RAPIDS FACE WHAT WILL BE "TOUGHEST OPPONENT" OF THE ENTIRE SEASON TUESDAY IN MEXICO

GUADALAJARA (Monday, February 23, 1998) - The Colorado Rapids face undefeated Tecos of the Mexican First Division Tuesday in Guadalajara in what will serve as a measuring stick for the Rapids and their 6-1 pre-season record.

Tecos was undefeated through the first eight games of the regular season in the Mexican League, considered to be on the same level talent-wise as MLS. Rapids coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick said that while he would rather face Tecos when MLS was in mid-season, as Mexico is now, the match will still prove as a good test for the Rapids.

"Tecos will probably be the toughest opponent we face all year, and we have to play them in the pre-season when we are still trying out players. But we wanted the game to really give our guys, returners and players trying out, a chance to show what they have against maybe the best team on the continent," said Myernick.

Colorado's task will be even tougher, as they go into Tuesday's match without the services of Marcelo Balboa and Chris Henderson. The duo is in Belgium with the U.S. National Team, which faces Belgium on Wednesday.

RAPIDS PUT OUT FIRE IN SHOOTOUT: Colorado ran its pre-season record to 6-1 on Saturday in Guadalajara with a 3-2 shoot-out victory over the expansion Chicago Fire. Steve Trittschuh and Wolde Harris found the net for the Rapids.