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Category Archives: Colorado Rapids

Serna Gets the Call

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos completed the team’s 20-player roster with the addition of midfielder Dillon Serna as the group prepares for the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship that starts on Feb. 18 in Puebla, Mexico.

The Brighton, Colo., native was signed by Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids as a homegrown player after being part of the club’s U-15/16 and U-17/18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams. Serna played in three matches with the U-20 MNT in 2012. He spent the 2012 collegiate season with Caleb Porter at the University of Akron.

Ramos announced an initial 18-player roster on Feb. 7 and the team named forward Jerome Kiesewetter to the roster on Feb. 11. The team is training in Toluca, Mexico, but will travel to Puebla this week.

The U.S. U-20 MNT is looking to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey from June 21-July 13.

The U-20s open the CONCACAF U-20 Championship group stage against Haiti on Feb. 18 and Costa Rica on Feb. 22 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario Lobos BUAP in Puebla, Mexico. Both Group A matches kick off at 5:30 p.m. CT and are televised on FOX Soccer. U-20 MNT fans can also follow the action through ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_ynt.

The top four teams from the CONCACAF U-20 Championship advance to the U-20 World Cup.

U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Cody Cropper (Southampton FC; Maple Grove, Minn.), Kendall McIntosh (Santa Clara; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Zackary Steffen (FC DELCO Academy; Downington, Pa.)

DEFENDERS (5) : Eric Miller (Creighton; Woodbury, Minn.), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (C.D. Guadalajara; Riverside, Calif.), Boyd Okwuonu (North Carolina; Edmund, Okla.), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids; Boulder, Colo.), Javan Torre (UCLA; Santa Monica, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (6) : Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake; Garden Grove, Calif.), Benji Joya (Santos Laguna; San Jose, Calif.), Mikey Lopez (Sporting Kansas City; Mission, Texas), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids; Brighton, Colo.), Caleb Stanko (SC Freiburg; Holly, Mich.), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew; Gahanna, Ohio)

FORWARDS (6) : Brandon Allen (Georgetown; Old Bridge, N.J.), Daniel Cuevas (Santos Laguna; Sacramento, Calif.), Daniel Garcia (North Carolina; Dallas, Texas), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart; Berlin, Germany), Mario Rodriguez (1. FC Kaiserslautern; North Hollywood, Calif.), Jose Villarreal (LA Galaxy; Inglewood, Calif.)

Cummings on the Rise

Whether leading the charge for the Colorado Rapids or representing his home country, Omar Cummings has proved to be a world-class striker.   And we weren’t the only ones to notice, thanks to interest from EPL side Aston Villa in 2011.  And his best season (14 goals in 2010) proved to be the same year the Rapids brought home the MLS Cup.   Coincidence? We think not.

Cummings has plenty of great memories in Colorado, the first being the Rapids’ championship season.

“For the city, it was good. It was the perfect time to make that run.”

But Cummings is the first to share the credit, first talking about his strike partnership with Connor Casey.  He then had kind words about teammate Pablo Mastroeni, a past fixture for the U.S. National Team.

“It has been a pleasure and an honor to play with him.”

Having fellow Jamaican Tyrone Marshall and veteran Brian Mullan around has been critical as well.  Marshall has been the consummate professional and a support figure.  Mullan is known for an otherworldy work ethic.

Cummings himself has become known as a gamebreaker, a speedster with superior technical ability.  To say there aren’t many of those in MLS is a huge understatement.

These skills has helped him become a regular on the Jamaican National Team. Playing on an international level is the “ultimate thing” for Cummings, who compares it to a soldier going into battle for their country.

“I want to represent my country to the best of my ability,” the 2011 MLS All-Star stated. “”It is a duty, an honor that is not given easily.”

Cummings registered 6 goals and 2 assists in 2012 even though he was slowed by injuries.  He hopes to come back physically and mentally stronger in 2013 despite the fact that he won’t see much in terms of rest.

But he has made his mark on and off the pitch, being a deadly attacker and a fan favorite at the same time.  And we have to add innovator to that list.

Cummings helped Pelé Sports debut their new Trinity 3E SHEONE boots, some of the most interesting and advanced boots we have ever come across.  Yes, it is like having artwork on your feet, something that will surely turn heads and give you an edge.

“I like to try different stuff. They are artsy and definitely unique.”

We can’t wait to see Cummings next season as he sets his sights on bigger and better!

ISN Goes to the White House

President Obama welcomed  the Colorado Rapids to the White House Monday as they were recognized for their  2010 MLS Cup Championship.

Needing a bit of a morale boost after a 4-1 thrashing by the  Columbus Crew on Sunday, the Rapids were eager to meet the President and they  certainly did that. President Obama praised the closeknit Rapids players for  their hard work and commitment to charities and non-profits. “They aren’t  just great players; they are good people,” President Obama said.

The players truly understood the magnitude of the honor.  “It’s amazing; it’s one of those one in a million chances,” Jamaican  striker Omar Cummings stated.

Danny Earls agreed. “It’s a good  feeling,” the Irish defender declared. “It is an amazing way to top  off a championship season.”

It didn’t end with the recognition ceremony. Colorado  players and coaches gave children of military families a special soccer clinic  on the South Lawn. It was a special event for all involved. “I thnk  families of the military have given so much over the years,”Cummings  continued. “It gives them a little bit of a break and a little bit of  fun.”

“I have an Iraq veteran in my family,” midfielder  Jeff Larentowicz added. “I know what it’s like. I am sure they have gone  through some hard times and it’s been difficult for everyone. But to put a  smile on their face and give what we can to them, it means a lot.”

This special day represents a tradition that started with  D.C. United after the team claimed the 2009 MLS Cup. At that time MLS could  certainly be called a fledgling league with potential. Today the league  continues to move up in terms of popularity and star power, something that even  our “Soccer Dad” President takes note of.

Event Photos