Expectations abound for Colorado Rapids midfielder Colin Clark.
Rapids fans expect solid production throughout the season from the Colorado native, as does Clark himself and Rapids coach Gary Smith. After finding the back of the net for the first time in 2008 during the Rapids' 1-1 draw at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, Clark, his coach, and the rest of the Rapids club hope Clark has turned the corner toward becoming a more consistent offensive threat.
"I don't think (the goal) itself will get me going -- that will just come with time," said Clark, whose tally gave the home side a 1-0 edge it could not protect. "It was good to score and get out of the gates with that first goal."
Now in his second season as a full-time contributor for the Rapids, Clark is perhaps the one player saddled with the most pressure to contribute offensively in support of forwards Omar Cummings and Conor Casey.
A speedy and athletic attacker who generally prowls the left wing for the Rapids, Clark, who grew up in Fort Collins, Colo., Clark has proven to be durable and steady. He was one of only two Rapids players to appear in at least 29 games last season and he finished second on the team with 28 starts. He compiled five goals, which tied for third on the club, to go with three assists, production Smith expects Clark to repeat this season.
"I've said from the start -- Colin should be chipping in with five or six goals and just as many or more assists," said Smith, who has started Clark in 15 of 17 games since he took the club's reins in August. "He's a work in progress. We're delighted with what we get from Colin. We would just like to see a little bit more composure. He's a hard-working lad and he has a bright future. But that end product will determine whether he is an international or not."
Clark certainly took strides in that direction with his goal on Saturday, launching a strike with the sort of composure that surely pleased Smith.
Taking a pass from Cummings along the top right side of the penalty area, Clark calmly unleashed a series of moves against Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez. Displaying the sort of patience Smith hopes to see out of Clark with greater regularity, Clark finally freed himself for an open look, and he buried a left-footed liner into the top left corner of the net that Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts had little chance of stopping.
"I wasn't even sure who played it to me, but I got in the box and got it turned on my left foot," said Clark, who has collected eight goals and seven assists in 58 Major League Soccer contests. "I showed a little bit of patience. I got a touch-out and was able to curl it in the back post."
Pat Rooney is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
