Random notes from the Colorado Rapids’ third draw in nine days …

For the second time in less than a week, Conor Casey scored on a penalty kick in extra time as the Colorado Rapids tied the Earthquakes 1-1. Casey scored his 15th goal of the season about a minute before the end of Wednesday’s match. Jason Hernandez tripped Omar Cummings in the box in extra time, and referee Ricardo Salazar had little choice but to blow the whistle.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Imagine the array of emotions for Ryan Johnson on Friday night. The San Jose Earthquakes striker scored his team’s only goal in the eighth minute of a 1-1 tie against the Colorado Rapids. Then the 24-year-old committed the foul deep into extra time that produced a penalty kick for Colorado and the Rapids’ only goal.

DU freshman forward Alex Tarnoczi, far left, had himself a big weekend against Dayton and Belmont, two Beccas stood tall for Metropolitan State College, the Adams State men’s team got its first lead ever, Preston Burpo looks like he’ll start for the Colorado Rapids on Friday against San Jose, and much, much more! (photo by George Tanner/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Random ideas and observations, many of them about Dwayne De Rosario, from the Colorado Rapids; 3-0 loss to Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon in Canada.

Today we hear from Regis University men’s soccer coach Tony McCall, and we take a look at the Colorado School of Mines men’s and women’s teams, Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith’s comments on the Ugo Ihemelu-Drew Moor trade, my votes for Major League Soccer player of the month, the Super Classico between Chivas USA and Los Angeles Galaxy, CU record-setter Nikki Marshall and more!

Rapids coach Gary Smith said Wednesday’s exhibition against Club America was a good opportunity for members of the squad to get playing time against a quality opponent. It almost was a disaster for one of Colorado’s starters. Above, Rapids midfielder Greg Dalby tries to keep the ball away from Club America striker Enrique Esqueda.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Here we take a look at the Colorado Rapids’ leaders in minutes played, including Mehdi Ballouchy, left. And Colorado Soccer Now would like to send a big shout-out to Joseph Armand of pointtakenphotos.com and Prost Amerika Soccer, Seattle, for the wonderful photos. (photo by Prost Amerika Soccer, Seattle)

The Colorado Rapids got goals from Kosuke Kimura and Nick LaBrocca in a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at a rainy
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The goals were LaBrocca’s first of the season and the first of Kimura’s Major League Soccer career. “Playing against 10 men, I thought we kept the ball extremely well,” Rapids coach Gary Smith said. “We win 2-nil; we’re more than happy with that.”

Colin Clark (hugging teammate Omar Cummings, right) and
L.A. striker Landon Donovan scored as the Colorado Rapids and the Galaxy played to a one-goal draw Saturday in a Major League Soccer fixture.
(Photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)