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June 8, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


DALLAS, TX - Dallas Burn forward Bobby Rhine scored his first career hat trick Saturday night to lead his team to a 4-1 victory against the visiting Colorado Rapids at the Cotton Bowl. Rhine, who also added an assist on the evening, tied a club record by scoring seven points in a single match, equaling the mark set by teammate Jason Kreis in 1999.

The hat trick was the third in Burn history and led Dallas to its second victory of the season against Colorado, which has been outscored 7-2 in a pair of losses at the Cotton Bowl. Winners of two straight heading into tonight's match, the Rapids were denied in their quest to post the League's first three-game winning streak of the season.

Rhine struck suddenly in only the third minute of the match, taking a pass from teammate Oscar Pareja at the midfield stripe and dribbling 40 yards into the Colorado penalty area. Fighting off a challenge from defender Rick Titus, Rhine calmly slotted home a right-footed shot to give Dallas a 1-0 lead.

In the 17th minute Rhine doubled the lead when he received a pass from Burn midfielder Antonio Martinez and dribbled more than 20-yards unchallenged before uncorking a 30-yard rocket that zipped past diving Colorado goalkeeper Scott Garlick into the upper left hand corner of the goal.

Defensive pressure from the Burn repeatedly frustrated Colorado during the first half, as the Rapids repeatedly lost possession of the ball in the midfield. Giveaways by Colorado's Mark Chung led directly to the first two Dallas goals, as quick countering passes from Martinez and Pareja punished the turnovers immediately.

A nice buildup from Dallas increased the lead to 3-0 in the 35th minute when Rhine got behind Denver right back Jeff Stewart on a through ball from Martinez. Unmolested as he moved toward the corner, Rhine curled a cross around Titus to an onrushing Kreis, who miss hit a one-time volley that somehow looped over the head of Garlick.

Better play from the Rapids in the second half resulted in more chances for Tim Hankinson's squad, which nearly pulled one goal back in the 63rd minute on a shot from Chris Carrieri that was narrowly deflected wide by a sprawling Matt Jordan. After being outshot 8-3 in the first half, Colorado managed nine second half shots as the clubs finished the game with 12 each.

A clinical give and go between Rhine and teammate Joselito Vaca worked to perfection in the 73rd minute, giving Rhine the hat trick and a 4-0 lead for his team. Played into the right side of the penalty box on a pass from Rhine, Vaca lost defender Ritchie Kotschau with a cut-back move and easily picked out the University of Connecticut product in front of the net for his third goal of the night.

Colorado did manage to break up Jordan's bid for the shutout in stoppage time, when Chung pounded a wicked left-footed shot into the net from 22-yards out only seconds before time expired. The goal extended Chung's goal-scoring streak to three matches.

Both teams will return to action on Saturday, June 15 with matches against Eastern Conference rivals.

Now unbeaten in nine of the first 11 contests, Dallas (4-2-5, 17 points) will travel to Naperville, Illinois to meet the Fire (8:30 p.m. ET). Colorado (6-4-1, 19 points) returns home face the New England Revolution at IVESCO Field (9:00 p.m. ET).

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