Rapids weekly notes
February 27, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release
Haiti Mood
The Colorado Rapids will be traveling to Florida next Wednesday, March 8th in preparation for their exhibition match against OKAP, the Madame Gougousse Haitian Cup tournament winner, in a game that will take place on Saturday March, 11 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) at North Miami Stadium, which is located on the Florida International University's North Campus. The Madame Gougousse Haitian Cup tournament is an annual event that has been played in Florida for several years. Two of the current Rapids players, Jean Philippe Peguero and Fabrice Noel, played in the tournament at one time or another before they turned professional with the Rapids. For ticket information call: 305.981-4474.
Taking on the Old Continent
The Colorado Rapids will embark on their final preseason trip on Sunday, March 12 when the club travels to the city of Bilbao, Spain. During the team's 12 day stay in the Basque country, the Rapids will be hosted by first division team Athletic Club Bilbao, which has made all their facilities available to the Rapids. This trip was set up with the assistance of Miami based travel agency EUStudy tours, under the close supervision of Mr. Miguel Salazar, who has also arranged various official receptions for the team hosted by Bilbao government officials.
Family Ties
The connections that can develop in a big sports family like the Kroenke Sports Enterprises one are only limited by the imagination. Miguel Salazar, who is the person that brought the Bilbao, Spain preseason trip to the Rapids attention, as well as the Athletic Club connection, was referred to the club by Avalanche Massage Therapist Gregorio "Potro" Pradera. Both are longtime friends that met while playing professional Jai Alai back in the 70's and 80's.
Scouting the Mexicana Tournament
The Colorado Rapids will be scouting the first Torneo Mexicana de Aviación tournament, a youth soccer tournament (Under-19) that will be played from May to June in 15 cities across the United States, including Denver, CO. This scouting opportunity, which became a reality through the efforts of the Mexico-based sports promotion company Prosports, will allow the Rapids coaching staff to scout all the games played in the Denver market, continuing the club's efforts to identify local youth talent. In the past years, the Rapids have successfully identified various local players that have either been signed or invited back to train with the team. Some of the most recognized names on that list are: Nat Borchers (Pueblo), Josh Elbaum (Denver), Steven Keel (Littleton), Colin Clark (Ft. Collins), Daniel Wasson (Co. Springs), Nick Clark (Durango), and Zack Kobilca (Aurora). For more information on the tournament, fans can visit www.torneomexicana.com.
Around the State
The Colorado Rapids made their Pueblo, Colorado match debut on Saturday, February 25th, when they played an exhibition game against local Colorado State University-Pueblo. The Rapids flew 13 players and assistant coach Steve Trittschuh back from Pachuca, Mexico, where the team is currently in preseason, to play the match. The Rapids defeated CSU Pueblo 9-0 in this game.
Double Rapids
While the Colorado Rapids contingent that flew back from Pachuca defeated CSU Pueblo 9-0 in Pueblo, CO, the other part of the team was collecting 3 points at Hidalgo Stadium in Mexico. The rest of the team that remained in Mexico played against the Universidad Autonoma de Hidalgo and defeated them 5-1 at Hidalgo Stadium. With this result, the Rapids compiled a 2-1 record in their preseason trip in Mexico.
Head Coaching Debut
Just like assistant coach John Murphy took advantage of his opportunity to coach the Rapids last year when Colorado beat DC United 6-2 in the Hall of Fame game match played in Oneonta, NY, Steve Trittschuh made the best out of his shot at the helm of the team this past Saturday. Trittschuh, the former Rapids captain, led the Rapids to a 9-0 win over CSU Pueblo in a friendly match played on Saturday, February 25th at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo, CO. This is the first time that Trittschuh has coached the Rapids outside the Major League Soccer Reserve tournament, where he led the team to a 5-4-3 record last season.
Rapids Cheerleader Tryouts
Drawn by the opportunity of becoming part of a major league sports dance and stunting squad, a total of 93 pre-registered men and women showed up to the third annual Colorado Rapids Cheerleader Tryouts, which were held on Saturday, February 25th and Sunday, February 26th at the Centerstage Starz Dance Studio, the official dance studio of the Rapids Cheerleaders, in Centennial, CO.
Under the instruction of the Director of the Rapids Cheerleaders, Krystalynn Russell, the dancers were required to learn a routine on the spot and then perform it in front of a panel of invitee judges that included KTCL 93.3 radio celebrity Nick Cage, DeHecho Newspaper editor Al McGregor, Mile High Sports Magazine editor Doug Ottewill, and the voice of the Rapids, PA announcer Mason Lewis, among others. Sunday afternoon saw the final cut for the dancers who had been called back; the judges were looking for the trailists' ability to remember the routine overnight and to perform it on cue. All participants in the tryouts also had to conduct a personal interview with the judging panel. At the end of the day, the final cut was announced, and the final 24 of the original 93 performers were officially named as the 2006 Colorado Rapids Cheerleading Squad.
RAPIDS PRESEASON GAME SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Saturday, February 18
Rapids (8) vs. Pachuca Under-19 (0), at Universidad del Futbol Practice Fields, Pachuca MEX
Wednesday, February 22
Rapids (0) vs. Pachuca (2), at Hidalgo Stadium, Pachuca MEX
Saturday, February 25
Rapids (5) vs. Universidad Autónoma de Hidalgo (1), at Hidalgo Stadium, Pachuca MEX Rapids (9) vs. CSU Pueblo (0), at Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo, CO
Friday, March 10
Rapids vs. US Under-20 National Team @ TBD
Saturday, March 11
Rapids vs. OKAP at North Miami Stadium, FIU north campus, FL @ 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Major League Soccer Stories from February 27, 2006
- Galaxy weekly update - LA Galaxy
- Finalists Named for Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade - MLS
- Chicago Fire Weekly Update - Chicago Fire FC
- Real Salt Lake weekly update - Real Salt Lake
- "La Tribuna del D.C. United" Returns for Third Consecutive Season - D.C. United
- FC Dallas Announces European Leg of Preseason Schedule - FC Dallas
- Chivas USA acquires 2007 Supplemental Draft pick - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Rapids weekly notes - Colorado Rapids
- Galaxy acquires defender Brian Dunseth from Club Deportivo Chivas USA - LA Galaxy
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