In a season that has seen some other rookies garner more headlines, Columbus Crew utility man Rich Balchan has quietly put together one of the better rookie seasons in the league.
Balchan is a secret no more, not after his clutch last-minute equalizer in the Crew's 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls last Saturday. His performance in that match, and that vital goal, helped Balchan earn SBI MLS Rookie of the Week honors.
Having played both as a defender and midfielder this season, Balchan has made a smooth transition to MLS after a standout career at Indiana University, where he was teammates with another MLS Rookie of the Year contender in Will Bruin.
Balchan took the honors in a week that saw several strong performances by rookies, including by the D.C. United tandem of Ethan White and Perry Kitchen, as well as Anthony Ampaipitakwong, to name a few.
What did you think of Balchan's performance? Who would you have picked as this week's top rookie?
Share your thoughts below.
