Rapids Defender Pablo Mastroeni Named as a Western Conference Starter for the 2004 MLS All-Star Game

Mastroeni to Start the Third MLS All-Star Game of His Career, and Second as a Member of the Colorado Rapids. Match to Be Broadcast Live from Washington D.C. on Saturday, July 31 on ABC at 12:00 p.m. MT

DENVER, CO (07-09-04)On Thursday, Colorado Rapids defender Pablo Mastroeni was named as one of the starting defenders for the Western Conference at the 2004 MLS All-Star Game at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. This will be the fourth All-Star appearance for the third-year Colorado defender. Mastroeni was named to the All-Star team in each of the 2000 and 2001 season's representing the Eastern Conference as a member of the Miami Fusion.

Mastroeni's last All-Star appearance came during the 2002 season when, after starring for the United States Men's National Team at the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea, he played for the U.S. squad against a collection of MLS All-Stars at RFK Stadium.

This will be Mastroeni's third All-Star start in his four appearances. In the previous three All-Star appearances, Mastroeni has played 236 minutes, collecting one assist. That assist came on Mamadou Diallo's 53rd minute goal in the 2001 All-Star Game at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. as the East and West drew 6-6.

This season, Mastroeni has started and appeared in 10 games for the Rapids while helping the club register the league's best goals-against-average.

While the Mastroeni and the 21 other MLS All-Star starters have been announced, the rosters for the ninth annual MLS All-Star Game have not been finalized.

Six reserve players per team, as well as the two Commissioner's picks, will be announced on Monday, July 12, and the rosters for the MLS Reunion Match featuring stars from the 1994 World Cup in a U.S. vs. the World format will follow on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

The 22 players were elected through voting by (a) fans, (b) media, (c) players and (d) coaches and general managers with each group representing 25 percent of the final tally. Voting was managed by J. Patton Sports Marketing Inc. as independent arbiter. Eddie Pope was the leading vote-getter among players, tied with Landon Donovan among coaches and GM ballots. Donovan and Pope also led the way among the soccer media while Donovan was the favorite in the fan balloting, followed by DaMarcus Beasley, Pope and Carlos Ruiz.

Mastroeni and the rest of the MLS All-Stars will play in the ninth annual MLS All-Star Game on Saturday, July 31 at 12:00 p.m. (MT) from RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. and can be seen live on ABC. The All-Star Game will feature the Eastern Conference All-Stars taking on the Western Conference All-Stars, and will be preceded by a special Reunion Match between members of the United States 1994 World Cup team and a selection of MLS International stars from the nine-year history of the league.

The Rapids will be without Mastroeni because of international commitments this Saturday night when they travel to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy. That match can be seen at 8:00 p.m. (MT) on both Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain and Fox Sports World.

Those same two sides will meet for the fourth and final time four days later when the Galaxy come to Denver on Wednesday, July 14. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (MT) at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Prior to the match, the Rapids will be hosting the Buck-A-Bud Happy Hour. Tickets for this game, and all other Rapids home matches are on sale now. Call 303-825-GOAL or visit coloradorapids.com for tickets or more information.