Gehrig to add 'grit' to Fire

For a team that seemed to make a habit of giving up late goals last season, a little more toughness might be just the thing.

It seems the Fire's trade Wednesday for the rights to defender Eric Gehrig is about more than bringing a local kid back home.

"I would say I'm a pretty tough player," Gehrig said Thursday. "I'm not a player that shies away from challenges or tackles. I appreciate and embrace that stuff. If it's something I can bring to the team with my grit and toughness, I'm glad to bring it."

Orlando City picked Gehrig in the 10th round of Wednesday's MLS expansion draft from Columbus Crew and promptly traded the rights to the out-of-contract Gehrig to the Fire for a 2016 second-round draft pick. Gehrig, who will turn 27 years old on Christmas Day, expects to sign with the Fire soon.

Gehrig made 20 appearances last season for the Crew, starting 14 games at center back or right back.

Gehrig is a Northwest Indiana native and played college soccer at Loyola University. He joins local products Mike Magee (Long Grove), Michael Stephens (Naperville) and homegrown players Harry Shipp (Lake Forest), Chris Ritter (Winnetka) and Collin Fernandez (Downers Grove) on the club.

"It's very important. I think it makes a difference," Gehrig said of the players' local ties. "I've been around here, I grew up with the club. I've been around the likes of (former players) C.J. Brown, Chris Armas, Logan Pause, all those guys who gave everything to the club and knew what it meant to wear the Fire badge.

"This club belongs near the top of the league and in the upper echelon. Guys who grew up locally and experienced it and felt it, it means that much more to them, and you give everything you have every time you wear the badge."

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