NEWS & NOTES

ZARDES EARNS MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Gyasi Zardes was named the MLS Player of the Week following his hat trick in the Rapids’ 4-3 win over Minnesota United FC on Saturday. Zardes’ hat trick was the first by a Rapids player since Kei Kamara scored three goals against CF Montréal on August 3, 2019. With
his performance, Zardes became the fifth player in MLS history to record multiple hat tricks against the same team after he previously produced the only other hat trick in his career against Minnesota on October 28, 2018, while with the Columbus Crew.
In his last six games for Colorado, Zardes has scored five goals and produced one assist, leading the team to a 3-1-2 record. The U.S.
Men’s National Team forward now has 94 career MLS goals, tying him with Atlanta United FC’s Josef Martínez for the 12th-most in MLS history and the second-most among active players, trailing only Kei Kamara (134). Zardes has now scored at least six goals in eight of his
10 MLS seasons, doing so with three different teams (LA Galaxy, Columbus Crew and Colorado).
Zardes is the first Rapids player to win MLS Player of the Week since Andre Shinyashiki in Week 27 of 2019. Zardes and Shinyashiki are the only Rapids players to earn the award since the start of 2015. Among active players, Zardes’ six MLS Player of the Week presented by
Continental Tire honors are the third-most behind LAFC’s Vela (eight) and Atlanta’s Martínez (seven). Since the start of 2021, he is tied with Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (LA Galaxy), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), and Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC) for the most Player of the
Week awards in MLS with three.

RED-HOT RUBIO
Diego Rubio scored his 11th goal of the season in the Rapids’ 4-3 win over Minnesota on Saturday, matching his single-season career high for goals scored in MLS and marking the seventh consecutive match the Chilean has recorded a goal or an assist. Rubio’s
team-leading 11 goals and six assists so far in 2022 mark a new, single-season high in his MLS career, surpassing his 11 goals and five assists in 2019.
Rubio is also one goal away from tying Chris Henderson for the fifth-most goals scored all-time in Rapids history (31) and one game-winning goal away from tying former Rapids midfielder Paul Bravo for most in club history (12).

CLUB CONNECTIONS
Columbus Crew drafted Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Abubakar spent
two-full seasons with Crew SC where he notched 31 appearances and scored two goals.
Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita was the 12th Homegrown Player signing in Columbus Crew history. Keita played four seasons with the Crew, winning the 2020 MLS Cup and 2021 Campeones Cup with the midwestern side. Keita logged 2,695 minutes across 37 appearances since making his professional debut as a Homegrown Player with Columbus during the 2019 MLS season.
Gyasi Zardes joined the Rapids from Columbus where he left as the club’s third all-time leading goal scorer with 61 goals in 122 appearances across all competitions. During his time in Ohio, Zardes helped the Crew capture the 2020 MLS Cup, as well as the 2021 Campeones Cup.
Rapids head coach Robin Fraser won his second Defender of the Year award and was named to his fifth Best XI while captaining the Crew to the Supporters’ Shield in 2004. Fraser logged 5,127 minutes over 57 appearances for Columbus from 2004-2005.
Crew midfielder Marlon Hairston was drafted by Colorado with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. Hairston went on to score seven goals and deliver 13 assists for the Rapids over 95 regular-season appearances from 2014-2018.

BURGUNDY DEBUT
Rapids midfielder Felipe Gutiérrez made his Rapids debut in their 4-3 win over Minnesota United at Dick’s Sporting Goods park when he substituted into the match for Jack Price at half time. The Rapids recently acquired Gutiérrez from Universidad Católica on loan for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season.

MILESTONE TRACKER
• GK William Yarbrough is one shutout away from recording his 25th with the Rapids, which would tie him with Joe Cannon for thirdmost in club history.
• F Diego Rubio is one goal away from tying Chris Henderson for fifth-most in Rapids history (31) and one game-winning goal away from tying Paul Bravo for most in club history (12).
• D Steven Beitashour is one assist away from delivering his 40th MLS assist (fourth as a member of the Rapids) and is one appearance away from recording his 270th MLS appearance.
• M Jack Price is one assist away from sole possession of second-most assists all-time in club history (currently T-2nd with 34).
Unless noted otherwise, all markers above encompass regular season only.

PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT • OUT – Braian Galvan (R knee)
• OUT – Aboubacar Keita (R knee)
• OUT – Oliver Larraz (R leg)
• QUESTIONABLE – Jack Price (upper body)

COURTESY COLORADO RAPIDS COMMUNICATIONS