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Colorado Rapids

Rapids Re-Sign Midfielders LaBrocca and Alvarez ahead of 2015 Season

February 27, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Friday, February 27, 2015) - Colorado Rapids announced on Friday that they have re-signed midfielders Nick LaBrocca and Carlos Alvarez. Meanwhile, defender Marc Burch has signed a new contract. Per League and club policy, the terms of the deals were not disclosed.

LaBrocca is an eight-year veteran of MLS, who was drafted by the Rapids in 2007. After three seasons with the club, he was traded to Toronto FC, before returning to Colorado in 2013, via Chivas USA. He scored 17 goals and added 18 assists over a total of 116 matches for the Rapids, and made his 200th career MLS appearance on June 28, 2014.

Alvarez was acquired from Chivas USA in July 2014; an exchange that took Nathan Sturgis to California. Last season, the 24-year-old made 10 appearances, including six starts, with one assist. Before that, Alvarez made 40 appearances in his two MLS seasons with Chivas USA, after being selected second overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

Both players had their contract options declined by the Rapids at the end of the 2014 season and they went unselected in the Re-entry process before ultimately re-signing with the club.

Burch was selected by Colorado Rapids with the 11th pick in Stage One of the 2013 Re-Entry Draft from Seattle Sounders FC.

He played in 22 games in 2014, contributing one goal. In total he has made 174 appearances in MLS spanning eight seasons. Before joining Seattle in 2012, he had also represented DC United, Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy.

"Competition is the word of 2015 for us - not only against opponents but within ourselves," said Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni. "I really think we'll have the most competitive team we have ever fielded as an organization.

"It is important to have players like Nick LaBrocca, Carlos Alvarez and Marc Burch on board. They understand our new mentality and the messages from last season. They have come in with the sharpness and the form to turn 2014 on its head. That will be critical for us this season."

"We are excited to bring these players back for this season," added Paul Bravo, Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director. "We expect them to compete for valuable minutes in 2015."

All three players continue to train with the squad in Tucson and will be pushing for starting places as Rapids attempt to lift the 2015 Desert Diamond Cup against Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening.

VITALS

Nick LaBrocca

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 165 lbs.

Birth Date: 12-04-1984

Birthplace: Staten Island, NY

Previous Club: Chivas USA

Carlos Alvarez

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 160 lbs.

Birth Date: 11-12-1990

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

Previous Club: Chivas USA

Marc Burch

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 180 lbs.

Birth Date: 05-07-1984

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

Previous Club: Seattle Sounders FC

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