COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club has signed veteran Major League Soccer goalkeeper Joe Bendik (pronounced: BEN-dick). Crew SC acquired the right of first refusal to the goalkeeper from Orlando City SC in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money. Bendik, 29, brings seven years of Major League Soccer experience to Crew SC, having previously played for Orlando City SC, Toronto FC and Portland Timbers. Notably, Bendik has made 170 appearances (167 starts) in MLS regular-season action.



Bendik last played for Orlando City SC, where he made 92 regular-season appearances (91 starts), registering 13 shutouts and 316 saves from 2016-2018. Prior to joining Orlando City SC, Bendik spent three seasons with Toronto FC from 2013-2015, where he made 73 regular-season appearances (all starts), posting nine clean sheets and making 217 saves. Bendik joined MLS in 2012, making five regular-season appearances (three starts) for the Portland Timbers while registering 11 saves.



“We are pleased to welcome Joe Bendik to Columbus Crew SC,” said Crew SC Interim General Manager Pat Onstad. “Joe is a talented, veteran goalkeeper that brings significant experience in this League to our group and we are excited to integrate him into the team and our goalkeeping corps. We look forward to Joe pushing Zack Steffen, Jon Kempin and Ben Lundgaard as we begin the 2019 season.”



Before his time in MLS, Bendik spent two seasons with Sogndal Fotball of Norway, making nine appearances (eight starts) and helping the club gain promotion to the Norwegian First Division at the end of the 2010 season. At the collegiate level, the Marietta, Georgia native played for Clemson University from 2006-2009, making 61 appearances and earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference Second-Team honors in 2008.



Bendik was also a member of the United States Under-17 and U-18 Men’s National Team. In 2005, the goalkeeper helped the U-17 side to the finals of the Ballymena International Tournament in Northern Ireland. The following year, Bendik helped the U.S. U-18 side to a fourth-place finish in the 2006 Slovakia Cup.



TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew SC signs veteran goalkeeper Joe Bendik on December 27, 2018. Crew SC acquired the right of first refusal to Bendik from Orlando City SC in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.



Name: Joe Bendik

Position: Goalkeeper

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 217

Born: April 25, 1989 in Northport, New York

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia

Citizenship: United States

Acquired: Signed by Crew SC on December 27, 2018

Previous Experience: Orlando City SC (2016-2018), Toronto FC (2013-2015), Portland Timbers (2012), Sogndal Fotball (2010-2011)