The Rapids are headed to Texas for a matchup with Austin FC on Saturday, March 8. To preview this week’s game, we caught up with MLS Season Pass broadcaster, Ashley Gonzalez. In Colorado’s season opener against St. Louis, Gonzalez became the first female analyst for the Spanish broadcast on MLS Season Pass. She will be paired with play-by-play partner Raul Guzman on the Spanish broadcast for Apple TV and MLS Season Pass this weekend.
With this being your first year calling MLS games, how did you get to this point in your career?
I've always have been a huge fan of soccer. In college, I studied communications and public relations in Guadalajara, Mexico, where I am from. My first job ever was with TV Azteca, which is one of the most popular channels in Mexico. There, I had the opportunity to try many different things in various media forms. At that time, I didn’t care if it was television, I just wanted to be involved in sports entertainment and journalism. I started at TV Azteca as an intern, and then after three months they told me “We have a surprise for you. You made it. We are going to hire you.” I was just so, so happy. At first, I was just a writer. Then I was a reporter and a year later, I was an anchor for the channel. Being there made me aware of a lot of information that I needed to know for a sports journalism career. From there, I moved onto my current career of broadcasting soccer!
After being on the call for Colorado vs. St. Louis in February, you became the first female analyst on the Spanish broadcast for MLS Season Pass to call a match. How did you feel in that moment?
It was very emotional for me. Previously, I didn't have the opportunity to be in the press box. I had the opportunity to be on the field when I was a sideline reporter, but never in the press box to analyze the game from there. This was way easier. When I was calling the match, I felt the environment and I was able to understand the perspective of how the players were moving on the field. Heading into that day, I felt a lot of pressure and responsibility. It was the first game of the of the season in St. Louis. The stadium was full and I knew that I was the first female analyst in Spanish for MLS Season Pass. So, I felt a lot of pressure on that day. The expectations were really high, and I take this job with a lot of responsibility. Since I'm the first one, I don't want to be the only one. I hope a lot of a women can be involved in MLS, whether it be in Spanish or in English. I felt a lot of pressure because I needed to do it correctly. I needed to do it well so that this door can be opened for anyone who wants to be part of the soccer industry.
What are your thoughts on the current Rapids squad?
I like Colorado. I think they’re a great team. From the midfield to the forwards, I think they have some very interesting players. Djordje Mihailovic is one of my favorites because he has the freedom to be in any part of the field that that he wants, and he is able to collaborate a lot with the forwards. Oliver Larraz as well has really impressed me in the two games he has played in this season. I think he has done an incredible job. Also, Zack Steffen has been great this season. He is a great goalkeeper that is fighting to be on the national team. I think when you have great forwards in addition to having a great goalkeeper, this could be their key to success. I also think that Chris Armas gives the team a great balance both defensively and in the attack.
How do you see Saturday’s match playing out?
I think it will be a challenging match for Colorado. My focus is on the Rapids backline as they go up against Brandon Vázquez, who has returned to MLS. I had the opportunity to see him play a lot with Monterrey in Liga MX, who are one of the most popular teams in in Mexico nowadays. So, I think Colorado will have a real challenge on their hands with him and the rest of their attack. While it may be tricky, I think the Rapids attack will be able to match Austin to make for an interesting game.