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Pioneers see red in scrimmage
University of Denver fullback Blake Shannon tackles the ball away from Colorado Rapids midfielder
Nico Colaluca in the first half Tuesday in Commerce City. (George Tanner/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
It would be difficult to discuss Tuesday afternoon’s scrimmage between the University of Denver men’s soccer team and the Colorado Rapids reserves without discussing the red cards.
So let’s start there.
Two Pioneers and Coach Bobby Muuss were ejected during the match, although it wasn’t nearly as bad as it sounds.
About 30 minutes into the first half, a shoving match between one of the Rapids and one of the DU players resulted in two yellow cards. Then DU’s Matt Kirby, a freshman midfielder, said something the referee didn’t like.
Muuss is positive that Kirby’s comment was directed at a teammate; he described Kirby’s normal demeanor on the pitch as “quiet.” The referee, however, thought Kirby’s comment was aimed at one of the Rapids, and the red card came out immediately.
Muuss was stunned.
“This kid didn’t say a (bleeping) word all season,” Muuss yelled at the ref.
Another red card.
“I didn’t think the first one was a sending-off,” Rapids coach Gary Smith said.
Muuss didn’t either.
“I apologized to my guys already, and I’ll apologize to Gary. But at the same time you have a guy sent off for absolutely nothing,” he said. “I knew he didn’t say anything because I know the kid.”
That was really as bad as it got. Muuss left the DU bench, the game went on, and the teams played a hard, physical match.
The third red card was a poorly timed challenge from behind by DU right back Blake Shannon late in the second half. There was no malice in the infraction, and Shannon didn’t even argue. He understood the red card was coming, and he headed straight for the bench.
“The second one was a nasty challenge,” Smith said. “But we’re fine about that. It was a competitive and worthwhile game.”
SO TELL US ABOUT THE ACTUAL MATCH: The teams played two 45-minute halves at the main practice pitch at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids won 3-1 behind two goals by trialist Chris Salvaggione and a goal by striker Gregory Richardson.
HOW DID DU SCORE? Collin Audley scored on a restart in the second half. With the ball just outside the Rapids’ penalty area, Sam Garza and Audley set up for the free kick. Garza approached the ball but ran past, and Audley struck the ball, which traveled from right to left and beat goalkeeper Steward Ceus at the far post.
OK, THOSE WERE THE GOALS. WHAT ELSE HAPPENED IN THE MATCH? The Rapids controlled most of the first half, scoring both goals in the first 27 minutes. But after Muuss got kicked out, the Pioneers really responded. Although Muuss and Garza said they thought DU played well in the second half (which the team did), the final 15 minutes of the first half was all DU. The Pioneers kept possession, stopped the Rapids’ counterattack and calmly and coolly pushed the ball forward. The team did seem to lose some steam in the middle third of the second half, but the Pioneers picked it back up again in the final 15 minutes especially. The match was a good test for DU, and it provided a good opportunity for the Rapids’ reserves to see some action. ”I thought (DU) played some competitive football. We’re after that,” Smith said. “We don’t want teams to come in here and be a walkover. It’s got to be a competitive workout for our players. I thought it was a competitive and worthwhile game.”
WHO WAS THAT IN THE NO. 3 JERSEY FOR THE RAPIDS? Why it was former Colorado Rapids defender Ritchie Kotschau, who also happens to be a former teammate of Muuss in the Olympic Development Program.
WASN’T THAT DU’S SECOND MATCH THREE DAYS? DU beat Regis University 6-0 in a fundraiser Sunday night at Englewood High School. Muuss said fatigue may have been a factor on Tuesday. ”We started very slow. And against a good team you’re down 2-0 and now you’re chasing the game,” he said. “You exert a helluva lot more energy chasing the game than you do being even or up.”
DIDN’T GARZA HAVE A BIG DAY ON SUNDAY? He scored twice, had an assist and probably should’ve had a second assist against Regis. However, on Tuesday, he was up against center backs Kotschau and Michael Holody, who goes 6-3 and 200 pounds. Garza didn’t score, but he was at his best in the last 15 minutes of the second half.
WHERE CAN I READ MORE ABOUT THIS MATCH? Head over to the Rapids Undercurrent blog. Here’s the link.
George Tanner is a former writer and editor for the Rocky Mountain News; the Greeley Tribune; The Daily Independent of Ridgecrest, Calif.; the Durango Herald; and the Boulder Daily Camera. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and an associate professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. E-mail him at ColoradoSoccerNow@gmail.com.
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