Bradley graduate and professional goalkeeper Logan Ketterer has found himself a new pitch to play on after leaving the Columbus Crew of the MLS last year. He’s since landed at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas.
Once a two-year redshirt on the Hilltop, the 6-foot-3 Wisconsin native is now the starting shot-stopper for the USL Championship team, El Paso Locomotive FC.
He learned what it means to be a professional in Ohio, but is ready to contribute to the new team.
“The two years I was [at Columbus], I was able to prove I belong there and I’m able to be at the [professional] level,” Ketterer said. “Now, it’s time to go get the game experience.”
Ketterer said that he was content with his new club and enjoys the diverse atmosphere.
“It’s great [at El Paso] and all the guys here are great people, with plenty of professionals around from different leagues and countries,” Ketterer said. “We all want to play the beautiful game. We want to play possession style and playing from the back, which is nice for me.”
Bradley head coach Jim DeRose, who coached Ketterer from 2012 to 2016, praised his move from The Crew.
“I think [Ketterer] choosing to go [to El Paso] tells you everything you need to know about him,” DeRose said. “He could have been like a lot of other guys in the MLS, where you stay for six or seven years and work your way from three to two to one [in starting position].”
The former Brave joined The Crew after being drafted in the fourth round, 71st overall, in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.
At Bradley, he received two honorable mentions to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team in 2015 and 2016, was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week four times in two seasons and finished his career with a 1.37 goals-against average, good for tenth all-time in Bradley soccer history.
“What’s so unique about [Ketterer] is that he didn’t play for two years [at Bradley],” DeRose said. “He sat behind a very talented No. 1. It’s so silly. We want these kind of perfect glory stories. But this was the story of everything we hope life is about: you get better everyday, you’re patient and you’re ready when your number is called. And, that’s what it is.”
Ketterer made only one appearance in two seasons for Columbus in his debut against the Chicago Fire on June 6, 2018 where he started in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
At the end of the 2018 MLS season, Columbus declined Ketterer’s contract option. He had to find a franchise to join for the next season.
“It was a great two years [at the Columbus Crew] and huge for my growth,” Ketterer said. “I learned how to play that good-looking game, so it was big to learn that possession-style soccer under the [current] national team head coach, Gregg Berhalter, and Zack Steffen.”
Ketterer officially signed for El Paso Locomotive on Jan. 18, 2019. The club will embark on its inaugural USL Championship season starting in March.
While El Paso is in the Division II of the U.S. soccer league system, in contrast to an MLS-caliber team, it served as an opportunity Ketterer couldn’t turn down.
“My agent did a lot of hard work and found the right place for me,” Ketterer said. “You want to mesh with the coaches and other players, and you want your style to match.”
Now, Ketterer is looking on making the best impression he can at his new club. He wants the team to be successful and to have a good start in its first season.
“Well, I think we’re going to play the way we want to play, and we’re going to dictate the games we want to dictate,” Ketterer said. “We’re going to be successful. Every team is going to say ‘We want to win the cup,’ but we want things to fall into place the way we want them to.”
Ketterer’s new pitch has been found and now it’s time for him to defend it.
