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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Andy Engel
NEWS RELEASE
The Colorado Rapids head to Kansas City this Saturday for the front end of a back-to-back series against the Wizards before MLS playoffs begin on Sept. 25. The two games * Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium and Sept. 20 at INVESCO Field * will wrap up the four-game season series between the clubs, with Colorado looking to take the series for the first time since 1999 when they swept all four games. Currently, the Rapids lead the series 1-0-1, opening the 2002 season with a 1-1 tie at Arrowhead on March 23 and posting a 2-0 victory at INVESCO Field on May 11. The Wizards lead the all-time series 14-11-5 (including playoffs), recording a 11-3-1 mark in Kansas City, while the Rapids have registered an 8-3-4 record in Denver. Colorado has not been victorious at Arrowhead Stadium since Sept. 25, 1999, but have not lost at Mile High since April 29, 2000. Chris Henderson has been the historical Wizards killer, posting 6 g, 5 a (17 points) through 15 games, now in his fourth season with Colorado. For Kansas City, Preki has been the thorn in the Rapids' side, posting 7 g, 11 a (25 points) in 24 games. Look for these veterans to lead their squads as the back-to-back series begins on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. (MT) on AT&T Broadband (Ch. 21).
With a 3-2 victory over Western Conference nemesis Dallas Burn on September 1 at INVESCO Field, the Rapids have secured themselves a place in the 2002 MLS Playoffs, beginning Sept. 25 and culminating in America's most coveted soccer prize - the MLS Cup - to be held Oct. 20 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., live on ABC Sports at 1:30 p.m. (ET). To date, four of eight playoff berths have been clinched, by the San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles Galaxy, Dallas Burn and Colorado Rapids. The MLS playoffs consist of three rounds (quarterfinal, semifinal and final) with the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds laid out in a three-game, "first to five (points)" format. Structured just like a regular season MLS game, three points are awarded for a win and one point is awarded for a tie, with two, five-minute overtime periods added to determine a winner. In case neither team has reached five points at the end of the third game (plus overtime), 20 minutes of overtime would be allotted, with a "golden goal" (first team to score) deciding the winner. While the regular season winds down with 2-3 games remaining for each club, the month of September will prove critical for playoff seeding, deciding date, time and venue locations for clubs earning a postseason berth. The top four finishers (seeds No. 1-4) in regular season play will enjoy home field advantage, during two of a maximum three games, in both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the final being played in a one-game, winner-takes-all format. If the regular season were to end today, Colorado * currently holding the No. 5 playoff seed * would face Dallas in the quarterfinal (opening) round, playing one home game at INVESCO Field on Saturday, September 28.
The Rapids are set to host the 6th annual soccer ball giveaway night in conjunction with the Sept. 20 match against the Kansas City Wizards. The first 6,000 kids age 16-and-under to enter the stadium will receive a free Rapids soccer ball, courtesy of Dairy Queen and the Colorado Rapids. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as the Rapids expect a large crowd. The 7 p.m. match between the Rapids and the Wizards is the final 2002 regular season game at INVESCO Field, before the playoffs begin in late September.
The Rapids have announced the call-up of A-league goalkeeper Matt Napoleon from the Portland Timbers for the remainder of the season. Napoleon will be playing second to starting goalkeeper David Kramer while Scott Garlick remains on the sidelines with a fractured left thumb. As the starting goalkeeper for the Timbers, the 6'1" Napoleon posted five shutouts in 26 games this season, and allowed only two goals in the Timbers' recent playoff series against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Napoleon is no stranger to the MLS either, as he played two seasons with the Columbus Crew (1999-2000), and one season with the Miami Fusion (1998). Napoleon was born August 18, 1977 in Feasterville, PA
The media will have the opportunity to speak with players and coaches as the Rapids host their weekly media luncheon at the Westminster Training Facility on Tuesday afternoon. The luncheon will be held at 12 p.m. at the Westminster Training Facility, located at 10485 Sheridan Blvd. Media members with questions should contact Andy Edgel at 303-299-1590.
The Colorado Rapids have clinched a spot in the 2002 MLS playoffs and have devised a family-friendly, affordable ticket plan as the team fights its way through the post season. Fans can secure their seats for a maximum of four playoff games (quarterfinal and semi-final rounds) and pay only when the Rapids play. As an added incentive, reserving your seats now gets you an official 2002 MLS Cup Playoffs T-shirt. Single game ticket prices range from $14 for an end line seat to $35 for a club level seat. For more information, call the Rapids office at (303) 299-1599. Don't miss the Rapids in 2002 post-season action at INVESCO Field!
Rapids Around Town
Player Event / Location
Date Time
Rapidman Soccer Field Visits/ Denver Soccer Club
9/10/02 TBA
Hart/Trembly Target Charity Golf Tournament/ Highlands
Ranch 9/11/02 1p.m.
Pablo Mastroeni Private Coaching Session/ Golden
9/12/02 6-7:30 p.m.
Bravo, Carrieri, Hart, Herdsman, Fort Collins Soccer Clinic/ Fort
Collins 9/12/02 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Kramer, Kingsley, Stewart
Injury Report: Scott Garlick - OUT - left thumb fracture
Training Schedule:
Monday, September 9 - Training at 10:00 a.m. Westminster Training
Facility
Tuesday, September 10 - Training at 10:00 a.m. Westminster Training
Facility
Wednesday, September 11 - Day off
Thursday, September 12 - Training at 10:00 a.m. Westminster Training
Facility
Friday, September 13 - Depart for Kansas City at 12:20 p.m.
Saturday, September 14- Game at Kansas City, delayed TV Broadcast at 8 p.m.
MT (AT&T Broadband)
MLS CUP PLAYOFFS TABLE - Sunday, September 08, 2002
(Top 8 teams qualify)
SD TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA G +/-
---------------------------------------------------------------
1. X*San Jose Earthquakes 26 14 9 3 45 45 33 +12
2. *Columbus Crew 26 10 11 5 35 41 41 =0
3. X Los Angeles Galaxy 26 14 9 3 45 42 33 +9
4. X Dallas Burn 26 11 8 7 40 39 38 +1
5. X Colorado Rapids 26 12 11 3 39 40 46 -6
6. MetroStars 25 11 12 2 35 40 41 -1
7. Kansas City Wizards 26 9 9 8 35 35 42 -7
8. Chicago Fire 26 10 12 4 34 41 35 +6
N.E. Revolution 26 10 14 2 32 44 48 -4
D.C. United 25 7 13 5 26 25 35 -10
X = clinched playoff berth MET
* = Conference leader
Notes:
SJ holds 2nd tiebreaker against LA (+12 goal differential to +9)
CLB holds 2nd tiebreaker against MET (even goal differential to -1)
holds 1st tiebreaker against KC (head-to-head competition - 1-0-1)
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