Rapids Handed 2-0 Loss by Earthquakes

The Colorado Rapids evened their preseason record at 2-2 following a 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes Friday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

The Rapids, who traveled to San Jose earlier in the day, could not overcome two first half goals by the home team as the Earthquakes claimed their fourth win of the 2009 preseason.

"Tonight was the most competitive game we have had to date," said head coach Gary Smith. "I thought San Jose looked sharp, but I think we compounded some of our own problems with poor quality and I think we looked tired. We looked like a team that is in the midst of a tough preseason."

"When you add that you are missing your three most senior players, it was a tough evening for the group. The positives were Colin created a couple one-on-ones with the ‘keeper that sadly he failed to convert, some good displays by some of the younger boys- Mike Holody and Ross Schunk, and I thought Wawa played good during his 70 minutes."

"The boys got some good minutes under their belts tonight; it is just a shame that we have not been able to convert one or two of the opportunities to make it look a little more respectable. But this is preseason and we are working towards the 21st."

Cam Weaver opened the scoring early with a goal in the 8th minute assisted from Ryan Johnson. San Jose would add one more during injury time as Jamil Roberts netted his first of the preseason 45 seconds before the first half whistle.

The Rapids return to Colorado Saturday morning before heading right back to California where they will face the Earthquakes Monday afternoon at Loyola Marymount University.

Scoring:
SJ- Weaver (Johnson) 8
SJ- Roberts (Alvarez) 47+

Colorado Rapids: Matt Pickens (Preston Burpo 46), Serge Wawa (Kosuke Kimura 69), Ugo Ihemelu (Stephen Keel 62), Greg Dalby, Terry Cooke (Jacob Peterson 46), Ivan Guerrero, Omar Cummings, Nick LaBrocca (Mehdi Ballouchy 46), Colin Clark (Jordan Harvey 63), Mike Holody, Ross Schunk (Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe 69)

San Jose Earthquakes: Joe Cannon, Eric Denton, Darren Huckerby, Simon Elliot, Arturo Alvarez (Shea Salinas 63), Ramiro Corrales, Cam Weaver (Pablo Campos 63), Jamil Roberts, Ryan Johnson (David Somma 72), Jason Hernandez (Alfonso Motagalvan 75), Kelly Gray

Rapids Handed 2-0 Loss by Earthquakes