New England extends contract for Nicol.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Wednesday, January 14, 2004) -- Columbus Crew goalkeeper Tom Presthus announced his retirement from professional soccer today.

"Although it was a difficult decision, I feel it is time to retire from professional soccer," Presthus said in a Crew press release. "I will miss the competition and camaraderie of being a professional soccer player. However, the injury to my elbow and ensuing surgery has made a full physical recovery doubtful. Rather than chase my soccer career, I feel it's important to pursue the next stage of my life"

Meanwhile, Columbus acquired veteran defender Robin Fraser from the Colorado Rapids for their second-round pick in Friday's Major League Soccer draft and a conditional selection in 2005. Yesterday, the team obtained midfielder Manny Lagos from the San Jose Earthquakes for a third-round draft pick in 2005.

Presthus, 28, who will work as a financial planner, suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow July 23 in a home game versus New England and had "Tommy John" surgery to reconstruct the ligament September 30. He is still rehabbing the elbow.

"He was a great player and more importantly a great person," Columbus coach Greg Andrulis said. "He always conducted himself in a first-class and professional manner. We are certainly going to miss him."

A native of Edina, Minn., Presthus appeared in 106 regular-season matches, starting 104 times, in seven MLS seasons. He was three seasons with The Crew, following four with D.C. United when the clunb went to three MLS Cup finals and won two. He ended his career with a 44-44-13 record and established a Crew record for consecutive shutout minutes with 309 from August 11-25, 2001.

"I am extremely grateful and proud of the seven seasons I've played in Major League Soccer. I take with me some amazing achievements, memories and friendships," Presthus said.

Fraser has been in MLS since its inception in 1996 after being selected with the fourth overall pick by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the inaugural draft in 1996. The 1999 MLS "Defender of the Year" has appeared in 203 regular season games, starting 199, and has one goal and four assists, spending five years (1996-2000) with the Los Angeles Galaxy before being traded to Colorado prior to the 2001 season.

"I am looking forward to helping lead this team, not only in developing the younger players, but also pushing the team wherever is needed," Fraser said.

Lagos joined MLS in 1996 and has appeared in 147 regular-season games, starting 110. He has tallied 85 points on 26 goals and 33 assists. Besides San Jose (2001-2003), he has also played for the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny (1999-2000), Chicago Fire (1998-1999) and MetroStars (1996-1997).

The former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee star has four goals and four assists in the playoffs, starting in all 14 of his appearances. He was part of MLS champions with San Jose in 2001 and 2003.

"I am from the Midwest and Columbus is a great club," Lagos said in a release. "They have great facilities and it is a great atmosphere for soccer. I am looking forward to it."

Steve Nicol had his contract as coach of the New England Revolution extended.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Revolution announced today it had extended the contract of coach Steve Nicol through the 2005 season.

Additionally, the team announced defender Jay Heaps and forward\midfielder Chris Brown signed to play with the Revolution in 2004.

Nicol, 42, has a 23-18-10 (.549) career regular-season record leading New England and is 4-3-3 (.550) in the playoffs. A star player for Liverpool in England for 13 seasons, Nicol replaced coach Fernando Clavijo on an interim basis May 23, 2002 and led the Revolution to the MLS Cup final where it fell 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in sudden death. Nicol also served as interim coach of the Revolution for two games at the end of the 1999 season.

"He has the team pointed in the right direction and this contract extension is a reflection of that." said Sunil Gulati, managing director of Kraft Soccer in a press release.

Heaps is heading into his fourth season with the Revolution and led the club with 2,579 minutes played, serving as the right back.

New England acquired Brown from the Kansas City Wizards on August 20 and he scored three goals in his first start for the Revs.