MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids weekly notes

October 3, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Playoffs on the Line: The Colorado Rapids have another opportunity to clinch a playoff berth on Saturday's game against the NY Red Bulls. Fernando Clavijo's team can take care of business by posting a win in their final regular season game at INVESCO Field and reaching a total of 42 points and RSL dropping any points in their game against the Houston Dynamo. Any other combination will push the playoff ticket race to the final weekend of the 2006 regular season on October 14.

Here are the MLS Western Conference Standings entering this weekend:

(INCLUDES GAMES OF SATURDAY, September 30, 2006)

*The top four teams qualify for playoffs. -3pts. for a win, 1pt. for a tie and 0pts for a loss-)*

Western Conference (GP, W-L-T; PTS)

FC Dallas (30, 15-11-4; 49)

Houston Dynamo (30, 11-8-11; 44)

Chivas USA (30, 10-8-12; 42)

Colorado Rapids (30, 11-13-6; 39)

Real Salt Lake (30, 10-13-7; 37)

Los Angeles Galaxy (30, 10-14-6; 36)

Final Regular Season Game: The Rapids will play their final regular season MLS game at Invesco Field at Mile High this Saturday. In five seasons of play the Rapids have compiled a 43-13-19 regular season record and 2-2-2 playoff record after moving from the old Mile High Stadium in 2002. Next year the Rapids will move to their own stadium, which is currently under construction at the Prairie Gateway development in Commerce City and is set to open its doors in April 2007.

Noel Goes to Jamaica: Rapids striker Fabrice Noel scored one goal in three games last week as he helped Haiti move onto the second round of CONCACAF Gold Cup Caribbean Qualifying. Haiti defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 and St. Lucia 7-1 (a match in which Noel scored on a 63rd minute strike), before falling 2-0 to hosts Jamaica. Haiti won the group on goal differential and St. Vincent also went through due to them defeating Jamaica head-to-head.

Rapids Undefeated When Scoring First: The Rapids are yet to lose in MLS when they score the first goal. Colorado moved to 9-0-2 (90.9% winning percentage) when they get on the board first from a Chicago Fire own goal on Sept. 13. The 9-0-2 record is the best in the league and the only undefeated record for teams scoring first.

Rapids Reserves Can Clinch Title Sunday: With a victory in their final game the Rapids Reserves can win the reserve division. Coming into Sunday's 10 a.m. match against the Red Bulls Reserves, the Rapids Reserves have an 8-3-0 record and 24 points. Only the Kansas City Wizards Reserves can catch Colorado. The Rapids Reserves can also win the championship if the Wizards Reserves lose or tie their game against the Chivas USA Reserves.

Fazoli's Free Soccer Ball Night: The Rapids have announced that this Saturday, October 7th will be the Rapids' 11th Annual Free Soccer Ball Night, presented by Fazoli's! As part of this event, traditionally a fan favorite, and just in time for fall sessions of youth club soccer in Colorado, the Rapids will distribute free Colorado Rapids adidas soccer balls courtesy of Fazoli's to the first 5,000 kids 16 and under into the stadium this Saturday!

Fan Appreciation Night: As a way for the Rapids to give back to all the fans who have so faithfully supported the team all season long, the Rapids have prepared a number of giveaways all game long on Oct. 7! Every 10 minutes during the game, different sections will win free Rapids giveaways and prizes! It's our way of thanking all our great fans, with free Rapids gear all night long!

Military Appreciation Night: The Colorado Rapids announced today that the organization will honor the United States Armed Forces at the club's next home game, this Sat. Oct. 7, with "Military Appreciation Night". The celebrations will include a presence by the Colorado Army National Guard prior to the match at Soccer Celebration (5:00 - 7:00 p.m.), who will showcase a Humvee, climbing wall, and other military equipment and vehicles for people to experience! Also, at halftime, members of the Armed Forces will compete against each other in the annual "Rapids Military Challenge", for the chance to get their names inscribed on the Rapids Military Challenge Cup trophy!

Rapids Foundation Moving Sale: The Rapids are moving into their new stadium next year and everything must go! The Colorado Rapids Community Care Foundation has announced that it will be unloading all old Rapids team gear at unbelievably low prices in a special charity yard sale at the game on Sat. Oct. 7! Fans can choose from all kinds of player-worn shorts, jerseys, training equipment, track suits and much more as part of this event! Help the Rapids clear out all of our players' old gear as we move out of Invesco Field and stop by the Rapids Foundation's Yard Sale directly inside Gate 10 of the stadium starting at 6:00pm....but get there early, the items will go fast!

Rapids "Passback" Equipment Drive: The Colorado Rapids have announced plans to hold the club's annual US Soccer Foundation Passback equipment donation program at the game on Saturday October 7! The Passback Program is an equipment drive that will benefit underserved kids through the sponsorship of the US Soccer Foundation. Clean out your closets, basements, and garages (or better yet get your entire team or club to gather all your new or gently-used gear!) and bring what you can collect to the Rapids' home game on Saturday, October 7!

Rapids All-Time vs. Opponents at INVESCO: The Rapids will be opening their new stadium in Commerce City in April 2007, and as they close their final season at INVESCO Field, the numbers tell the story of a home field advantage that will only increase at the new facility. All teams except the Red Bulls have already played their final games at the stadium and the records were updated as opponents played their final games at the mile high venue this season.

Rapids Final All-Time Records vs. opponents at INVESCO Field:

vs. DC United (4-0-2) vs. Houston (1-1-0)

vs. Columbus (4-0-2) vs. Salt Lake (3-1-0)

vs. New England (5-1-1) vs. Los Angeles (6-1-3)

vs. Kansas City (6-1-1) vs. Dallas (4-2-4)

vs. Chivas USA (1-0-3) vs. Chicago (4-0-2)

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from October 3, 2006


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