Rapids 2 (1-7-2, 6 pts) will take on Real Monarchs for the first time this season on Sunday, June 12 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast on www.mlsnextpro.com.
“We are looking forward to playing Real. Another team who has a lot of young players this season and probably has performed beyond what the results show,” said Rapids 2 head coach Erik Bushey. “So, we are expecting it to be another good match. Certainly, another well played match and another chance for us to get three points.”
Bushey’s side will take the field on Sunday night for its third consecutive game at home. With only three days of rest since the team’s last match on Wednesday, the Rapids will return to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium in search of three points after falling short to North Texas SC and drawing with STL CTIY2. The Wednesday night match saw the Rapids end regulation in a 2-2 draw with St. Louis, sending the teams to a MLS NEXT Pro shootout. The match was highlighted by goals from first team loans Collen Warner and Nicolas Mezquida. Warner netted his second MLS NEXT Pro goal in the 58th minute of the match while Mezquida sent home a late second half equalizer off of a Rapids free kick.
With 17 first team loans available during Wednesday’s match, Rapids 2 was able to record a season high of 20 shots with six on goal. Max Alves led the team in shots with five while Gyasi Zardes led the team in shots on goal with two. William Yarbrough served as the team’s captain and managed to make a handful of crucial saves to keep Colorado in the match.
“Certainly, the game had a different feel whether it be the guys who were playing or those guys who weren’t rostered because of the guys who were playing,” said Bushey. “As I said last night postgame, it was certainly a unique experience for really everybody involved. It was an excellent opportunity from both a player and staff standpoint that we were able to collaborate in the process leading up to the game and even on matchday. It brings a little bit more to the game itself and to the relationship between the two programs both the first team and second team. For our guys on the Rapids 2 team to see the top players in our club come in and play where they normally are, again it is just a unique component. I look at it all being very positive.”
Real Monarchs will travel to Colorado this weekend following a 4-0 loss to Whitecaps FC 2 on June 5. With zero wins so far this season, the Monarchs have struggled to make ends meet on the pitch, but they are sure to bring a fight to this classic MLS rivalry between the Rocky Mountain states.
To purchase tickets to this Sunday’s Rapids 2 match versus Real Monarchs, click here.
