Rapids’ homegrown roots loom large in victory over Austin FC

The Colorado Rapids are not conscionable a squad successful Colorado. They are a squad with section roots. And they utilized their section products en way to a 1-0 roadworthy triumph implicit Austin FC connected Saturday night.

The Rapids had 9 players listed connected the wounded study earlier the game, 5 with injuries and 4 connected planetary duty.

They needed reinforcements and got them successful the signifier of hometown favorites, with contributions coming from section precocious schools George Washington, Denver East, Chatfield and ThunderRidge, arsenic good arsenic the University of Denver.

Among them was Collen Warner, who earned his 2nd consecutive commencement with Kellyn Acosta and Mark-Anthony Kaye connected planetary duty. The Denver East grad showed however his seasoned beingness successful the midfield (209 vocation MLS appearances) is simply a immense plus to the team.

“For Collen, who evidently doesn’t play each the time, for him to leap into these 2 games, surely this is simply a very, precise hard environment,” Rapids caput manager Robin Fraser said. “And helium truly looked similar a seasoned pro contiguous and made truthful galore bully decisions, truthful galore bully plays.”

Andre Shinyashiki scored the lone extremity of the crippled arsenic helium filled successful for an injured Diego Rubio astatine the striker position. The DU alum present has 3 goals connected the season.

“When I play that position, I’m ever successful the box. I’m ever looking to score,” Shinyashiki said. “So I was blessed I was capable to assistance the squad with a goal, and I’m conscionable truthful arrogant of the group.”

Sebastian Anderson made his 2021 debut, replacing an injured Braian Galvan successful the 59th minute. The 18-year-old ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) alum has been playing successful Colorado Springs with the Switchbacks this play and earned the call-up owed to his play connected the field.

“As soon arsenic Braian went down we had nary hesitation,” Fraser said. “(Anderson) has truly travel on a batch and each the minutes that he’s getting with the Switchbacks close present are truly helping with his decision-making and his confidence. So to propulsion him into a crippled similar this could person been a pugnacious environment, pugnacious atmosphere, and helium conscionable went successful and helium did a very, precise nonrecreational job.”

Oliver Larraz made different quality for the Rapids arsenic well, seeing retired the past 10 minutes of a choky one-goal game. The 19-year-old George Washington alum appeared successful a lucifer for the 4th clip this play and has earned a batch of spot from the coaching unit aft being with the elder nine each season.

“I don’t look astatine them arsenic small kids,” Fraser said of his teen homegrowns Anderson and Larraz. “I look astatine them arsenic players and contributing members of the team. And erstwhile we needed thing … we had nary hesitation going to them due to the fact that we’ve watched their advancement implicit the past year.”

Cole Bassett, who has go a accordant starter aft Younes Namli’s injury, made his 55th MLS quality connected Saturday night. The Chatfield alum had 3 shots and created 4 chances but didn’t person thing to amusement for it.

The Rapids are successful 4th successful the Western Conference and wrong a crippled of the 2nd spot, and section endowment has been pivotal to their success.