DENVER (August 15, 1996) -- Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids head to Foxboro Stadium today to face Alexi Lalas and the New England Revolution tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. EDT (6:30 p.m. MDT). It will be one of the Rapids' six games left in regular season play -- the Rapids are in fifth place in the Westem Conference with 28 points. They remain just one win away from the San Jose Clash in fourth place with 31 points.

The Rapids playoff hopes are dimming as the team heads into the final games of the season -- four of which are on the road. In order to continue in the hunt for the final playoff spot, tomorrow night's game is a must-win for Colorado. New England faces the same situation -- the Revolution is in fourth place in the East with 21 points, but only two points ahead of Columbus.

Injuries continue to plague head coach Bob Houghton's squad -- workhorse midfielder Chris Henderson will not make the trip to New England due to a pulled hamstring, and defender Ian Butterworth will not travel as a result of a bruised foot. Roy Wegerle and Richard Sharpe, both of whom have been nursing injuries will make the trip, but are not yet fully recovered. Goalkeeper Chris Woods suffers from a strained meniscus on his right knee and will not join the starting 11 at Foxboro.

Dusty Hudock returns to the lineup in place of Woods. Hudock, who is 3-5 as a starter, has not seen any time in the past 15 Rapids matchups. His last trip to the pitch was on June 8 at Tampa Stadium, where the Rapids fell to the Mutiny, 2- 1. Hudock has 107 saves in 26 games played this season -- a goals against average of 1.63.

The last time Colorado played at New England, Hudock, who was caught out of position, surrendered a 55-yard goal to Alberto Naveda and later caused a penalty kick goal. After the Rapids rallied to tie the score, 2-2, Hudock lost in the shootout, I -0. "I definitely plan to make up for my last outing at New England," said the 23-year-old goalkeeper. "I will make sure our team has every opportunity to win tomorrow night."

Following is the Rapids' travel squad for tomorrow night's game (probable starters are in red): Goalkeepers: Chris Woods, Dusty Hudock. Defenders: Matt Kmosko, Marcelo Balboa, Denis Hamlett, Scott Cannon. Midfielders: Scott Benedetti, Brian Bates, Steve Trittschuh, Sean Henderson, Felipe Rodriguez, Josh McKay, Forwards: Roy Wegerle, Shaun Bartlett, Jean Harbor, Richard Sharpe.

Rapids' marquee allocated midfielder Dominic Kinnear will spend the next few weeks recovering from surgery to his knee. Kinnear went into the hospital on Tuesday for surgery to repair stretched Iateral cruciate ligaments and anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee. He suffered the strain in the July 7 matchup against the Columbus Crew at Mile High Stadium. Kinnear, now lost for the season, is expected to be ready for pre-season training in March.

Starting on Saturday, downtown Denver's business district will showcase a new work of art -- one that highlight's the city's newest major league franchise. TCI and the Colorado Rapids are pleased to present the sports fans of Denver with a 33-foot by 60-foot mural that will hang on the International Wellness Center at the comer of 17th Street and Welton in Denver. The mural was created by locally renowned sports artist Mike Stemple, whose resume also boasts the impressive sports mural on I-25 which highlights John Elway, Andres Gallaraga and Dikembe Mutumbo. The banner will be hung on Saturday morning, August 17.

Rapids fans will have an oppertunity to have a replica of of the banner to take home. On Thursday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. the Rapids will host the Washington D.C. United at Mile High Stadium. The first 15,000 fans through the gates will receive a poster of the mural, sponsored by TCI, KXPK radio and the Colorado Rapids.

The Colorado Rapids took some time off the field this week to pay a visit to some very young and very special soccer fans. The team spent Tuesday afternoon with some children at Columbia Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center at a picnic sponsored by the Starlight Foundation. The Starlight Foundation was designed to grant wishes for terminally ill children around the world -- and for the Rapids there could be no better victory than seeing their smiles.

While at the hospital, the Rapids headed up to the hospital's helipad for a special team photo, sponsored by Columbia and KKFN radio. The team donned doctors scrubs and stethoscopes for a tribute to their health care provider. Rapids fans will have the chance to have their own copy of the photo -- the first I 0,000 fans at the Rapids' final game of the season on September 8 against San Jose all receive a complimentary poster.