MLS Experience

2009: Selected by Sounders FC in the 2008 Expansion Draft.

2008: As a member of the MLS Cup and regular season Supporter’s Shield champions, played in 26 games, starting 18, including a full 90 minutes in the championship game … Scored five goals and one assist.

2007: Appeared in four games, one of them a starting assignment... Had one assist (4/21) on the season, notching the first of his pro career on 4/21 vs. N.E. ... Made his first career start on 5/19 at N.Y. ... Made his MLS and Crew debut on 4/7 vs. N.Y. ... Missed the final 16 games of the season with a strained left hip flexor... 2007 Reserve Division: Started all four games in which he appeared ... Selected by the Crew in the second round (No. 15 overall) of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.

College

Started 66 of the 75 matches in which he appeared over his four-year career at the University of California Irvine, totaling 31 goals and seven assists for the Anteaters… Departed as UCI's all-time leading goal scorer, with 31, and tied for the all-time points lead, with 73... Earned consecutive Big West Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2005 and 2006… 2006: Appeared and started in 18 matches, totaling 19 points on eight goals and three assists… Named as the Big West Offensive Player of the Year… Named to All-Big West first team… Selected to the NSCAA/adidas All-Far West first team… Named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America third team… Selected to the College Soccer News All-America third team… 2005: Started 19 of the 20 games in which he appeared, earning the fourth-highest single-season point total in UCI history, with 26 points on 11 goals and four assists… Named Big West Offensive Player of the Year… Selected to NSCAA/adidas All-Far West second team... Named to All-Big West first team... 2004: Started in all 20 contests in which he appeared and led team with 17 points on seven goals and three assists… Named the Big West Midfielder of the Year… Selected to All-Big West first team… 2003: Played in 17 matches, starting nine of them, and was the second leading scorer on the team, with 11 points on five goals and one assist… Named UCI Freshman of the Year.

High School/Club

Was twice named All-Arizona at Mountain Pointe High School.

Personal

The son of Dawn and Tom Grippando… Has one brother, Nick, and two sisters, Casey and Lindsey… Enjoys cooking and spending time at the beach… Majored in social science with a minor in education at UC Irvine.