Rapids Journal

Rapids Looking Forward in Final Week of Preseason

Cynical observers of the post-Hudson bump experienced by the Rapids in 2019 regularly commented that the shift in form wouldn’t be sustainable. As the club enters the final week of preseason, Colorado appears poised to assuage all doubts.

“As we put a group together we start to see these sorts of cohesive ideas,” Head Coach Robin Fraser said of the Rapids’ style of play following the club’s 4-2 drubbing of Chicago Fire F.C. in the club’s first public preseason match. “It feels like we’re moving in the right direction.”

Saturday’s match exhibited that Colorado’s ideas behind attacking, possession-with-purpose soccer hadn’t died with the threat of the plague-ridden rodents surrounding Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

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Rapids Journal

Despite Serna Departure, Colorado Poised to Reverse Homegrown Fortunes

The Colorado Rapids are signing homegrown players en masse – it’s become a clear trend to bring in both local academy players and graduates from elsewhere in MLS under the management of Pádraig Smith. This approach is pragmatic, as it affords the club advantages in cap management and transfer profit alike. However, the release of Dillon Serna and Sam Raben has once again shed light upon the failures of the Rapids organization to turn promising local talent into significant transfer profit, much less long-term contributors for the first team.

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Roster Updates

Joining Colorado a “Dream come true” for Hundley, Raben

Following a hectic SuperDraft weekend that added new blood to the Rapids’ roster ahead of their 2019 campaign, the Rapids held a special event Tuesday to announce the signing of two homegrown players: Matt Hundley and Sam Raben. The Colorado natives join Dillon Serna, Kortne Ford, Cole Bassett, and Sam Vines as Rapids academy alumni on contract with the first team.

“I’m feeling ecstatic,” Hundley beamed following the press conference, “It’s a dream come true. Being in my hometown to start my professional career is incredible.”

Raben was similarly enthusiastic about the next step in his career. “The more and more I do with the team, the more I get excited,” the versatile defender explained, I’ve been doing some pre-preseason workouts with the strength coach, Chad [Kolarcik], and it’s just really cool to see all the players – all the players I looked up to – come in and do the same things as me. It’s surreal.”

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Colorado Rapids Academy

Undefeated U14s finish third in Galway Cup

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The Colorado Rapids Under-14s finished third in the 2018 Galway Cup despite being one of the two teams to boast an unblemished record in the tournament’s round robin stage.

Sligo Leitrim ultimately lifted the tournament’s top honors in the 2005 division, defeating Chicago Fire 1-0 in the final. Their victory marks the first U14 Galway Cup title in four years by a side not named Colorado.

The Rapids – coached by club legend Marcelo Balboa – opened the tournament on Wednesday with convincing wins over Shrewsbury Town and Sligo Leitrim. The following day, the U14s became the only team to drop points against the combined North Dublin Schoolboys League (NDSL) squad, playing to a disappointing 0-0 draw.

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Roster Updates

Rapids sign academy player Cole Bassett

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General Manager Pádraig Smith revealed Thursday that the Colorado Rapids have signed academy player Cole Bassett to a full-time contract. The announcement was made during a live question and answer session that the club hosted at Odell Brewing Company in downtown Denver. Colorado has yet to reveal the specifics of the contract offered.

Bassett, 17, joined the Rapids Developmental Academy from the Colorado Rush academy in 2017. Smith spoke highly of the talented midfielder, describing Bassett as “the best player” in his age group.

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Colorado Rapids Academy

U14s travel to Ireland seeking fourth straight Galway Cup title

Marcelo Balboa announced Sunday that the Colorado Rapids Development Academy Under-14 squad traveled once again to Galway, Ireland to participate in the annual Galway Cup – an international youth tournament hosted by Salthill Devon F.C.

Colorado’s U14s have been nothing short of dominant in their past experiences at Galway, as the young prospects took home the tournament’s top honors in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In last year’s edition, the Rapids successfully avoided defeat throughout the entire event.

The Rapids will face a variety of academy teams from across the British Isles – including the youth squads of Shrewsbury Town, Sligo Leitrim, and Leeds United. Additionally, the U14s will test their skills against Chicago Fire’s Academy, the only other American team participating in the tournament.

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