COMMERCE CITY — When Colorado Rapids 2 general manager Brian Crookham began building out the future pipeline of the organization in November of 2021, he was hoping it’d lead to moments like this week.
Rapids 2 held a media availability Wednesday ahead of the team’s playoff debut this weekend, as the MLS NEXT Pro No. 1 overall seed had the unique opportunity to pick its playoff opponent. R2 chose the No. 6 seed San Jose Earthquakes II, the league’s best road team. The sides will square off in the Western Conference semifinals, set for 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Behind a significant progression from last season to this, the team Crookham constructed is full of legitimate contenders for future first-team roles. With seven Homegrown Players, a bonafide attack, one of the country’s best young goalkeepers in Adam Beaudry and a bruising defense, Colorado holds the cards for a long postseason run.
“There’s this feeling like ‘this is the process,” Crookham said. “The joy comes from what we do every day. The people in that locker room, the people you rely on and the people that are setting this up, everybody’s been a part of this. People that’ve won championships I think know what I’m talking about when I say, there’s almost an emptiness at times if you’re so bought into the process. You don’t want that to end.”
MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Year Erik Bushey has gotten plenty out of the team, which leads the league in goals (70, 64 of which have been inside the 18-yard box) and assists (54). Three players were named “Best XI”: golden boot co-leader Rémi Cabral (19 goals), Yosuke Hanya and Oliver Larraz (combined for 22 goals). Marlon Vargas has a league-best assist mark (10).
Still, Bushey knows Quakes II will present a gritty challenge, but also believes the postseason is the ultimate proving ground.
“We have to be the ones to create our own environment,” Bushey said. “… This is success because we’ve earned the right to play in games with more pressure. This is what the player must be seeking, because it’s in these types of games where players have the best chance to prove who they are.”
Head coach search down to five
On Friday, The Post confirmed multiple reports that Colorado is through the first round of interviews for a new head coach, after the team parted ways with Robin Fraser in early September.
In a story about MLS’ coaching carousel, The Athletic’s Tom Bogert reported that candidates interviewed for the role are based domestically as well as abroad, which Matt Pollard, managing editor of independent outlet Burgundy Wave, first reported last week.
However, Bogert reported two new details that The Post confirmed separately via a source with knowledge of the search: Colorado has narrowed down its list to five names heading into the second round of interviews, and interim head coach Chris Little is in the running. Since taking over, Little, 45, is 2-2-1 with five points.
Also in Bogert’s reporting, he confirmed Fraser interviewed and is a finalist for the open Portland Timbers job.
The eliminated Rapids will play at sixth-place Houston Dynamo on Saturday, while the team announced Wednesday’s postponed game at FC Dallas will be played Oct. 14.
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