Away from the field he's Steven Lenhart -- an engaging, laughing 22-year-old who loves doing charity work.
But put a soccer ball anywhere near the goal and the Columbus Crew striker becomes Steven Braveheart -- a fierce attacker who throws his body into harm's way in pursuit of a score.
Much like the 13th-century Scottish rebel William Wallace, as portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie "Braveheart," there's a combative nature and disregard for his own health in Lenhart.
Just ask a Scotsman -- Crew teammate and future brother-in-law Adam Moffat.
"He's definitely a brave heart," said Moffat. "He must have a bit of Scottish in him somewhere (Lenhart doesn't). He's like a warrior, for sure. You saw that in the game the other day."
Lenhart got a rare start against Real Salt Lake last week and the second-year forward scored his first of the season, set up another with a brilliant backheel to free Jason Garey and played a part in a third goal during a 3-1 win.
On the play that gave the Crew a 2-0 lead, he headed a service from Eddie Gaven skyward. As the ball descended he and goalkeeper Nick Rimando went for it. The two made contact.
"I thought Nicky was fouled on the second goal," said defender Nat Borchers. His coach, Jason Kreis, wondered how Rimando could get a bloody nose without Lenhart being whistled.
The ball came off Rimando straight to Garey for the open put-back. Garey defended his partner.
"The thing with that is we go up with the goalie and we're almost always called for the foul," he said. "The goalie's coming up punching with his hands so he should be able to punch the ball. I thought he (Lenhart) made a really good challenge. He didn't go up with his elbows. There was a collision and both had a right to go for the ball. I thought it was a fair challenge."
It wasn't the first time the big kid (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) with the golden Afro has taken on a 'keeper and it won't be the last.
In the previous match at Chicago, Lenhart lunged for a ball and was met with a fist to the head from Jon Busch as he tried to punch the ball away. Lenhart was left temporarily disoriented and permanently frustrated that the ball he knocked into the net was ruled offside.
"He's fearless and reckless," Garey said of Lenhart. "He's willing to put his body on the line at all times. It's great playing with him."
Moffat joked that he considered buying face paint to give Lenhart the William Wallace look as he repelled the English invaders.
The Crew's "Black and gold on one side, blue and white (from Braveheart) on the other," he said.
If he did, it would cover the abrasion under the left eye that Lenhart is sporting this week.
"I think I get a mark every game I play in," he said. "This one was a free kick and I dove for it and landed in the dirt pit right in front of the goal."
That. Lenhart spends more time on the grass in pursuit of a goal than the white field markings is a reason he has endeared himself to the Crew fans
That's not why the coaches keep him around, though. Lenhart proved to be invaluable coming off the bench last season. His first career goal tied the match at Los Angeles in the 88th minute and two weeks later his second was the equalizer vs. Chicago in the 87th.
He also entered late in the first game of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal at Kansas City and scored the dramatic tying goal in stoppage time.
Lenhart also scored twice in three starts. His first starting assignment at Colorado resulted in him scoring the winner as well as being ejected for elbowing. He served a two-game suspension.
Earlier this season, Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall was ejected for smacking Lenhart after he said the Crew forward elbowed him. Lenhart denied the accusation and says he's not a dirty player.
"You know my attitude. I love playing but there's more important things. I'd rather have a reputation with my character than my play," he said. "Your character can show by how you play.
"It comes from my attitude on life. My attitude is to wake up and be thankful for the day and go for it. Hopefully, it shows in the way I play. If it doesn't I've got to change something."
Veteran Crew midfielder Duncan Oughton was once labeled with the same reputation Lenhart has among some, as being careless in his play.
"He does have long limbs flapping around. He means well. He has a big heart and a big haircut," Oughton said.
Lenhart's father, Gary, was a defensive lineman at Azusa Pacific but although the younger Lenhart followed him to the same school he doesn't feel the gung-ho football mentality shows in the way he plays soccer.
"He's not a meathead at all. He's a great dude," Lenhart said of his father.
Besides, Lenhart showed a deft touch vs. Real Salt Lake when he blindly heeled the ball ahead to Garey while surrounded by three defenders to make it 3-0. It was an MLS Goal of the Week nominee.
"It was a really good buildup play. It was a great flick from him. He took on all three defenders and laid it off perfectly," Garey said. "We know what each other is doing. We had a lot of fun playing together. We were running around, working hard and we got rewarded for the hard work. It was pretty satisfying."
Lenhart is high energy off the field, too. He is co-founder of the non-profit organization ACIRFA Bikes For Africa (www.abikes.org) and volunteers with Easter Seals of Central and Southeast Ohio.
With some of his spare time he is building a 16-foot canoe with the help of Jim Schmidtke from Athletes in Action. They've put about 30 hours of work into it and are ready to wrap the canvas around it.
"I hope it floats. We're going for it, dude," Lenhart said.
Lenhart was fortunate enough to play the final moments of the Crew's 3-1 MLS Cup win against New York in November at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in front of family and friends from nearby Yorba Linda.
He hopes for a repeat this season but already knows some of his postseason plans because his sister Jennifer will marry Moffat, his roommate last season, in December in California.
"I gave the approval," Lenhart joked. "If it was anyone on team it would be Adam. He's a great dude."
Oh, yes. Lenhart said he would wear a kilt for the ceremony. Maybe there is a wee bit of Scottish in him after all.
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
