Rocky Mountain Cup Round 1

Ah yes, its that time again

The Rapids are in Salt Lake City for the first of two trips to play FaKe SaLt LaKe this season.  We only get one home game which makes the Rocky Mountain Cup difficult to win this season, but now appears to be a good time to strike.  Game time tomorrow is 7pm and the game is live on DISH and DIRECTV but not Comcast cable.  Due to the Nuggets and Avs playing at the same time there isn't a channel available for the game.  It will be shown at 10:30 tomorrow night on tape-delay.  Class VI and Pid Army are having a large watch party at the Celtic in Lodo (which does have satellite).

Injury Report:
OUT:  DF Eddie Ababio (concussion); MF Pablo Mastroeni (headache symptoms); MF Jamie Smith (R ACL tear); DF Anthony Wallace (L Achilles tear)
DOUBTFUL: FW Conor Casey (L Achilles tear)
PROBABLE: Ross LaBauex (sports hernia)

FSL is also down 5 people so we're equal on strength, though the Rapids have been playing without their missing players most of the season so we're used to it.  I think the starting XI for this one is fairly obvious, but you can never be sure.  Here's what I expect:

Cascio - Cummings - Mullan

Castrillon - Larentowicz - Rivero

Zapata - Wynne - Moor - Kimura

Pickens

About the only change I could see is working Hill into the lineup somehow, but I doubt Pareja is going to rock the boat when things have been working well so far.

Key To Look For: Keeping our cool.  RMC matches can be heated but we need to keep our focus on our new style of play.  The Rapids, especially guys like Larentowicz, need to not take the bait FSL will be throwing out there.

Prediction: 1-1 draw.  Goal by Cummings.  I feel like this is an optimistic prediction but FSL is hurting a bit right now.  They picked up a couple of bad injuries in a midweek game and have not looked impressive in their last two home games. Cummings continues his hot streak and gets another goal, but FSL squeaks one by the defense.  A draw will deny the home-field advantage in the RMC the schedule gave FSL this year, so in some ways its a win for us.