COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Good or bad, the Colorado Rapids made history over the weekend by becoming the first club in MLS to start a season with three-straight scoreless draws.
Heading into Saturday’s home match against the New England Revolution (7 pm ET; MLS LIVE), Colorado are edging closer to matching a more egregious record. Winless in their past 17 games stretching back to last season, the Rapids could potentially match Real Salt Lake’s MLS record of 18 straight games without a win.
Unlike RSL, whose streak spanned a large part of the 2005 season, Colorado’s past three games have marked a new year and fresh start, according to coaches, players and front office.
“We can’t live in the past,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the current streak, which started at the end of his rookie season leading the club. “I live in the present and work towards the future.”
It’s a sentiment shared throughout the Rapids organization.
“In this business we don't look backwards or in the past, whether it was good or bad. We only look forward,” Rapids president Tim Hinchey said. “We are very happy with all the support ownership has given us to move forward and improve all aspects of the club.”
In the offseason, Colorado added 11 new faces, addressing a lack of depth that was often exposed during an injury-plagued 2014.
“We didn’t have the collective strength of a full unit there,” Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca said. “This year we have that, so I don’t see that happening again. We have more veteran players, guys who know how to break out of it.”
After conceding the most goals in the league last season, a strong, new-look defense is something for the Rapids to hang their hats on. Heading into the weekend, Colorado are the only team in the league not to allow a goal this season.
“In the first three performances, it’s been clear that the roles are very defined. Everyone knows what the task is, and that on both sides of the ball we’re all in good spots,” Mastroeni said. “Everything is moving in the direction that we want to move: Tough to play against, creating very good opportunities. There’s nothing synonymous or parallel to any of [last year’s results]. We’re undefeated this season.”
To earn their first win of 2015, Colorado must first find their first goal. In the midst of the streak, the Rapids also remain scoreless in more than 500 minutes of regular-season play.
“I think once you score that first one the flood gates will open,” Mastroeni said following Saturday's draw against the Houston Dynamo. “We have guys that are putting themselves in great positions, and we just need that pass to go our way and for that ball to hit the back of the net.
“You can’t control results, but you can control how you prepare and how you plan. Those things will happen. Goals will come. Wins will come.”
