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 Colorado Rapids

Rapids game notes

March 31, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Rapids Vs. Dynamo:

Sunday's game between the Rapids and the Houston Dynamo will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs. When the Houston franchise was moved from San Jose this off-season, the records and Earthquakes nickname stayed in the Bay Area in the event Major League Soccer returns in the future with another franchise to that part of the nation.

Rapids In Season Openers:

The '06 Colorado Rapids are looking to do something no other Rapids club has done: win their season opener. Colorado is 0-8-2 in season openers, with three of the losses coming in shootouts in 1997 and 1999. The only season opener the Rapids have played at home was in 2002 against San Jose. Here's a look at Rapids season openers:

'96 @KC L, 0-3

'97 @CLB SOL, 1-1

'98 @DAL SOL, 1-1

'99 @LA SOL, 1-1

'00 @LA L, 1-2

'01 @MIA L, 1-2

'02 @KC T, 1-1

'03 vs, SJ L, 1-2

'04 @DAL T, 1-1

'05 @KC L, 2-3

Rapids Fastest Goals:

The Rapids have scored in the first half of season openers five times in the past, with the fastest goal being Chris Henderson's 16th minute strike against Kansas City in 2002.

Retirement Block:

Leo Cullen, who made a return to Major League Soccer with the Rapids in 2005 after a one year break in which he went back to school to finish his economics degree, announced his retirement from professional soccer on Wednesday, March 29. The 1998 MLS number one draft pick will still be involved with the sport of soccer in his new role as Assistant Coach for the women's team at the University of Maryland.

Quick Strikes

Rapids players seem to have an uncanny knack for scoring in one of there first two games with the team. There have been four players who have scored in their first game with the club and 10 players to record a goal in their second game. Chris Henderson scored a goal in the first game of his second stint with Colorado. Which man, new to the team, will join this list this year? First Game Scorers: Marcelo Balboa, John Spencer, Zizi Roberts and Jeff Cunningham. Second Game Scorers: Shaun Bartlett, Wolde Harris, Peter Vermes, Marquis White, Waldir, Darren Sawatzky, Junior Agogo, Chris Carrieri, Mark Chung and Jean-Philippe Peguero.

Foss Waived

The Colorado Rapids waived goalkeeper Byron Foss on Wednesday, March 29. Foss, who was acquired by the Rapids on March 18, 2003, played a total of six games with the team, posting a 3-1-2 record with two shutouts. All of his 481 minutes of action came during the 2005 season

Rapids Week is Back!

In preparation for the Rapids Home Opener, the Rapids have announced details of the club's annual "Rapids Week", which will take place this year from Sunday, April 2nd through the Rapids' Opening Night on Saturday, April 8th. This yearly tradition is designed to generate fan excitement throughout Colorado with different community events held every day, culminating with the Rapids' 2006 Opening Night at 7pm on Saturday, April 8th when the Rapids take on the Columbus Crew at INVESCO Field at Mile High! Details of each of the daily events through the week can be found at ColoradoRapids.com

For the Trophy Case

The Colorado Rapids received a vast amount of commemorative plaques and banners from the different teams they played against and the different towns and cities they visited during their stay in the Basque Country. All of the commemorative silverware will be on display for fans to admire at the trophy case that is planned for the new stadium, alongside all the other commemorative memorabilia accumulated by the club over the last 11 seasons.

National Team Showdown

Colorado Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni played 74 minutes with the United States National Team in their match against Germany on Wednesday, March 22 in the city of Dortmund, Germany. Mastroeni was one of the bright spots for the American side in their 4-1 loss to the Germans. Pablo did not rejoin the Rapids in Spain after the national team showdown, and instead flew directly from Germany to Colorado on Friday.

Frequent Flier Miles

Whoever thinks that being a Major League Soccer player in the United States is a glamorous affair should consider the hectic schedule that the Rapids went through during the club's preseason trips. The Rapids reported into training camp on February 1st in Westminster, Colorado. The team spent 15 days at home before embarking on a 13-day trip to Pachuca, Mexico. Fernando Clavijo's team returned to Denver on February 27th from Mexico to spend eight days in the thin Mile High air before heading out to Miami for four days. Immediately following the Florida stay, the team flew directly to Bilbao, Spain, where they spent a total of 12 days in Spain, with a full training and match schedule throughout their sojourn on European soil. The team returned to Denver on Friday night, leaving them with just seven days at home before departing to Houston for the season opener on Sunday, April 2nd. The team all together spent a total of 30 days on the road and only 22 at home this preseason, with most days featuring 2-a-day training sessions.

One On One- Altitude and the Rapids

Colorado Rapids Head Coach Fernando Clavijo and Captain Pablo Mastroeni will appear on Altitude's show "One on One". The show, which is hosted by Mike Haynes, is designed to show the real person behind the public figure and allow fans to get to know their stars in a more personal way. The shows will begin to air on Altitude starting April 4th for Fernando Clavijo and May 5th for Pablo Mastroeni.


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