News and Notes, May 11, 2017

A couple of odds and ends from around Colorado soccer.

• Most importantly, the home game against Portland on Sunday June 18th has been moved to Saturday June 17th, still at 7:30pm.  Originally this game was scheduled to be broadcast nationally on FS1, it will no be shown locally on Altitude.  I'm assuming FOX told the league they weren't interested in televising a game from a likely half-empty stadium featuring the wooden spoon leaders.
• Rapids draft pick Jaime Siaj made his first appearance with the Charlotte Independence tonight.  here's been no word that he signed with the Rapids so I assume this is not a loan and the Rapids suggested he sign with Charlotte with the hope he can eventually move up to MLS.
• Azteca FC lost their first round Open Cup match to FC Wichita last night 1-0.  They had a player red carded in the 12th minute and still forced extra time after the first 90 finished scoreless.  In the 105th minute Wichita finally broke through for the only goal, and Azteca went down a second man shortly after the break.  That leaves just the Rapids and Switchbacks left in the Open Cup from the state of Colorado.  Colorado Springs will host FC Tucson in Round 2 while the Rapids wait to see who they'll play in their first game in Round 4.

Rapids Select Two Forwards In This Afternoon's Part 2 Superdraft

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Superdraft were held by teleconference this afternoon.  The Rapids made two picks, both forwards:

With the first pick of the day by anyone the Rapids took Jaime Siaj out of Pfeffer University.  He is believed to be the first player drafted by MLS out of that school.  He also apparently spent time in the Real Madrid Academy before college.

With their 4th round pick (2nd to last of the draft) Colorado took Peguy Ngatcha out of Wright State University.

Both of these players have a big hill to climb to make the team.  After the first couple of rounds of the draft the track record is not great historically.  The good news is that as forwards they're both competing at a position of need for the team.

Here's the newest update of the roster including our draftees:

Signed Players:
GK John Berner
GK Tim Howard - Designated Player
GK Zac MacMath
D Marc Burch
D Bobby Burling
D Dennis Castillo - International
D Kortne Ford - Homegrown
D Eric Miller
D Axel Sjoberg - International
D Jared Watts
D Mekeil Williams - International
M Micheal Azira
M Sam Cronin
M Marlon Hairston
M Ricardo Perez - Homegrown
M Dillon Powers
M Juan Ramirez - Designated Player, International, On Loan
M Dillon Serna - Homegrown
F Dominique Badji - International
F Caleb Calvert - Homegrown
F Kevin Doyle - International
F Shkelzen Gashi - Designated Player, International

Unsigned Draftees:
D Liam Callahan
M Sam Hamilton

F Peguy Ngatcha
F Jaime Siaj