Denver, CO, May 21, 2004 (CSA) - Another non-loss officially sank the Colorado Rapids to the bottom of the Western Conference last week, proving it will not be enough just to tie.

Only two other teams have as few wins, and only Columbus has fewer goals scored than Colorado.

Yet, even as they are not scoring —tallying just four goals in six games— the Rapids are also not breaking down. Only Kansas City’s defense has been more effective, with four goals allowed to Colorado’s five.

Further, the Black & Blue tied a defensive MLS record, going 15 consecutive games at home without a loss. Attacking veteran midfielder Chris Henderson continues to impress, tying the Rapids all-time points leader Paul Bravo last week in a game against the L.A. Galaxy.

His 100th point was a magnificent effort to get on a long cross from Matt Crawford that was destined to result in a goal kick, saving it off the endline and bouncing it onto Jean Philippe Peguero’s foot, who gets credit for tapping in the goal from seven yards out. Hendo’s efforts also paid off by saving the Rapids from a 1-0 loss against the Galaxy.

"I am happy to get it [100th point] on an assist,” Henderson said. “Most of my points have come on assists through the years. It was nice to get that out of the way and the most important thing was that we came back here and got a point after being a goal down...it was huge to come back."

Regarding the Galaxy’s lone tally in the match, Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon put it on his shoulders.

“I’ll take responsibility,” Cannon said in reviewing the play. “[L.A.'s Cobi Jones] took it wide. I was expecting a drive, I didn’t feel he had any angle. So when he did put it low and hard...it was just bad footwork.

”When they shove it in the net, it’s all you can think about. I took consolation in that we got a point on the road. But shutouts are important to me, to give credit to the defense for their great effort.”

IT'S TIME
But D.C. United is a new game. With an impressive 4-0-2 record against D.C., Cannon is eager to meet them in his home stadium.

“I’m excited to get the next game underway,” the veteran keeper continued. “I think [D.C. United forward] Jaime Moreno is playing really well, and [midfielder Dema] Kovalenko is coming forward to create chances. [Forward Alecko] Eskandarian is always dangerous, and the team may have that extra resolve after coming off a loss.”

Facing a leaky D.C. United side that still knows how to score, Colorado —shut out twice and with just a single tally in May— will need to do more in order to grab the win.

Rapids Head Coach Tim Hankinson feels the team is well positioned.

“We’ve only lost once, and that’s not bad,” Hankinson said. “Everyone is sitting there criticizing us, when in fact we have done very well to get through the first 20 percent of the season where we’ve been at a loss from some of the guys who do know how to get a goal.”

It will be important to have a healthy offense given the Coach’s view on the Rapids as a defensive team.

“We’re a good defensive team,” Hankinson affirmed. “But we’re not trying to establish a bunker-ball, dig-the-trenches, don’t go forward philosophy.”

“We’re not preaching every day, ‘defend, defend, defend.’ We’re preaching ‘attack, attack, attack.’”

HEALTHY COMPETITION
Colorado will finally get their chance to shine, and the pressure is on. The club is expecting a full house with over 25,000 fans, and they will have a full bench as forwards John Spencer and Zizi Roberts return from injury, creating a full stable of strikers to choose from.

Playing at full pace in yesterday’s practice at Invesco Field at Mile High, Roberts is “absolutely ready to play” according to Hankinson.

For the first time this season, every player faces serious competition to get the starting nod as only defender Jeff Stewart is out of the lineup. Hankinson feels this is already leading to a better team.

“This is not about guys being guaranteed playing time,” the coach said. ”This is about putting the best guy out there we can. This is a competition for playing time that should fuel every player we’ve got to be sharper, and fight harder.”

Continuing to stress that starting positions are earned, Hankinson said, “This is not about people’s feelings, or protecting egos, or even confidence. It’s about competing. This is a brutally competitive business, and everyone’s got to be up to the task.”

Star striker Spencer agrees: “You’re supposed to be a professional athlete. If you’re happy just sitting on the bench every week, then you shouldn’t be in the game.”

FREDDY
D.C. United Head Coach Peter Nowak and forward Freddy Adu have settled into their roles as ambassador for US Soccer, but not without adjustments.

“We are all responsible for his development,” Coach Nowak said during a conference call, “Media, coaches, players, and fans.”

Media appearances and many other extracurricular activities have been seen to affect Adu’s ability to focus on his game.

America’s youngest professional major league athlete, Freddy Adu told Cyber Soccer News, “I wasn’t prepared for the speed of play, but now...I have reached my maximum comfort level.”

The 14-year old striker, who plans to attend his high school graduation in Florida this morning before rejoining D.C. on the road, said his comfort peaked “the day before the Wizards game [last week], and it showed.”

D.C. struggled two nights ago as the L.A. Galaxy put the screws to them in a record-breaking 4-2 loss that saw the Galaxy’s Alejandro Moreno put away a hat trick in under ten minutes, but Adu was as good as his word.

Coming off the bench in the 60th minute, Adu scored his second goal of the season with a spectacular run across the top of the box before firing a left-footed rocket into the upper netting of keeper Kevin Hartman’s goal for a clear play-of-the-week contender.

The D.C. prodigy feels his development in MLS “was not as fast as I wanted it to be.

Adu added: "It’s up to me. Now I’m having fun again: Guys better watch out. I’m back to having fun...and that is when I’m at my best.”

In preparation for playing the Rapids, winless-on-the-road Nowak said, “We’re going to see what we have to do to break the [Rapids home unbeaten] record. Colorado is very tough to play against at home. We have nothing to lose, so we’re just going to play our game.”

Pablo Mastroeni, who has again been called up by the US National Team for their June 2 friendly against Honduras, is impressed with the D.C. United striker.

“He’s good enough to be in this league, and he’s proven that,” the Rapids defender said. “Getting burned by Freddy is like getting burned by Carlos Ruiz.

“I think it’s exciting for kids all over the country, and for our league. He’s homegrown and promising. This kid loves the game, he loves MLS, and he’s an exciting player to watch.”

Adu, Ben Olsen, Bobby Convey and the rest of the D.C. United team square off against the Rapids Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High, 7 p.m. (MDT). The first 6,500 kids under 16 years of age receive a free replica jersey.