In the past, the Colorado Rapids asked the media to participate in voting for their annual postseason awards, but there were more categories. This year, I voted in three categories: MVP, defender of the year and young player of the year. In the latter category, I chose Jacob Peterson, above. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Jordan Harvey, Scott Palguta and Preston Burpo (above, from left) are among the Rapids players available to be selected by the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday in the Major League Soccer expansion draft. Other Rapids left unprotected included Mehdi Ballouchy and Jacob Peterson. (photos, from left, by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com, Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com, Prost Amerika Soccer, Seattle)

Major League Soccer released the finalists for the league’s 2009 awards today, and Galaxy striker Landon Donovan certainly was among them. Inside, I list all the finalists and whom I voted for in the process. Donovan, left, was among the finalists for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, and I think he’s the likely winner. All of the award finalists earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media, including yours truly. Check out all of the finalists inside.
(photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

After Saturday’s loss 2-1 road loss to FC Dallas, the Rapids have put all of their playoff hopes into one match … against Real Salt Lake on Saturday in Utah.

Conor Casey scored on a penalty, his third in the past four matches, as the Colorado Rapids tied the New England Revolution 1-1 on Saturday night in Commerce City. Emmanuel Osei’s foul on Omar Cummings in the penalty area set up Colorado’s tying score. Above, New England goalkeeper Matt Reis keeps an eye on Rapids midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

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.

Conor Casey, above right, who missed the U.S. national team’s game in Utah because he had his wisdom teeth pulled, scored in the 52nd minute as the Colorado Rapids defeated Toronto FC 1-0 on Saturday.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

A little more than a month after breaking both bones in his left forearm, Rapids defender Julien Baudet headed in a goal on a corner kick to lift Colorado past league-leading Houston on Sunday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)