GRAHAM COUCH

Couch: Mason's Steve Clark thriving in goal for MLS' Columbus Crew

Clark's winding trek from Mid-Michigan to MLS included four years as a goalkeeper in Norway; Lansing United to honor Clark Sunday

Graham Couch
Lansing State Journal
Steve Clark dives for a save against Real Salt Lake on May 28. Clark, from Mason, has started 82 straight games as goal keeper for MLS' Columbus Crew SC.

If Steve Clark had stayed in the United States, it’s entirely possible he’d be playing for Lansing United by now.

Instead, the 2004 Mason High School graduate will sign autographs at Sunday’s game and be honored at halftime.

Clark, 30, has started 82 straight games in goal for Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC since joining the club in 2014. He entered Saturday night with more saves in the last three seasons (275) than any other MLS goalkeeper.

He is among the best at his position in this country — in large part, because he left.

There are sometimes only subtle differences between goalkeepers that find their place in professional soccer and those that are nearly as gifted athletically but wallow in the sport’s lower-tier leagues.

In 2009, fresh off a standout career at Oakland University, Clark saw the latter staring him in the mirror. Self-awareness is one of the subtleties that separates Clark.

Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark celebrates his stop of a penalty kick with Crew defender Michael Parkhurst (4) against the Real Salt Lake on May 28.

He had been cut by the MLS’ Real Salt Lake and played much of the summer with the Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League — a fourth-tier U.S. Soccer association similar to the National Premier Soccer League, which includes Lansing United — before finishing the season as a backup in a third-tier league with the Charleston Battery.

“I just realized that I needed new eyes on me, because I really believed in my abilities to play goalkeeper,” Clark said.

So he began strategically backpacking through Europe, cold-calling teams, seeking an opportunity. He trained with Bradford City in England but that didn’t work out. He had friends in Norway, so he tried there next. Eventually, running out of options and money, he landed a trial and contract with Hønefoss BK, a second-division Norwegian club. Clark helped Hønefoss win its way into the top division and, two years later, avoid relegation.

In the process, Clark became familiar to Columbus Crew SC coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter, who was coaching in Sweden at the time. Berhalter was hired by Crew SC in November of 2013. By December, he had reached out to Clark.

“He just gave me a call and the first question he asked me was, ‘What kind of goalkeeper are you?’” Clark remembered. “I just described who I was and he said, ‘That’s the goalkeeper I’m looking for.’”

Clark told Berhalter he was an aggressive goalie, not prone to stand back on his line. He is also comfortable with his feet, something he realized in Norway could put him ahead of other goalkeepers.

“The important thing was we had a goalkeeper that wasn’t fearful,” Berhalter said. “And he’s certainly not fearful. We were going to put in him situations that were going to be uncomfortable. The way we play is aggressive. And the way we play there are going to be times the other team gets chances and we felt having a goalie that was strong in one-v-one situations was going to help the overall team.”

More than that, Berhalter wanted Clark for the experience he endured in Norway.

Columbus Crew goalkeeper and Mason native Steve Clark dives to stop a shot from Sporting KC' Jacob Peterson (from Portage, Mich.) during at 2014 match in Kansas City.  Clark, now in his third season with Columbus, has started 82 straight games for Crew SC.

“I think when you’re playing those games, for promotion or relegation, your back is against the wall every single week, you have to perform and there’s very little room for error,” Berhalter said. “And I like the fact that he was battle tested in that. Teams become desperate and you’re playing in stadiums where the fans feel the tension and the games mean a lot. I liked that he was in that environment.”

Clark quickly made his mark in Columbus. He was a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014 and last year helped Crew SC to the MLS Cup, where it lost to the Portland Timbers, 2-1 — a defeat aided by a rare errant pass from Clark in the first minute.

But his consecutive start streak, his flourishing MLS career, his legitimate U.S. National Team aspirations — all of it appeared as if it could be derailed before he even got started in Columbus.

“He actually had a slow start to (his first) preseason,” Berhalter said. “I guess it was becoming familiar with the team and the system and all of that. And then he got injured. It looked like he hurt his thumb pretty bad and we sent him home.”

Berhalter figured Clark would be out a couple months. The club would move on for the time being with someone else.

“Funny enough he was back two days later with a cast on his thumb,” Berhalter said, “and that’s what really sparked him. It was strange, because that competition, that fight for that first-team place, I think really sparked the best of him.

“It was sore. He had a cast on and he played the beginning part of the year with a cast on his thumb, which is pretty remarkable for a goalkeeper. But he hung in there.”

Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark, fro Mason, celebrates with fans after defeating Real Salt Lake at Columbus' MAPFRE Stadium on May 28. Crew SC won the game 4-3. It was Clark's 80th straight MLS start in goal for Crew SC.

Clark, in goalkeeping years, is just coming into his prime. He’s known for his intensity, his commitment to fitness, his mental preparation and embracing the process of daily improvement, spurred, of course, by self-awareness.

“There are a lot of guys who athletically can play the position,” said Clark, who’s 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. “They say goalkeepers peak about 30, 32 years old because there are so many decisions. It’s a really cerebral game. It’s also a very mentally challenging position, because you’re not in the game a lot of the time. You’re just waiting for action and then you get that one moment when you have to be precise and your whole game is just on that second of involvement.

“It’s really chaotic. There’s really a feeling of letting go of control of the results. A lot of the reactions happen so fast, you don’t consciously see the ball. You just are trusting in your ability and essentially letting go.”

Hours after a Saturday night home match against Montreal, Clark is coming home to support Lansing United and owner Jeremy Sampson, who Clark began corresponding with on Twitter while he was in Norway. United is playing the Columbus Crew College Program.

Clark still follows Mason High School soccer — the Bulldogs’ 2015 state championship team will also be honored at Sunday’s United game — and keeps in touch with some of his high school teammates.

“We still relive the loss to East Lansing,” Clark said.

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.

Lansing United vs. Columbus Crew College Program

When: 2 p.m. Sunday, East Lansing Soccer Complex

Tickets: $8 online at LanUnited.com, $10 at the gate; $5 and $7 ages 12-under

Honoring Steve Clark: Mason High School alum Steve Clark, now in his third season as the starting goalkeeper for MLS’ Columbus Crew, will be on hand at Sunday’s match between Lansing United and the Columbus Crew College Program. Clark will sign autographs from 1:45-2:15 and be honored at halftime, along with the 2015 state champion Mason boys soccer team.

Columbus Crew goalkeeper and Mason native Steve Clark makes a save against the Portland Timbers during the 2015 MLS Cup championship game at Columbus' MAPFRE Stadium. Clark has started 82 straight games in goal for Crew SC.