As the Colorado Rapids rose to the top of the Western Conference over the first three games of the season, there was every reason to get excited about the promise fulfilled by their young roster.
With veterans Ugo Ihemelu, Mike Petke and Pablo Mastroeni all battling injuries along with strong second-year striker Conor Casey, the Rapids have relied on a young core quickly coming into its own.
Second-year players Stephen Keel and Kosuke Kimura have started all of the Rapids' first four games on the back line, along with midfielders Nick LaBrocca in his sophomore season and John DiRaimondo making his MLS debut. The four brought a combined 10 games of experience to the season, with Keel and Kimura each playing in four games in 2007 while LaBrocca played in two.
Additionally, striker Omar Cummings played in 11 games in 2007, his first season, but never started a game before joining the quartet in making the first four starts of 2008.
The quick start, in which the Rapids scored four goals in the opening match and shared the league lead with seven goals in the first three games, came to a screeching halt Saturday as Colorado was blanked by the expansion San Jose Earthquakes.
"One of the things of leaning on younger players is that you expect that sooner or later it's going to drop, there's no question about it," head coach Fernando Clavijo said after Saturday's disappointing loss. "We were prepared for it. But it was a total letdown as a team [Saturday].
"We never learned quick enough on the field," Clavijo added, pointing out the Rapids inability to adapt against the Quakes. "Nick LaBrocca and Johnny D were way too deep. The lines were not compact the way we were the first three games, and we paid the price."
Though he had no trouble finding fault with his any of his players, let alone the young group carrying a significant burden in the season's first four weeks, Clavijo did not lose faith in the squad invested with the Rapids' hopes for a winning season and a return to the playoffs in 2008.
"This is the pains of growing," Clavijo said. "There's nothing you can do. You have to trust your players and give them the confidence and the trust that they need. Players make decisions for the coach and the lineup, and [Saturday], as a team, we didn't have the energy that we needed to win."
Sitting in second place with a .500 record and trailing FC Dallas in the standings by two points, the Rapids are not about to panic. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul make sure to keep the loss in perspective, looking on the bright side of an early reminder that the Rapids cannot get too comfortable, regardless of any success they might enjoy during stretches of the season.
"I'm not worried about it," Coundoul said of Saturday's defeat. "It's gone. It's past. We're going to learn on it, because we have a young team. With a young team, you don't want the confidence to get too much.
"It's kind of good to lose some games early in the season, so we're going to get our head together. We're not perfect yet. We've got a lot of improving to do."
There's no question the Rapids will welcome the return of the injured veterans they have come to rely on, but the initiation by fire of an emerging young core strengthens the Rapids on both sides of the field, giving them flexibility and versatility as they continue their quest for success.
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
