The team has played five times during the month on five occasions. The best was a 4-1-0 record in September 1998. The worst was a 1-4-0 stretch the year before. The worst September came when the club lost both games that month in 2001.

All time, the team is 25-23-8 in September games. In 2009, the Rapids went 1-1-3 as the team swooned from playoff standing to watching on the sidelines.

The year before, the team came to life, winning three and drawing once in a four-game stretch.

A look at 14 previous Septembers:

2009: 1-1-3

2008: 3-0-1

2007: 0-3-1

2006: 2-3-1

2005: 3-2-0

2004: 2-2-0

2003: 2-0-1

2002: 2-0-1

2001: 0-2-0

2000: 1-1-0

1999: 3-2-0

1998: 4-1-0

1997: 1-4-0

1996: 1-2-0

Overall: 25-23-8

Colorado starts that 15th September at 7 p.m. Saturday against Chivas USA at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Since July 4, Montero has captured the Player of the Month award for July and has led his team to an unbeaten 5-0-2 record in league play. He has five goals and three assists in that stretch.

“It was a very big goal,” Montero said of the game-winning tally in second half stoppage time. “We have been dreaming about this situation and a goal so late in the game, giving us three points, got us closer to the playoffs.”

The 23-year-old, who now has two career Player of the Week honors to his credit, now has 10 goals and nine assists on the season and was the only Seattle player to register a shot on goal in the match against Chicago.

“Well, he got two goals,” Seattle manager Sigi Schmid said. “A lot of times, people just measure your game by goals. Certainly his motivation [Saturday night] was good and obviously his finishing was good. I was very pleased with that.”

CSN Vote: Montero was the second name on our ballot for the week. Conor Casey took the top spot by turning into creator for two goals on Saturday and then delivering a third for the coup de grace against the Houston Dynamo.

Casey’s performance for the Colorado Rapids earned our vote as he brought life to a moribund offense. When the top scorer can also turn in a two-assist game, something special is happening.

Conor Casey celebrates scoring the third goal of the evening against the Houston Dynamo, Saturday, Aug. 28, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids won 3-0. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Conor Casey delivered a tour de force Saturday night, as the Rapids forward setup two goals and then scored the third in Colorado’s 3-0 rout of the Houston Dynamo.

Casey turned creator for a team that has struggled to score. He sprung midfielder Jamie Smith with a pass that led to Smith’s first goal of the season in the second minute of the game. Casey then delivered a ball through the 6-yard box from the right side that Omar Cummings tapped in for his sixth goal of the year in the 16th minute of the game.

Casey rounded out his night and the scoring when he nodded in a deflected shot in the 23rd minute for his eight goal of the season and all the Rapids needed on a night against woeful Houston.

Colorado improved to 8-6-7 (31 points) with the win and moved up to seventh in the playoff race. Houston dropped to 6-11-5 (23 points).

The win was only the Rapids second since June 5, but it marked a positive start to the final third of the season. Colorado has five home games in the remaining nine, including a meeting with Chivas USA next Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Recordsetter: Pablo Mastroeni took over the all time record for starts with the Rapids as the captian took the field in the starting 11 for the 171st time on Saturday. To mark the occasion, Mastroeni picked up an assist and a yellow card on the night. Mastroeni had tied the mark of 170 with Chris Henderson with his start a week ago against the Columbus Crew.

Hamstrung: Other than being snakebit in front of the goal in the second half, the only disappointment for the Rapids came in watching Marvell Wynne walk off injured. Dannie Earls came on in the 43rd minute, after Wynne walked off mouthing “hamstring.”

Casey’s Night: Casey couldn’t have played much better. The only thing his night lacked was a second goal. Keeper Pat Onstad pulled off a sharp foot save to deny Casey in the 53rd minute, and the forward just missed wide of the far post on a left-footed shot in the 83rd minute.

Big win: The three-goal margin of victory was the highest for the Rapids this season. The biggest victory came a week after the team suffered its worst loss of 2010, a 3-1 loss to the Crew.

Re-Joyce: The only notable change in the lineup for the Rapids was in goal. Ian Joyce earned the shutout starting in place of Matt Pickens.

Columbus scored early on a dubious call, in the middle on a defensive lapse and late on an unmarked header. It was a lost night in the rain for the Rapids.

Colorado fell to 7-6-7 (28 points) and joined the ranks of playoff wannabes. Columbus remained atop the Eastern Conference and in control of its destiny.

After a sparkling 6-3-1 start, the Rapids have now gone 1-3-6 in the past 10 matches.

The Game: Second half substitute Steven Lenhart delivered the dagger with an 80th minute header that put the Crew up 3-1. Lenhart was unmarked as the free kick came in from Guillermo Barros Schelotto on the right side to the far side and back across.

Columbus had gone back in front in the 53rd minute off a Jason Garey goal. Garey stepped on to an attempted header to the keeper from defender Marvell Wynne. Garey, who was nonexistent in the first half, seemed to come alive after the shot. He nearly doubled the margin in the 66th, only to have his goal waved off for offsides.

Captain Pablo Mastroeni provided the only scoring for Colorado. He scored the sort of goal that defensive midfielders dream of at practice. Just as the first half was coming to an end, Mastroeni and Mehdi Ballouchy played a quick combination in the middle of the field near the 18-yard box. The give and go freed Mastroeni with the ball on his right leg, his defender on the wrong foot and only keeper Will Hesmer to beat. Mastroeni delivered an arrow to the back of the net.

It would be the lone highlight for a team that would put in nine corner kicks on the night and register no shots on goal in any of those chances.

Columbus scored first off one of the softest penalty kick calls of the season. Matt Pickens and Eddie Gaven came together in the box. Gaven, who would have needed the wings of Mercury to get the ball, was awarded the kick. Schelotto did the rest, putting the Crew on top in the 6th minute.

Columbus nearly doubled its margin in the 33rd minute. Schelotto ran on to a short corner and sent it into the 6-yard box. Pickens emerged with the ball in the resulting scramble, but it made for nervous moments.

Omar Cummings almost brought the Rapids back even in the 36th minute. He got room to run on the left side, went at the defender, shimmied to the left and fired wide of the far side. A minute later, Wynne attacked in the middle of the field and then fired just wide.

Yellow: Frankie Hejduk picked up a yellow card in the 22nd minute for an awkward tackle on Cummings. Andy Moffat earned his for a lumbering tackle on Drew Moor in the 75th minute.

Lineup: The Rapids returned to the 4-4-2 with Conor Casey and Cummings up top. With the move, Gary Smith went to a big back line. Wynne on the right, Moor on the left and Scott Palguta and Julien Baudet in the middle.

Rapids 11: Pickens, Wynne, Baudet, Palguta, Moor, Wells Thompson (Jamie Smith, 69th), Jeff Larentowicz, Mastroeni, Ballouchy (Claudio Lopez, 76th), Cummings (Quincy Amarikwa, 83rd), Casey.

Record Player: Mastroeni tied Chris Henderson for the team record with his 170th start. He set the record for minutes played a week earlier against the Philadelphia Union, which passed Henderson. Mastroeni celebrated with his sixth career goal and second of the season.

Crew 11: Hesmer, Francis, Iro, Marshall, Hejduk, Ekpo, O’Rourke, Moffat, Gaven, Schelotto, Garey (Steven Lenhart, 77th).

Final Third: The Rapids have wilted in the final third of the field as the team as suffered for goals. Now, the most important final third awaits. The Rapids have 10 games left this season and they are clinging to the playoffs. Six of those 10 games are at home. Five of those six are against teams trailing the Rapids in the standings. It’s not hard to do the math — win at home, or stay home.

Next: The Rapids return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to face the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. Houston is currently going nowhere in the league. Colorado could help the Dynamo along that road.

Now, the kids are back in class, Spain reigns as world champions, and the Rapids are mired in a muddled middle.

Colorado gets the chance to take a big step forward Saturday when the team travels to Columbus to take on the Crew. When the two squads met at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on June 5, the Rapids secured a 1-0 win off a late combination from Jamie Smith to the head of defender Drew Moor.

At the time, the Rapids were 6-3-1, the team’s best start after 10 games. Since then, Colorado has gone 1-2-6, as the team has struggled to score and defending took a dip.

However, the Rapids looked in command at DSG in beating San Jose 1-0 on Aug. 7, and escaped Philadelphia with a point after tying the Union 1-1 last Saturday. Plus, the defense has only given up two goals in the past three games.

Columbus has gone 5-3-1 since losing to Colorado, but the Crew has looked vulnerable. The team has surrendered six goals in the past three games, compiling a 1-2-0 mark. In addition, the Crew faces Municipal of Guatemala in a CONCACAF Champions League match on Wednesday while the Rapids rest until Saturday.

Colorado’s game will be broadcast locally on KWGN, Denver Channel 2, at 5 p.m.

Armstrong Signing: Is it a good sign that the Colorado Rapids made a big splash about signing Davy Armstrong to a professional contract?

Armstrong is the first player developed through the Rapids Academy to sign a pro deal. Armstrong passed up on a college scholarship to take his chance as a Rapid.

While it may be great for Armstrong, he’s probably several years away from making any impact on the senior team.

It’s also hard to get excited by this move as the team struggles to score goals and secure a playoff spot. I’m a tactical thinker, and right now the number one concern should be getting into the playoffs. Feels like that was missed.

Necaxa Offer: The Mexican side Necaxa made a move for Rapids forward Omar Cummings and was rebuffed by the club. It’s great that there is outside interest in Cummings, but it is a big concern for the future of the club if he goes.

Who plays in his absence?

Andre Akpan and Quincy Amarikwa are the only other forwards on the roster. While I like Amarikwa, he’s not quite the done deal. Akpan was fine at Harvard, but he has yet to see the field in the MLS.

The Colorado Rapids midfielder picked up a yellow card in the 20th minute and then he delivered a scorching goal in the 59th as he made his first professional visit to his hometown. Larentowicz grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, and said before the match that his family had purchased plenty of tickets for the day.

Larentowicz’s goal, his second of the season, was not enough as Sebastien Le Toux carefully picked out Danny Mwanga in the 73rd minute, and Mwanga slotted the ball under ‘keeper Matt Pickens. Those were all the scores as the two teams settled for a share of the points in a 1-1 draw.

With the tie, the Rapids stand at 7-5-7 (28 points), which was enough to move them temporarily to fourth in the Western Conference and to ensure the squad wouldn’t be worst than fifth at the end of the day. The expansion Union improved to 4-10-5 (17 points). Philadelphia’s record is a bit deceptive because of the team’s road woes. The Union is now 3-2-4 at home and 1-8-1 on the road.

The result was a fitting one for a Rapids team that struggled in attack but defended well all day. For the Union, Le Toux’s ninth assist — to go along with nine goals — and Mwanga’s seventh goal of the season weren’t quite enough to get full points.

Yellow Alert: By the end of the match, four Rapids had picked up yellow cards. Besides Larentowicz, Omar Cummings (66th minute), Pickens (71st) and Jamie Smith (85th) each went into the referee’s book.

Casey Returns: Forward Conor Casey came on for midfielder Wells Thompson in the 61st minute. It was Casey’s first appearance since suffering a head injury in the dying moments of a July 25 loss to Seattle Sounders. Casey got a few touches, and despite not getting a shot, looked little effected by missing two games.

Deployment: The Rapids came out in a 4-4-2 with Cummings and Quincy Amarikwa at forward. The combination, which looked good at home a week earlier against San Jose, was ineffective in the first half. The Rapids managed four shots to the Union’s seven and earned no corner kicks in the first 45. Mehdi Ballouchy came on for Amarikwa at the half as the team switched to a 4-5-1.

Missing Clark: It was the first Rapids game without Colin Clark, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the win over San Jose. The speed of Clark, who went out with the same injury in ‘09, was missed on Saturday. Clark is scheduled for surgery next week and will miss the remainder of the season.

Being Tactical: Getting playing time for Casey made sense in the long run, but it was questionable on the afternoon. Pulling Thompson while nursing a 1-0 lead didn’t make much defensive sense. The move forced Cummings back into the midfield and back into defensive duties that he has not performed well. If the 4-5-1 was necessary, Claudio Lopez would have made more sense for his ability to hold the ball and distribute.

Still, it probably makes more sense to the team’s playoff hopes to get Casey back to game speed as soon as possible. Ah, to have a reserve league match… oh well.

Next: The Rapids remain on the road, facing the Columbus Crew next Saturday evening. Colorado beat the Crew 1-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on an  85th minute goal off the head of defender Drew Moor. The Rapids have only won once since that June 5 game.

Colorado’s next home game is Aug. 28 against the Houston Dynamo. The Rapids won’t see the Union again until Philadelphia makes its first trip to DSG Park on Sept. 29.

Rapids 11: Pickens, Marvell Wynne, Julien Baudet, Drew Moor, Kosuke Kimura, Thompson (Casey 61), Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni, Smith, Cummings, Amarikwa (Ballouchy 46). 

Union 11: Chris Seitz, Michael Orozco Fiscal, Danny Califf, Juan Diego Gonzalez, Jordan Harvey, Le Toux, Fred (Jack McInerney 86), Eduardo Coudet (Roger Torres 63), Stefani Miglioranzi, Alejandro Moreno (Justin Mapp 60), Mwanga.

Conor Casey, who has missed two games with a head injury suffered on July 25, returned to training this week. Coach Gary Smith did not say if Casey, the team’s leading scorer, would start, but said he would play a significant role.

Simultaneously, the midfield will have to shuffle again as the team confirmed Friday that Colin Clark is lost for the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Clark was untouched when he went down in the second half of the Aug. 7 game against San Jose.

While there is no silver lining to the loss of Clark, the one area the Rapids have an abundance of quality players is midfield. The team returned to the 4-4-2 in last week’s 1-0 home win against the ‘Quakes. Clark’s absence sould be absorbed by giving more minutes to veteran Claudio Lopez or returning Mehdi Ballouchy to the starting ranks.

The Series: The Rapids, 7-5-6 (27 points), meet the Union, 4-10-4 (16 points), for the first time. Philadelphia will travel to Colorado in the return match on Sept. 29.

Lately: Philadelphia earned a point on Wednesday in a 1-1 tie with Colorado nemesis Real Salt Lake. The Rapids win on Aug. 7 snapped a seven-game winless streak.

On TV: Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Mountain Time at PPL Park, and the match will be broadcast live on KWGN Channel 2.

The Colorado Rapids announced Friday that Clark has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament his left knee, the club announced today.

Clark suffered the injury on Aug. 7 in the second half of the Rapids’ 1-0 win against San Jose and will miss the remainder of the 2010 season.
 
Surgery to repair the injury is scheduled to take place next week.
 
This marks the second straight season in which Clark has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. In 2009, he missed the team’s final 10 regular season games after the injury occurred in a training session on Aug. 11. 
 
Clark appeared in 16 games this season, with nine starts, playing 866 minutes.

Spencer had been rumored as the man to lead the Timbers, who begin play next season. On Tuesday, the rumors finally became reality. Spencer will be officially introduced at a press event on Wednesday.

His first order of business will come in a couple of weeks as he works with Timbers technical director Gavin Wilkinson to select the MLS player-selection mechanisms in which the club will seek priority over fellow expansion club Vancouver Whitecaps. 

The 39-year-old former Scotland international is keenly familiar with MLS after playing four seasons with the Colorado Rapids. Spencer, an ex-MLS All-Star, then joined the Dynamo in 2006 as an assistant and helped the club to back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007.

Before arriving in MLS, Spencer played 14 seasons in Scotland and England with clubs like Chelsea, Everton and Rangers.

Spencer left the Dynamo on July 13 with rumors swirling that he was set to be named Portland’s first MLS head coach. In the meantime, his post with the Dynamo was assumed by recent MLS retiree Steve Ralston.

Rapids man of the match Omar Cummings attacks the goal. His would-be cross produced the game's only goal. (Photo by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Jon Busch has had some fine games in goal, but Saturday night was not one of them.

The San Jose Earthquakes ‘keeper mishandled a cross/shot from Omar Cummings and dumped the ball into his own goal. That 26th minute gaffe proved to be the difference maker as the Colorado Rapids snapped a nasty winless streak and snuck past the ‘Quakes 1-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

It was disappointing that the scoreline didn’t better reflect the Rapids effort. The team controlled play for long stretches and looked dangerous from the opening whistle to the end. Cummings, Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark and sub Claudio Lopez each came close to adding to the margin.

Still, against an opponent that was just a point behind the Rapids, Colorado got the win and improved to 7-5-6 (27 points) with the team’s first win since June 5. San Jose dropped to 6-6-5 (23 points).

Blame the Ball: ‘Quakes coach Frank Yallop was quick after the game to blame the dreaded “Jubulani” ball for the goal. This rang hollow. First, Busch has been facing the ball all season. Second, his coach was simply looking to cover a mistake.

On the goal, Busch was cheating from the near post to his left when Cummings fired across from goal from that side. Busch went down on his left knee and had both hands in position to snare the ball. However, he glanced to his right and seemed to break his concentration an instant before the ball rolled into his hands.

It could have had eight panels, 18, 32, 64, but once he glanced, that was the end. Blaming the ball is just looking for an excuse.

Lineup Change: With forward Conor Casey out for a second game recovering from the effects of a collision at Seattle on July 25, coach Gary Smith junked the 4-5-1 in favor of the 4-4-2. Former ‘Quake Quincy Amarikwa got his first start of the season up top with Cummings. Neither scored, but their pace was frightening. A little time working together and these two may be deadly.

Clark’s Fall: The one dark moment on the evening was Clark hobbling off the field with his shirt covering his face. Clark made a cut and planted the left leg that he injured last season in the 56th minute. He went down without a touch.

Watching the action from behind, it looked like he hyperextended the knee. Knowing this was the same knee that suffered an ACL tear last July was doubly troubling. Ballouchy came on as Clark was carted to the lockerroom.

Rapids 11: Matt Pickens, Marvell Wynne, Julien Baudet, Drew Moor, Kosuke Kimura, Wells Thompson, Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, Clark (Ballouchy 58), Amarikwa (Lopez 66), Cummings.

San Jose 11: Busch, Jason Hernandez, Brandon McDonald, Bobby Burling (Tim Ward 41), Ramiro Corrales (Scott Sealy 80), Arturo Alvarez, Joey Gjertsen (Cornell Glen 64), Sam Cronin, Bobby Convey, Ryan Johnson, Chris Wondolowski.

Bravo Baudet: Baudet, who looked out of place and off pace against Dallas, was a rock in the middle of defense. He effectively eliminated attacks all night. His headers were off on offense, but you can’t have everything.