So...... Proud of my adopted home I have developed a keen interest in following and supporting Coloradans in MLS. I'm proposing that we track Coloradans throughout the MLS season. I've been thinking of doing this for a while but was ho-hum on the idea since it's not Rapids related and I wasn't sure of the interest. Nonetheless, below is the list of Coloradans to track this season. Please free to add to the list. I may have forgotten some. If the interest is there I will keep thread -- if not I will delete. Just let me know! Conor Casey (Denver) - Philadelphia Union Taylor Kemp (Highlands Ranch) - DC United Jeb Brosvky (Lakewood) - NYCFC Collen Warner (Denver) - Toronto FC Tesho Akindele (Thornton) - FC Dallas Stephen Keel (Littleton) - FC Dallas Todd Dunivant (Wheat Ridge) - LA Galaxy Amadou Dia (Littleton) - Sporting KC James Ansu Rogers (Fort Collins) - Sporting KC Roger Espinoza (Denver) - Sporing KC Nat Borchers (Pueblo) - Portland Timbers James Riley (Colorado Springs) - ??? Dillon Serna (Brighton) - Colorado Shane O'Neill (Boulder) - Colorado Bobby Burling (Monument) - Colorado *** I might, possibly down the road, compile a list of USL and NASL players with CO roots ***
I think Riley is available for free transfer. I don't think any team holds his rights anymore. But I may be wrong.
He's in camp, at the AZ Diamond Cup, with the Rapids. Not a bad vet to have if he impresses and signs with us.
Oh yeah, half these guys weren't born in CO but they grew up here or spent a considerable amount of their youth here.
It's not accurate. I will change it. For some reason, I always think Conor has Fort Collins roots and Colin Clark (who's retired) has Denver roots when in actuality it's flip flopped.
This thread got me to look up Paulo DelPiccolo. I thought he was a heckuva player during his high school and college years. I see he's moved around a bit and is now with Charlotte.
FYI- Taylor KeMp but nothing else now. Going other route: GK Ethan Horvath (Highlands Ranch) Molde FK/ USMNT Youth teams
Don't like him. He wore Red in college. Signed, Proud Kentucky Grad Oh, Charlotte also boasts another Colorado resident in Patrick Slogic.
True to my promise, below is a list of Coloradans outside MLS. NASL Connor Tobin (Fort Collins) - Carolina Railhawks USL Robbie Derschang (Englewood) - Arizona United Brad Stisser (Highlands Ranch) - Arizona United Davy Arnstrong (Aurora) - Colorado Springs Switchbacks Aaron King (Denver) - Colorado Springs Switchbacks Paolo DelPiccolo (Wheat Ridge) - Charlotte Independence Patrick Slogic (Colorado Springs) - Charlotte Independence **** USL and NASL teams are just now shaping their rosters so the number of Coloradans may grow. Also, there are a few from Regis, DU, and etc. that have been trialing with CO Springs and a number of other USL/NASL clubs. In a month of so -- closer to the start of their seasons -- I will update the list. ****
There's a couple in the lower divisions of Sweden, Norway, and Germany. Names are escaping me at the moment, though. I might dig around a bit to see if they are still active. Of course, the Coloradan that plays for the biggest club abroad is Golden native Lindsay Horan of budding French (and UEFA) power PSG in the Division 1 Féminin. Horan is one of the extremely rare American women to bypass college all together and sign with a professional club. At 20, she's had a handful of Senior USWNT Caps and is one the rise. Last I looked Lindsay had 40+ goals in 70+ games in France.
Ever look through the USA girls youth ranks, top 10 is loaded with Colorado players across age groups. I get updates all the time from Friend of a Friend whose daughter is #1 2016, Mallory Pugh. Too bad Rapids don't field a "Senior" Women's team. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/ Edit: I will check with them but there was a Local 16/17 yo (at the time) called up for the U-20 Womens World Cup, she started most games at the #10 slot. Boy I'm an idiot it was Mallory http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/11/20/14/36/141120-aoty-young-female-nominees Mallory Pugh (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) The youngest player on the roster won’t turn 17 until next April. She was the leading scorer for the U-17 WNT during its last cycle but has shown the ability to step up to the next level, scoring twice in her four U-20 caps so far. A slashing dribbler with a great nose for the goal and a shot that is beyond her years, Pugh will be a valuable addition to the midfield corps. The rising junior still has two years of high school remaining.
I do from time to time. I actually just had a second cousin, from Kentucky, who was just drafted #8 overall by the Chicago Red Stars. Colorado is pretty highly thought of when it comes to women's youth development and college recruiting. There a slew of good youth clubs around that make some noise nationally. I'd love to see Horan really breakthrough with the US to give CO an even bigger boost nationally. I heard, through the grapevine mind you, that the Rapids loosely explored that idea in the WPS days. Since the formation of the NWSL I haven't heard a thing. There is a Rapids ladies team in the W-League (women's equivalent of USL PDL) but I honestly don't know much about them, sadly.
Could you imagine the Hype the Rapids would have if they had an academy 16yo starting for a top ranked U-20 team in a world cup. BS might just explode.
Week 1 is in the books. A quick look at how our Coloradans fared in league play: Conor Casey - (Philadelphia Union) - came off bench played 5 mins. in Philly's 0-0 draw vs. Rapids Taylor Kemp - (DC United) - not in Final 18 in DCU's 1-0 win over Montreal Jeb Brosvky - (NYCFC) - started, played 90 mins., received YC in NYCFC's 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City Collen Warner - (Toronto FC) - came off bench and played 13 mins in TFC's 3-0 win vs. Vancouver Tesho Akindele - (FC Dallas) - started and played 90 mins. in FCD's 1-0 win vs. SJE Stephen Keel - (FC Dallas) - not in Final 18 in FCD's 1-0 vs. SJE Todd Dunivant - (LA Galaxy) - on bench, DNP in LAG's 2-0 win vs. Chicago Amadou Dia - (Sporting KC) - started and played 90 mins. in SKC's 1-1 draw vs. NYRB James Ansu Rogers - (Sporting KC) - not in Final 18 in SKC's 1-1 draw vs. NYRB Roger Espinoza - (Sporing KC) - started and played 90 mins. in SKC's 1-1 draw vs. NYRB Nat Borchers - (Portland Timbers) - started and played 90 mins. in Portland's 0-0 draw vs. RSL James Riley - (CO Rapids) - started and played 90 mins. in Rapids' 0-0 draw vs. Philly Dillon Serna - (CO Rapids) - started, played 90 mins., received YC in Rapids' 0-0 draw vs. Philly Bobby Burling - (CO Rapids) - started, played 68 mins, received 2 YC's in Rapids' 0-0 draw vs. Philly Shane O'Neill - (CO Rapids) - came off the bench and played 16 mins. in Rapids' 0-0 draw vs. Philly
Collen Warner - (Toronto FC) - came off bench and played 13 mins. for Toronto FC I actually watched that game and for some reason noticed him.
I knew that and fat fingered that info, I guess! Thanks for the correction. I have updated the listed.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...sporting-kansas-city-right-back-discussion-af Dia's impressive debut at RB (he's a natural LB) has caused Vermes sit up and take notice and has put him discussion for the RB role. Dia was forced to the right side due to the absence of Chance Myers and took full advantage in his professional debut.
Week 2 is in the books. A quick look at how our Coloradans fared in league play Conor Casey - (Philly) - came off bench. played 4 mins. in 3-3 draw vs. RSL Taylor Kemp - (DCU) - No match Jeb Brosvky - (NYCFC) - started, played 90 mins. in 2-0 vs. NE Collen Warner - (TFC) - came off bench, played 4 mins. in 2-0 loss vs. Columbus Tesho Akindele - (FCD) - started, played 76 mins., registered assist in 3-1 win vs. SKC Stephen Keel - (FCD) - not in Final 18 in 3-1 win vs. SKC Todd Dunivant - (LAG) - came off bench, played 3 mins. in 2-2 draw vs. Portland Amadou Dia - (SKC) - started, played 90 mins. in 3-1 loss vs. FCD James Ansu Rogers - (SKC) - not in the Final 18 in 3-1 vs. FCD Roger Espinoza - (SKC) - started, played 90 mins, scored a goal in a 3-1 loss vs. FCD Nat Borchers - (Portland) - started, played 90 mins. in 2-2 draw vs. Galaxy James Riley - (CO Rapids) - No match. Suspended next match. Dillon Serna - (CO Rapids) - No match Shane O'Neill - (CO Rapids) - No match Bobby Burling (CO Rapids) - No Match. Suspended next match.
Agreed. I'd take Tesho in a heartbeat. He hasn't scored yet but he's picked up right where he left off. His assist to Perez to Perez was sublime. They have dynamic partnership. Given our CB woes I'd play probably take Borchers back, too. Some would love to have Espinoza. Not me. He's a fine player (and fits SKC perfectly) but there's something that I don't like about his game and never have. I can't quite put a finger on it, though.