Denver, CO, April 15, 2004 (CSA) - With a near-disastrous six games without a win to finish the 2003 campaign, the Rapids found themselves without home-field advantage in the MLS Playoffs. Knocked out of championship contention by the Kansas City Wizards and with almost 6 months to dwell upon their loss, the Rapids find themselves eager to return to Invesco Field at Mile High.

Why are the Rapids so excited?
Colorado is good at home. Really good. The Rapids haven’t lost a home game in nearly a year, when they dropped a 2-0 decision to the MetroStars May 17, 2003. Since that loss they have generated an impressive 8-0-5 record at home. In their long-anticipated 2004 home opener against Western Conference rivals LA Galaxy, they hope to extend this streak into the new season and wash away the dirt from their end-of-season meltdown in 2003.

With new owner Kroenke Sports Enterprises, new players, newly announced architects and a tentative 2006 opening for a new soccer-specific stadium in Denver, the Rapids also hope to improve upon last year’s home opener loss to the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.

The Rapids will be going up against coach Sigi Schmid and the LA Galaxy, who have their own demons to exorcise from last year. Last year, the Galaxy became the first team in MLS history to go an entire season without winning even one game on the road.

In response to questions regarding LA’s ability to overcome this dubious distinction, coach Sigi Schmid seemed confident. "There was a little bit of a psychological block in terms of the team, and it started to take on a life of its own,” Sigi commented, as reported in the Pasadena News Star. "But I'm leaving that behind. We have a lot of new players and what happened last year doesn't apply.”

LA will have to attempt their first road victory since September, 2002 without star Cobi Jones in the starting lineup. One of the Galaxy’s most prolific scorer with 59 goals and the only player from the LA’s inaugural 1996 season, Jones had a tonsillectomy on Tuesday, and is expected to be sidelined for 7-10 days before returning to action.

With 4 quality goals in their first two games, including a last-minute net poached by Carlos Ruiz, LA has put the Western Conference on notice. The Rapids, with just a single net in their 2004 MLS debut, are looking to the double home debut of Haitian international Jean Philippe “Pedro” Peguero and Mexican international Antonio “Toño” de la Torre to help maintain their home field advantage. De la Torre is expected to start at right back where he should provide service to the lightning quick Peguero, who is expected to start opposite Rapids star striker, John Spencer.

Peguero started his first game for the Black & Blue against Dallas, the game ending in a 1-1 draw. He played 89 minutes before being replaced by Mark Crawford to shore up the Rapids defense in the last minutes of the game after Henderson was ejected due to two yellow cards for reckless fouls.

After missing the season opener to injury, Pablo Mastroeni is expected to return to play in the home opener to lead the Rapids defense as they attempt to shut down LA scoring machine Carlos Ruiz.

Zizi Roberts, the Rapids forward who has been plagued by injuries, sat out the first game against Dallas. He is listed as probable and has practiced with the Rapids this week as well as playing 45 minutes during a scrimmage last week, scoring once in a decent individual effort against the Colorado School of Mines men’s team.

With Chris Henderson serving a one-game automatic suspension, the home opener will be without one of the Rapids steadiest players in the midfield. Zach Kingsley has been slated to fill Hendo’s position in the right midfield, although the Rapids can draw from a number of possible midfielders and strikers including Jordan Cila, Michael Erush, and Zizi Roberts.

Jeff Stewart and Seth Trembly remain on the Rapids injury list, although Trembly has recently been upgraded to doubtful.

The Rapids announced yesterday the choice of HOK Sport + Venue + Event as the official architects working on the upcoming soccer-specific stadium. HOK S+V+E managed the Pepsi Center and Coors Field projects. At the kickoff luncheon Rapids Governor Charlie Wright explained that final site decisions should be made in the next couple of months. Construction on the new stadium would hopefully break ground in early 2005, with a possibility of playing in the new stadium for at least part of the 2006 campaign.