The final preseason trip of the year is underway.
The Rapids flew from Denver to Los Angeles, California on Tuesday morning before making their way to Ventura by bus. A total of 32 players are taking part in the final preseason preparations, including new trialists David Cortes Armero and Matthew Dunn.
Colorado will train in Ventura during the week and play their final preseason match on Friday, February 22 against the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara (8:30 p.m. MT). A reserve side is also scheduled to face UC Santa Barbara in the university’s home stadium prior to the game against LA.
Cortes Armero is a 21-year-old forward and former member of Colombia's Under-20 national team that played professional in Latvia and Moldovia before returning to his native country to suit up for Sante Fe. Dunn, a 19-year-old attacking midfielder from Dallas, is a former member of the U.S. U-20 and U-17 squads who has been playing at OFK Beograde in Serbia.
Friday's match will be the last test before the season opener on March 2 at FC Dallas.
Goalkeepers: Matt Pickens, Stew Ceus, Clint Irwin
Defenders: Drew Moor, Diego Calderon, Marvell Wynne, Brian Mullan, Anthony Wallace, Chris Klute, Davy Armstrong, ^Kory Kindle, ^Marcello Castro, ^Brenton Griffiths
Midfielders: Hendry Thomas, Pablo Mastroeni, Tony Cascio, Dillon Powers, Nick LaBrocca, Nathan Sturgis, Jamie Smith, ^Machael David
Forwards: Edson Buddle, Deshorn Brown, Andre Akpan, Atiba Harris, Kamani Hill, Kevin Harbottle, Cesar Romero, ^Stefano Pinho, Marcos Pirchio, Matthew Dunn, David Cortes
Non-roster invitees; ^un-signed Draft Picks
Notes: Davy Armstrong, who missed the Arizona and Las Vegas trips with back spasms, has made the trip to California...Supplemental Draft Pick Machael David, who attended UC Santa Barbara, met the team in Ventura after returning home to Califorina following the Vegas leg...Cesar Romero flew home to San Diego after last week's match and drove up to meet the team today...Dunn flew in from his hometown of Dallas and met the team at the LA airport.
