Steven Lenhart

Steven Lenhart (born August 28, 1986) is a former American soccer player who is currently an assistant coach with the Westmont Warriors in NCAA Division II

Career

College and amateur

Lenhart grew up in Yorba Linda, California, and attended Esperanza High School. He attended Point Loma Nazarene University for one year before transferring to Azusa Pacific University. He tallied 38 goals and 12 assists in his 61 career collegiate games for Azusa Pacific, and was named a NAIA All-American in 2007. He was also named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team in 2006 and 2007, was honored as the NAIA Tournament's Outstanding Offensive Player in 2006 and 2007, and was MVP of the 2007 NAIA Tournament while helping lead Azusa Pacific to the 2007 NAIA national title over Concordia University, Irvine. During his college years, Lenhart also played for the Southern California Seahorses in the USL Premier Development League.

Professional

Lenhart was selected by the Columbus Crew as the 48th overall selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He made his professional debut on May 31, 2008, as a second-half substitute against Chivas USA, and scored his first goal on June 21, 2008, against Los Angeles Galaxy. His rookie season ended with five goals across 12 appearances in the regular season and playoffs, with a dramatic tying goal in stoppage time of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal versus the Kansas City Wizards as well as winning MLS Cup. Head coach Sigi Schmid subbed Lenhart into the last minutes of the final to show his appreciation for the contribution to the Crew's winning season.

Lenhart scored three goals in the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, scoring his first goal in a 2–0 victory against the Puerto Rico Islanders, and claiming the other two in a come-from-behind 2–2 draw against Mexican side Toluca.

Lenhart netted his first goal of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League in the 79' minute in a 3–0 win over Joe Public F.C.

Lenhart scored 11 goals across all competitions for Columbus in the 2010 season.

On January 13, 2011, Lenhart was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes along with allocation money in exchange for the 15th pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. On June 11, He scored his first hat trick of his professional career. He signed a new contract with San Jose on November 30, 2011. His cry of "Goonies never say die!" led to the Earthquakes adopting the rally cry (in reference to the '' Goonies'' film) the next year.

On April 28, 2012, Lenhart would score both San Jose goals in a 2–1 victory against the Philadelphia Union, with the game winning goal coming in the third minute of second half stoppage time. He scored another late goal, this time in the 85th minute off a header in a U.S. Open Cup game versus Minnesota Stars FC, which proved to be the game winner in a 1–0 victory in June. In July, Lenhart scored a last-minute equalizer for 10-man San Jose against the Chicago Fire, his first game back since a four-game absence due to injury.

After a brief stint with Japanese side FC Imabari, Lenhart announced his retirement from the game on May 2, 2017, due to ongoing symptoms from concussions.

Style of play

Being typically deployed as a target man, Lenhart was a hard-working forward who was known for his physical play and last second heroics, but was criticized for his dirtiness and needless aggression at times. Sam Stejskal of ''The Athletic'' described Lenhart's style of play as "rough and sometimes flagrantly physical"' and that Lenhart "came to be viewed around the league as an unabashed villain." Former Crew teammate Jason Garey praised his physicality, calling him "fearless and reckless, he's willing to put his body on the line at all times. It's great playing with him."

Personal life

In 2020, Lenhart participated in '' World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji''. Since December 2009 is his sister Jennifer, married to Scottish football player Adam Moffat.

Career statistics

Honors

Columbus Crew

*Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2008
*Major League Soccer Supporter's Shield (2): 2008, 2009

San Jose Earthquakes

*Major League Soccer Supporter's Shield: 2012

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lenhart, Steven
1986 births
Living people
American men's soccer players
Point Loma Nazarene University alumni
Azusa Pacific Cougars men's soccer players
Southern California Seahorses players
Columbus Crew players
San Jose Earthquakes players
FC Imabari players
USL League Two players
Major League Soccer players
Japan Football League players
Columbus Crew draft picks
Soccer players from Florida
Men's association football forwards
American expatriate men's soccer players
Expatriate men's footballers in Japan
American expatriate sportspeople in Japan
Participants in American reality television series
Esperanza High School alumni