Metgod Still In Colorado

I got an answer back from the Rapids on my inquiry on John Metgod (which, for those readers asking why I didn't ask the Rapids about it, was sent before last night's post):

Hasn't left the team, just keeping his presence on our website low profile for a few reasons. 

Which is interesting, as I'm not sure how that works.

Metgod Out?

Maybe its just a glitch, but it appears every mention of John Metgod has been removed from ColoradoRapids.com.  This includes taking his name off the list of Technical Staff, removing the press release announcing his addition to the staff (seen here at MLSsoccer.com) and the video that they posted of him reviewing the team's SuperDraft results.  Odds are he's not a candidate for the head coaching job (that's still open 16 days before the season starts).

In other news Deshorn Brown (Jamaica) and Martin Chavez (Honduras) were both called up for their National Team friendlies next week.  Brown is heading to join up with the Reggae Boyz while Chavez will head to the Honduras team after Saturday's final Desert Diamond Cup friendly.

In yesterday's 3rd friendly in Tucson the Rapids and Chivas USA played a scoreless draw.  Some good chances for the Rapids but nobody could finish.  The lineups:

Nasco

Edward - Watts - VDC - Klute

Guzman - Hairston

Eloundou - Sanchez - Torres

Buddle

After half:

Nasco

Edward - Watts - VDC - Serna

Guzman - Hairston

Chavez - Powers - Torres

Brown

After almost everyone else was subbed in the 62':

Berner

Sturgis - Moor - Wynne - Serna

Mari - LaBrocca

Chavez - Powers - Torres

Brown

Galindo entered for Torres in the 71st minute.

In their final game the Rapids will face the Revolution on Saturday.

Desert Diamond Cup Midpoint recap

The drama of this week put me off of tracking the Rapids first two games down in Tucson so let's get caught up.  First on Wednesday Colorado played Chicago in their first Cup game.  The starting XI was:

Berner

Edward - Watts - Moor - Klute

Guzman - Galindo

Sanchez - Hairston - Eloundou

Brown

Still very much a preseason lineup as some players (Edward, Guzman, Galindo) are still being evaluated for roster spots while others (Eloundou, Hairston, Berner) are being evaluated for how they fit with some of the likely starters.

Eloundou was active in the first half but the Fire scored first in the 37th minute on was supposed to be a cross that surprised Berner by turning into a shot on goal.  3 minutes later a failure to clear the ball led to the fire doubling their lead heading into the break.  For the second half we saw:

Nasco

Sturgis - Wynne - VDC - Serna

Mari - LaBrocca

Chavez - Hill - Galindo

Torres

Mari and Galindo were the only unsigned players in this bunch (and you have to figure that both of them are under serious consideration for a contract already) so this lineup was more about figuring out who works well with who.  In the 65th minute Buddle came in for Galindo, with Torres moving back to the left and Buddle taking the top position.  3 minutes later Torres took advantage of his new position to pull one back for the Rapids off an assist from Serna.  Colorado pressed to tie the game but couldn't find the back of the net.  Generally the Rapids looked better in the second half creating many more chances.

Yesterday afternoon in game 2 it was a preseason Rocky Mountain Cup matchup as the Rapids faced FSL.  The starting XI:

Irwin

Sturgis - Wynne - Moor - Klute

Mari - LaBrocca

Chavez - Hill - Serna

Brown

Getting closer to a in-season starting XI, with Mari as the only trialist and at least 5 guys who I would expect to start on Opening Day.  FSl was the better team in the first half but neither team looked particularly good.  From reports it appears to be the worst half the Rapids have played this preseason.  This led to a 0-0 score at the break. The Rapids made no changes right after the break and FSL got their best chance of the game, with Irwin making a diving save in the 49th minute to deny Morales.  In the the 61st minute the Rapids brought in Eloundou and Powers for Chavez and Hill respectively.  At the same time FSL made a complete 11-man line change, and that's when the Rapids took over the game.  After that point FSL never threatened and in the 69th minute Brown took a cross from Serna and put it past FSL's backup keeper for the 1-0 lead.

Immediately after the goal the Rapids subbed everyone but Eloundou and Powers, leaving them with:

Nasco

Edward - VDC- Watts - Burch

Guzman - Hairston

Eloundou - Powers - Torres

Buddle

BTW, this was Powers first game action of the preseason, good to see him playing again.  The Rapids continued to create chances but couldn't extend the lead, settling for the 1-0 win.  Once again proving that the Rocky Mountain Cup is where it belongs.  ;)

After 2 of 3 games the Desert Diamond Cup standings are:

Chicago: 6

Chivas USA: 4

Colorado: 3

New England: 1

FSL: 1

Tucson FC: 1

The final round of matches are on Wednesday, FSL - Tucson, Chicago - New England, and Chivas USA - Colorado.  With a win the Rapids will qualify for the final against Chicago on Saturday, otherwise they'll play in the 3rd/4th place match with a draw, or either the 3rd/4th or 5th/6th place match with a loss (all played on Saturday).

Home jersey leaked?

FootyHeadlines.com has been posting pictures of what they say are all the new MLS kits today, and they've gotten to the Rapids.  Here's their picture of what they report is our new kit:

Seems legit.  Many of the new jerseys have some sort of wordmark patter, some bringing over the flag 'C' from the secondary kits would make sense.  There was also a rumor that the light blue would be returning and we see that here.  5380 is reportedly still on the back below the collar, along with the stripe across the back of the shoulders which almost every Adidas kit is getting world-wide this year as part of their World Cup branding.  This also keeps the "Arsenal" white sleeves which we were told on last year kit were an intentional cross-branding.

The only change I would have made would have been to break the light blue stripes all the way down the sleeves instead of changing to burgundy midway through.  I need to take a break from kit buying (I bought one in 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2013) so I'll probably pass on this one only for financial reasons.  If I needed a new jersey I'd have no problem picking this one up.

3 Weeks Until Opening Day

Even before the events of this week I was planning to make this post if it still applied.  I see no reason to change my plan after this week.

So we are now less than 3 weeks until the opening kick of the Rapids season (2pm MT March 15th in NY) and the Rapids still don't have a head coach.  Am I the only one concerned by this fact?

Meanwhile Colorado's Desert Diamond Cup match is scoreless at half, currently being streamed here.

Schedule Change - July 26th

The Rapids have just announced that the home game against Chivas USA that was scheduled for July 26th has been moved to the prior evening, July 25th, at 7:30pm  This is due to yesterday's announcement of the Manchester United- Roma friendly on July 26th at Sports Authority.

International Soccer In Denver

On a lighter note the plans for two different international friendlies in Denver this spring/summer were announced today.

First, on April 6th, the U.S. Women National Team will take on China at the Dick.  Tickets go on sale at 10am next Friday, Rapids season ticket and multi-game pack holders can call and get a special deal.  A word of advice, don't bring any Tibet flags as a form of silent protest.  It won't end well.

Then on July 26th Manchester United will play AS Roma at Sports Authority Field.  Tickets go on sale this weekend for that one, the Rapids don't appear to be involved in any way.

Good job by the Rapids getting another international friendly back to the Dick.  I will probably be passing on both games, none of the 4 teams really make me want to go out and spend the money the tickets will command, but that just means another ticket for fans of the teams.

Comments From The Front Office

I was going to keep these private, but somebody has already shared them from the Rapids end and had them posted on BigSoccer, so I can share them here.

Yesterday I received the following email directly from Rapids President Tim Hinchey in response to my post on Saturday:

Jason,

Perhaps it might be worth your energy to at some point actually investigate your “concerns or claims”  with our club prior to your blogging.  Or perhaps not, clearly you’re call.  Every “fan” has their right to criticize their home club even if completely unsubstantiated or inaccurate.

However, we are not “killing time” on our coach search nor do you have any clue how to run a professional sports organization and any such complications when hire a head coach.  Therefore, if you value actually learning more, give me call as like I did with SI last week, I’m happy to fully and honestly explain our efforts.  If not, I find your blog completely ridiculous and nothing more than your own personal venting tool.

Respectfully,

Tim

This morning I sent the following response:

Tim, I appreciate the interest in my blog.  My writing is from the point of view of a dedicated Rapids fan, its not meant as reporting.  My points in the article about our coaching situation were based on conversations Rapids fans are having this off-season.  While I'm sure you have valid reasons for the decisions you are making you must realize that a major professional sports team not having a head coach a month after training camp opened and less than 4 weeks until the start of the season is highly unusual.  Particularly since this isn't a new situation, Pareja left the team at the beginning of January.  The fans are wondering what's going on and are understandably concerned about the effect the missing role will have on our season and on the players.

I appreciate the offer to talk, but honestly I'm not interested in being a reporter.  That type of media requires more work and focus than I can give it, and I wouldn't want to do a halfway job.  If it helps you to look at my blog as "ridiculous" and "my own personal venting tool" then so be it, though I would hope that having fans interested enough in the team to go through the trouble of setting up a blog would be something welcomed by the Front Office, not belittled.  I want nothing more than the Rapids to succeed and win another MLS Cup along with their first Supporters Shield and U.S. Open Cup as well as retain the Rocky Mountain Cup.  

If I can answer any more questions for you I'd be happy to, otherwise thank you for the feedback and good luck to the team in 2014.  Please keep reading View From the Couch if you want the fans view from outside the organization.

I then received the following from Tim Hinchey:

If you make personal attacks and criticize me or staff in an ignorant fashion than simply expect my direct response.  I choose not to do this to embarrass you publicly.  Whereas that's how you chose to communicate your points, which is your right.  As evidenced over my entire tenure, I rarely feel compelled to seek out our fan bloggers in any challenging way.  However your comments where totally ridicuolus.  Your email response asking and suggesting whether "I realize" we need a coach is offensive.  I have worked in professional sports for over 20 years and I doubt I would be in my current position if I was so clueless. 

Bottom line is that blogs are public.  If I feel any public comments about our club or my staff are offensive I will respond directly to the author.  If the author or fan would like to have a true better understanding of how professional teams actually operate, then as always, I offer my accessibility to educate.  

As for what the fans think, I actively engage and respectfully respond daily.  I also feel the majority of our growing fan base, including C38, feel more supportive and less critical of our current status. In fact, we've set a club renewal record for season tickets and have sold more than a 1000 new full season tickets thus far.  These business metrics clearly indicate our fans are supporting the club and our efforts to find the absolute right coach for this club.  Simply appointing any candidate to satisfy any minority outside pressure would be foolish. 

I have always read and supported all our fan blogs.  We work hard to provide all of our bloggers as much access to this club as they need or want.  I would match our front office against any in any sport for this access and interest. 

Sorry for my rant but like you, I have tremendous passion for this club and when I feel it has been unfairly harmed, I will fight for it. 

Respectfully,

Tim

90 minutes after my email to Tim, excerpts of it were posted on BigSoccer.

Comments welcome

Colorado Signs One, Lose One To Retirement

An expected and unexpected announcement today.  First. as expected, the Rapids announced the signing of GK John Berner.  With the signing the Rapids have 4 GK's on the roster (Irwin, Nasco, Berner, and Pickens) but as we've seen Pickens will almost certainly not be with the team this year.

Secondly, surprisingly, Kory Kindle announced his retirement from soccer.  Kindle was a second round pick in the 2013 SuperDraft and signed a new contract last month.  He didn't play at all in 2013 and his season was cut short due to injury but he was back at full strength in preseason.  In his announcement he says he wants to return to school to get his doctorate in physical therapy so maybe his heart just wasn't in the game.  I wish him luck and maybe we'll see him on the sidelines in a different role in the future.

So here's the camp roster as the team headed to the Desert Diamond Cup today.

EDIT: The Rapids just announced they released drafteee Tolani Ibikunle today.  The list below is updated.  Hat-tip to Rod (even if he is a Duck) for the news.

Goalkeepers:

John Berner

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco

Matt Pickens - On "Excused Absence"

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned trialist

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Jose Mari - Unsigned trialist, International

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

Rapids Fall To Chivas In Las Vegas

Last night in Vegas Colorado lost its first preseason game 2-1.  Both Chivas goals were off penalty kicks, reportedly very soft PKs by those watching the game.  The Rapids goal was from Deshorn Brown in the 16th minute, assisted by Dillon Serna and Vicente Sanchez.  The starting XI was:

Irwin

Edward - Watts - Wynne - Burch

Guzman - LaBrocca

Serna - Sanchez - Eloundou

Brown

In the 61st minute Colorado swapped all 10 field players:

Irwin

Ibikunle - Moor - VDC - Klute

Sturgis - Hairston

Chavez - Hill - Galindo

Torres

Despite the score the Rapids had better chances and looked like the better team.  Both Serna and Eloundou particularly stood out for good reasons.  The team returned to Commerce City this morning but they will quickly turn around and head to Tucson for the Desert Diamond Cup tomorrow.

Exactly 4 Weeks Until The Opener...Who's The Coach?

This is being posted exactly 4 weeks before the opening kick of the Rapids season at 2pm on March 15th.  As of this moment the Rapids still officially have no head coach.  Not only that, the only rumors we've heard about when it comes to specific candidates is the on-going talk around Pablo Mastroeni.  This was most evident in the quote from Jose Mari earlier this week:

 I know that the coach, Pablo, is an institution at the club, that he’s been here for many years and is a very important man for the Colorado Rapids organization.

So, do the players know that Pablo is going to be coach?  If so, why hasn't it been announced?  If not, are new players being told that without it being a done deal?  What happens if they go with somebody else and the new players feel like they've been lied to?

The only talk of Pablo not being the coach has come from vague statements by Bravo and Hinchey about "talking to candidates" yet no specific candidates have been linked to the job.  So is there an actual coaching "search" going on, or are Hinchey and Bravo just killing time until it seems like they've done due diligence and they can name Pablo coach?

Right now the instability is more than a bit frustrating.  The team can talk all it wants about having all the pieces they need to get through this, but there's a reason that teams have head coaches this close to the season starting.  Its very unlikely that the Rapids have stumbled on a new framework for a professional soccer team, its more likely that they're shooting themselves in the foot.

Matt Pickens On Trial In Norway

It appears Matt Pickens "excused absence" from training camp has taken him to Norway:

Matt Pickens in goal for Stabaek in today's friendly. Stabaek trailing 2-0 late in the first half. Streaming live. http://t.co/yNjbB9Au0p
— Jeff Bradley (@JerseyJBradley) February 15, 2014

Stabaek recently named Bob Bradley as their manager and he's obviously using his MLS connections to find some players.  It was pretty obvious that Pickens was going to be moved before the roster deadline on March 1st, but it appears that he's more likely to leave MLS than be traded.  Assuming he's sold and not just cut so he can go to Norway (or wherever) the Rapids would get some allocation money in exchange for selling him.

Rapids Beat UNLV 2-0

The Rapids scrimmaged UNLV today before their exhibition game against Chivas USA on Sunday.  The opening lineup:

Berner
Ibikunle - Van De Casteele - Moor - Klute
Sturgis - Hairston
Chavez- Galindo - Torres
Hill​

and after the 60th minute, when all 10 field players were subbed:

Berner
Edward - Wynne - Watts - Burch
LaBrocca - Guzman
Serna - Sanchez - Eloundou
Brown

Newly signed keeper Joe Nasco has left camp for a couple of days to deal with a family issue, so Berner got to go the full 90.  Goals were scored by Martin Chavez from a free kick do to a foul on Hairston in the 60th minute (immediately afterwards the team substitution happened) and by Vicente Sanchez in the 78th minute with an assist from trialist Juan Guzman.

Unfortunately there will be no stream of the Chivas game, Twitter updates only.  There should be some streaming of the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson.

Oh, and I'm going to start listing Van De Casteele as VDC to save time.  ;)

Nasco & Watts Signed, Thomas Traded

Still no official word on Jose Mari but the Rapids did announce two signings today.  2nd round Superdraft pick midfielder Jared Watts and trialist goalkeeper Joe Nasco (formally with Atlanta) both penned deals today.  This gives us some depth at both keeper and d-mid.  The Terrace blog also reports today that drftee goalkeeper John Berner will probably be signed soon, giving us the standard 3 keepers after Pickens is moved or sold.  Chirs Bianchi says there's interest from outside MLS for his services (probably Scandinavia given the current open transfer windows) or he could be traded.

Depth will be necessary at d-mid as Hendry Thomas' rights were traded to Dallas today where he'll rejoin Oscar Pareja.  The Rapids got allocation money in return for his rights.  Bianchi reports it as the largest sum of allocation money the team has eve received in a transaction.  That should allow us to go shopping for some players.  With this move the future of the full 2013 roster has been determined.

There are still 3 trialist and 3 draftees in camp with 27 players signed.  Armstrong will start the season on IR and Pickens will presumably e moved before the March 1st roster compliance day, so that means there are still 5 spots open that those 6 are competing for.  We only have 7 international players in camp and 8 spots, so that won't be a roadblock.

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco

Matt Pickens - On "Excused Absence"

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned trialist

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Jose Mari - Unsigned trialist, International

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

Jose Mari Signed?

And literally as I posted the news of Mari joining while he works out a deal, Chris Bianchi tweets the following:

Chris Bianchi ‏@Rapids_News  37m

#Rapids acquisition of Jose Mari is complete. Joins from Spanish side Real Zaragoza. Biggest acquisition of offseason so far for Rapids.

Chris Bianchi ‏@Rapids_News  35m As @TerraceBlog reports, Mari arrives as Hendry Thomas replacement. As previously reported, Thomas won't be back.

Chris Bianchi ‏@Rapids_News  20m Mari, btw, not a DP. #Rapids

So maybe its a done deal?

Spaniard Jose Mari Joins the Team In Vegas

Today the Rapids announced that Spaniard Jose Maria Martin Bejarano-Serrano (commonly known as Jose Mari) will join up with the team when they arrive in Las Vegas tomorrow, with the hope the team can work out a deal with him.  Mari is a 26 year old defensive midfielder who has played his whole career in Spain.  This is not the 36 year old Spanish international striker Jose Mari, the first hit you get when you Google that name.

Mari's last team was Real Zaragosa, who were just relegated to the Segunda (same division as CD Tenerife) last season, but last week the club and Mari mutually agreed to terminate his contract. Prior to that he's played for a number of Segunda teams over the last 8 seasons, making about 200 appearances in that time.  Clearly he's being brought in to fill the hole created by the fact that negotiations with Hendry Thomas have stalled out, so its looking more and more like Thomas won't be back.

Interesting quote from Mari in the announcement:

 I know that the coach, Pablo, is an institution at the club, that he’s been here for many years and is a very important man for the Colorado Rapids organization.

Does Mari know something official about the coaching situation that the rest of us don't?  :D

On the eve of the Vegas trip, here's what the camp roster looks like:

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco - Unsigned trialist

Matt Pickens - On "Excused Absence"

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned trialist

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Jose Mari - Unsigned trialist, International

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

Ayarna Leaves Camp, Galindo One To Watch

Just a quick update today.  Reuben Ayarna, who joined the Rapids in camp while they were in Houston, did not return to Denver with the team.  That leaves the 4 draft picks plus Nasco, Galindo, and Guzman as the unsigned players in camp.  Today's training was the last full session before the team leaves for Vegas later this week.  Soccer America also named Galindo as the top trialist to watch in a MLS camp.

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco - Unsigned trialist

Matt Pickens - On "Excused Absence"

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned trialist

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

Rapids Beat Houston Baptist 3-0, Eloundou Injured

Yesterday the Rapids finished out their week in Houston with a scrimmage against Houston Baptist University.  Again they made changes every 30 minutes.  The lineups through the game:

First 30 minutes:

Irwin

Ibikunle - Van De Casteele - Moor - Klute

Watts - LaBrocca

Sanchez - Torres - Chavez

Brown

Second 30:

Irwin

Ibikunle - Van De Casteele - Moor - Klute

Guzman - Sturgis

Sanchez - Torres - Chavez

Buddle

After half:

Nasco

Edward - Wynne - Kindle - Burch

Guzman - Sturgis

Serna - Hill - Eloundou

Brown

In the 52nd minute Eloundou was injured with what's being called a high ankle sprain and was replaced by Hairston.

Final 30:

Nasco

Edward - Wynne - Kindle - Burch

Guzman - Ayarna

Serna - Hill - Eloundou

Galindo

The goals were scored by Brown in the 12th (assist by Sanchez) and Serna and Galindo late, with Edward getting an assist on both.

The Rapids flew home today and will be in Colorado until mid-week when they head out to Las Vegas to play UNLV and Chivas USA before going to Tucson for the Desert Diamond Cup.

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

OK, after a couple of days to enjoy the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks its time to get back to the Rapids preseason.  One Colorado team managed to win on Sunday as the Rapids beat the Dynamo 3-2 in a scrimmage in Houston.  The teams played 3 30-minute periods with the second one split up with a normal halftime after 45.  Here are the rosters the Rapids used:

First period:

Nasco
Edward - Casteele - Moor - Klute
Guzman - Galindo
Chavez - Hill - Serna
Buddle
​

Second period:

Nasco
Edward - Casteele - Ibikunle - Kindle
Ayarna - Guzman
Eloundou - Galindo - Serna
Brown
​

After half:

Nasco
Edward - Watts - Ibikunle - Kindle
Ayarna - Hairston
Eloundou - Galindo - Serna
Brown​

Final 30 minutes:

Berner
Wynne - Watts - Ibikunle - Burch
Sturgis - Hairston
Sánchez - LaBrocca - Eloundou
Torres​

The goals were scored by Dillon Serna, Deshorn Brown, and Gabriel Torres got the game winner.  The first Houston goal was scored by Rapids-loanee Tony Cascio.  Ayarna is Ghanaian midfielder Reuben Ayarna who joined the team on trial in Houston.  He's been playing in Sweden the last 5 years after attending Boston College.

Yesterday's update included this statement from GK coach Chris Sharpe in discussing Berner and Nasco:

"We're looking for somebody to compete at that #2 spot, to push Clint day in and day out, and to be comfortable and ready to play,"

With Pickens still on "excused absence" from preseason that makes it pretty clear he'll be traded/sold/cut before the roster deadline on March 1st.  So here's our current camp roster:

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco - Unsigned trialist

Matt Pickens - On "Excused Absence"

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Reuben Ayarna - Unsigned trialist, International(?) 

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned draftee

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

CHAMPIONS!!!!

Sir Patrick Stewart agrees.

GO HAWKS!!!!

Go Hawks!

Before I was a Rapids fan or Denver resident I was a Seahawks fan.  Tomorrow I'm rooting for Beast Mode and the Legion of Boom!

And regardless of the result, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have already won Super Bowl week with this tweet:

Football!