MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Weekly Report

Published on February 17, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


1.) RAPIDS DEFEAT CHICAGO FIRE IN FIRST MATCH OF 2004

The Colorado Rapids defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 Saturday in the team's first scrimmage of the 2004 preseason. Chris Henderson's first goal in 2004 proved enough to give Colorado its first victory of the year. The Rapids held most of the possession in the first half of the game, keeping the danger away from goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who was only forced to make one save during the opening 35 minutes.

The lone goal of the match came in the 13th minute, when a nice combination between Ritchie Kotschau and Darryl Powell sent midfielder Mark Chung deep into the Fire's territory. Chung reached the end line and passed the ball back to the top of the box where he found John Spencer, who dribbled his way parallel to the goal in search for a space to unleash his shot. As the Scottish international continued on his path, Henderson gave him a second option by running diagonally towards Chicago's goal. A perfect through ball from Spencer set the stage for Henderson to face goalkeeper Matt Pickens in a one-on-one and beat him for the game winning goal.

Boxscores:
COL- Henderson (Spencer 13')
CHI- NONE

Lineups:

COLORADO- Joe Cannon (Scott Vallow 45'), Ritchie Kotschau, Adrian Cann, Pablo Mastroeni (Gary Sullivan 45'), Kevin Taylor (Freddy Juarez 45'), Chris Henderson, Darryl Powell, Antonio DeLaTorre, Mark Chung (Zach Kingsley 45'), John Spencer (David Castellanos 45'), ZiZi Roberts (Chris Carrieri 45')

CHICAGO- Matt Pickens (Leo Zamaro 36), Leonard Griffin (Scott Buete 57), Jim Curtin (C.J. Brown 48), D-Denny Clanton (Ryan McGowan 36), Marco Velez (Evan Whitfield 36), Scott Buete (Ryan Futagaki 36), Kelly Gray, M-Sumed Ibrahim, M-Ian Pilarski (Dipsy Selolwane 36), Ante Razov (Tony McManus 48), F-Nate Jaqua.

The Rapids also defeated the University of Central Florida 2-1 on Sunday in preseason action, and will face the MetroStars today. For all the latest MLS Preseason results, click here: http://www.mlsnet.com/content/04/mls0217pre.html

2.) RAPIDS TO HOST VIEWING PARTY TOMMORROW FOR USA VS. HOLLAND

Join the Rapids tomorrow at lunchtime for a special viewing party that the team has arranged for all soccer fans to watch the US Men's National Team as they take on Holland!

WHAT: Rapids Viewing Party for USA vs. Holland

WHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 18. Kickoff is at 12:30pm on ESPN-2. WHERE: Brooklyn's Restaurant, located at 901 Auraria Pkwy. (next to Pepsi Center)

WHO: Open to fans of all ages! No cover charge. For more information on the viewing party, call the Rapids at (303) 405-6123. Otherwise we will see you there tomorrow for the match!

3.) ESPN TO FEATURE BALBOA AS COMMENTATOR FOR USA VS. HOLLAND

Rapids Soccer Ambassador Marcelo Balboa will serve as commentator for tomorrow's ESPN-2 telecast of the US Men's National Team match vs. Holland.

The USA is set to square up against one of the most feared strikers in the world, Ruud van Nistelrooy, in this international friendly that will also serve as a tune-up for World Cup qualifying. Click here to see USA Today's take on the match, as well as view the rosters of USA and Holland for the match: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/national/2004-02-13-usa-netherlands_x.htm

4.) BORCHERS, BECKERMAN, TEAM USA FAIL TO QUALIFY FOR 2004 OLYMPICS

The U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team fell to Mexico 4-0 in front of a raucous sold-out crowd of 60,000 fans at Estadio Jalisco last Tuesday in the semifinals of the 2004 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. With its first loss of the tournament, the USA failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 1976 (The U.S. qualified in 1980, but did not compete due to a boycott of the Moscow games).

The loss also snaps U.S. Soccer's streak of qualifying for 19 consecutive FIFA outdoor world championships (World Cup, Women's World Cup, Men's & Women's Olympics, World Youth (U-20) Championships, Under-19 Women's World Championship and Under-17 World Championship). The streak began and ended with teams coached by Glenn "Mooch" Myernick, with his Under-17 team starting the streak in 1995. Brazil, whose men's team was eliminated from the Olympics by Paraguay three weeks ago, held the previous longest streak.

Team USA then fell victim to Honduras in the 3rd place match to end up finishing 4th in the qualifying tournament. To read the entire story, click here: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=53417 Kyle Beckerman and Nat Borchers have now rejoined the Rapids squad for their spring training in Bradenton, FL.

5.) RAPIDS 2003 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY POSTED ONLINE

The Colorado Rapids Community Relations Dept. and the Colorado Rapids Community Care Foundation have posted online their annual report to the community, detailing all the educational, fundraising, recreational and programs that the team ran last year as part of making Colorado a better place to live for the needy kids and families in our communities.

Read the Rapids Annual Report to the Community online by clicking here: http://www.coloradorapids.com/site/AnnualReport.pdf

6.) RAPIDS FIELD TRIPS TO INVESCO FIELD BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Bring your organization out to INVESCO Field at Mile High to participate in the Rapids Field Trip Program this year! The Rapids Field Trips include:
-an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of INVESCO Field at Mile High!
-an interactive trivia game with prizes!
-appearances and autographs by Rapids players!
-visits by the Rapids' super-mascot Rapidman!
-one free ticket for each child to a Rapids home game!
-much, MUCH more!

More than 3,500 lucky children experienced "Field Trip Days with the Rapids" last year. Don't miss out on this experience of a lifetime! Contact the Rapids at (303) 405-6122 or send an email to bgodsey@pepsicenter.com to register or for more information. Dates for 2004 are filling up fast, so call to book your group today! Groups of 10 or more only.

7.) KROENKE SPORTS ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR NEW SPORTS NETWORK

Kroenke Sports Enterprises – the parent company of the Colorado Rapids, as well as the NBA Denver Nuggets, NHL Colorado Avalanche, NLL Colorado Mammoth, Pepsi Center arena, and part owner of the AFL Colorado Crush – announced last week the creation of a regional television network that will feature sports and entertainment.

Based in Denver, the network – the name of which will be announced at a later date – will debut in September and will service numerous states in the Rocky Mountain West. The basic and/or expanded-basic cable and satellite channel will feature regional professional sports, as well as entertainment and community programming. Additionally, the network will feature regional college and high school sports, ancillary sports programming, as well as outdoor and lifestyle shows. To read this entire story, click here: http://www.pepsicenter.com/Events/NewsDetails.asp?ID=323

8.) BOOK YOUR COLORADO RAPIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY NOW!

Celebrate your child's birthday in style with the Colorado Rapids at any home game this season! Rapids Birthday Party Packages include: -a reserved seat for each guest to the Rapids home game of your choice at Invesco Field!
-one personal pizza for each guest!
-one drink for each person!
-a Rapids birthday cake for the whole party!
-a Colorado Rapids team-autographed soccer ball for the Birthday child!
-a special visit from the Rapids' super-mascot Rapidman!
-a Happy Birthday announcement to the Birthday child during the game!
-a reserved table for your whole party pregame in the "Rapids Birthday Zone"!

Packages start at $200 per party. Call the Rapids at (303) 405-6122 or send an email to bgodsey@pepsicenter.com to book your Rapids Birthday Party today!

9.) ONLINE SOCCER ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

Soccer365.com checked in with Head Coach Tim Hankinson down in Florida to address the team's needs in the preseason. Check out the article online by clicking here: http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Breaking_News/page_131_67267.shtml

10.) RAPIDS ROOKIE PROFILE: ADRIAN CANN

Check out this week's Rapids Rookie Profile, on defender Adrian Cann: Adrian Cann D.O.B/ Fecha de Nacimiento: Sep. 19, 1980 HT/ Altura: 6-3 WT/ Peso: 180 College/Universidad: University of Louisville High School/ Preparatoria: St. Robert High School Hometown/ Residencia: Thornhill, Ont.

Acquired/ Adquirido: Selected in the 2nd round (16th overall) in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on January 16, 2004 Adrian Cann, the University of Louisville 2003 defensive player of the year, brings considerable size to the Rapids back line in the 2004 season. He is the only Cardinal player to be named first-team All-Conference USA in four consecutive seasons. The Thornhill, Ontario native became the first Louisville player to be drafted by any professional club. He was the eighth college player taken and the first Conference USA player to be selected. Cann has played two halves in both Rapids preseason games and is expected to see the same amount of action in today's scrimmage against the MetroStars.

11.) RAPIDFIRE EXCLUSIVE: SPRING TRAINING Q&A WITH GOALIE BYRON FOSS

RapidFire was able to check in with Rapids goalkeeper Byron Foss, who took some time out from the Rapids' training sessions in Bradenton, FL to do a quick question and answer series for the fans back in Colorado:

RapidFire: How's the goalie competition going down there? Foss: "With Garlick now gone, it's basically Scott (Vallow) and I fighting for the 2nd string job (behind Joe Cannon); it's really competitive, but it's good."

RapidFire: How are the new Rapids camp invitees doing? Foss: "The new guys invited into camp, there's a bunch of new faces. But everyone's doing good, and it's good to see how they might be fitting into the lineup."

RapidFire: What's it like playing at the IMG Complex in Bradenton? Foss: "The complex here is beautiful, definitely some of the nicest fields I've ever played on. Weather-wise, it's hot, but it's good to be training here in the nice weather, out of Colorado."

RapidFire: Who are you rooming with? Foss: "Right now I'm rooming with (Matt) Crawford, he and I live together in Boulder, so that's cool, and also we're rooming with Nat (Borchers), but he's still gone with the US on their Olympic Qualifying trip. He's going to be getting an earful from us as soon as he gets in though!"

12.) THIS WEEK'S RAPIDS TRAINING SCHEDULE

The Rapids are currently in Bradenton, FL for Spring Training. The team is playing games vs. other MLS and local teams, while holding double training sessions all other days, with one practice session at 8:00 a.m. and the second one at 2:00 p.m. All times listed are Mountain Standard Time.

Rapids Game Schedule for Second Leg of 2004 Preseason:
Tuesday, February 17 1:30 p.m. GAME vs. MetroStars @ IMG Academy
Sunday, February 22 8:00 a.m. GAME vs. DC United @ IMG Academy
Tuesday, February 24 8:00 a.m. GAME vs. U.S. Under-20 @ IMG Academy
Wednesday, February 25 8:00 a.m. GAME vs. Columbus Crew @ IMG Academy
12:30 p.m. TRAVEL DAY back to DENVER, CO

Top Rapids Preseason Scorers:
John Spencer, 1 Goal, 1 Assist
Chris Henderson, 1 Goal
David Castellanos, 1 Goal

13.) RAPIDFIRE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Today's RapidFire quote of the week comes from Head Coach Tim Hankinson, in his interview with Soccer365.com:

"Every day is going to be two trainings a day. Some will be matches. An assortment of games that will allow us ample time to test the new players and make sure that we're giving enough time to the returning that they're game is starting to build.

"Every year has been trying to create something better than the year before, but you're having to start from still a scrap level," said Hankinson.

"I think this team can say we're a played-in team, and sometimes that's more important than adding special new talents or faces that make us believe something that may not materialize."

14.) THIS DAY IN RAPIDS HISTORY

Check out some important happenings that took place on today's date, Feb. 17, in Rapids History:

Feb. 17, 1998 - Colorado 3 : 2 Tepatio (preseason) The Rapids improved their preseason record to 4-1 with a victory in Guadalajara. Tayt Ianni scored the winner, collecting a rebounded Wolde Harris header. Ross Paule opened the scoring in the 4th and Steve Rammel added in the 9th, before allowing Tepatio to knot the game at 2 apiece by halftime. Of particular note is that the Rapids fielded a remarkably young and inexperienced lineup, with Balboa, Tritt and Hendo all missing the match and Marquinho and Waldir not yet signed.

Feb. 17, 1999 - Colorado 1 : 0 San Jose (preseason) The Rapids took their preseason record to 2-0 on the strength of a Paul Bravo goal and Marcus Hahnemann's second straight shutout. Stats courtesy of Rapidsfan.com; click here to visit the site: http://www.rapidsfan.com/

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 17, 2004


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