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Colorado Rapids

Edson Buddle Scores the 100th Goal of His Career

August 21, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Although the scoreline wasn't favorable for the Rapids, the Wednesday night matchup against the LA Galaxy turned out to be a memorable one for many reasons.

Rookie Marlon Hairston scored his first career goal, and second year midfielder Dillon Powers became the youngest player to wear the captain's armband for the club. But perhaps the biggest note on the night was that Edson Buddle, a 13-year veteran of the league, became just the eighth player in MLS history to score 100 career goals.

The list of centurions in MLS are: Landon Donovan - 139 Jeff Cunningham - 134 Jaime Moreno - 133 Ante Razov - 114 Jason Kreis - 108 Dwayne De Rosario - 103 Taylor Twellman - 101 Edson Buddle - 100

"It was a good corner kick," Buddle recounted of the play that led to his goal. "The ball that Dillon (Powers) played was in the right place and I just made my hard run to the goal and got my head on it."

Buddle's 100th regular season goal came in the 17th minute of the match, was his seventh in a Rapids uniform and second of the 2014 MLS season, having also scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory at Toronto FC on April 12. Even though it's been four months since then, Buddle knew what had happened when the ball hit the net. So did his teammates, who immediately swarmed #9 to celebrate and congratulate the milestone.

"When you score that many goals, it's just another goal, but people have been saying it over and over [to me] so it has been on my mind."

In his storied career, Buddle also scored 42 goals for the Columbus Crew between 2001-2005, six for the New York Red Bulls in 2006, and 45 for the LA Galaxy from 2007-2012. What's more, all 100 of his goals have been from the run of play - meaning, no penalty kicks.

"That 100th goal is a great stamp to put on the career he's had," said Rapids Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni of his player and former teammate on the U.S. national team. "I think he's been one of the true unrecognized pioneers in the modern game and it's a great accolade to have in the old trophy case. I couldn't be happy for him."

The Rapids forward scored his first goal more than 13 years ago, on May 16, 2001 in a 2-1 Crew loss at the New England Revolution. Heading into Wednesday's match, Buddle was among the MLS leaders in a number of categories, with four hat-tricks (third in MLS history), 16 multi-goal games (sixth), 30 game-winning goals (sixth), 679 shots (seventh) and 290 shots on goal (ninth).

"This is a tremendous achievement for one of the best goalscorers in Major League Soccer history," said Paul Bravo, the Rapids Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director. "For a long time, we have enjoyed watching Edson on the field, and this milestone is a mark of how good he has been for more than 13 years in this league. On behalf of everyone with the Rapids, we would like to congratulate Edson for scoring his 100th goal."

BUDDLE STATS

First goal came on May 16, 2001 in 2-1 loss at New England Revolution, when with Columbus Crew.

Scored 4 hat-tricks in MLS career "" only two players have scored more, Stern John & Diego Serna (both 5).

Boasts 16 multi-goal games "" only 5 players in MLS history achieved more.

Has scored 30 game-winning goals, including his one this season in Toronto (April 12). Only 5 players scored more, including Chris Wondolowski (34).

55 of his 100 goals have come in home games.

Once scored 4 goals in a game "" only Clint Mathis (5) has scored more in a single match. Buddle netted 4 on September 18, 2004 in a 4-2 win for Columbus over the Metrostars.

Yet to score inside the first minute of a game, but he twice scored a hat-trick in the second-half of a match, for New York and Columbus. Two of the league's quickest hat-tricks, inside 18 and 22 minutes respectively.

Drafted 27th overall in the 3rd round of the 2001 MLS Superdraft, out of Long Island, but also Project 40 (Generation adidas). Also in that draft were Brian Mullan, Ryan Nelsen, Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson.

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