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After entering Saturday night's game versus D.C. United, former North Stafford High School standout Chris Carrieri (right) attacked the defense with vigor and made runs with fresh legs. Here he controls a pass while being shadowed by United defender Stephen Armstrong.
As a Major League Soccer newcomer, former North Stafford High School standout Chris Carrieri knows he can benefit from playing with some of the league's best. Before Saturday night's matchup with D.C. United, Carrieri (15) gots some advice from new teammate John Spencer. |
His latest hairstyle--closely cropped and dyed blond--is a testament to that.
But even Carrieri must have trouble keeping up with his new team, the new-look Colorado Rapids, who have completely overhauled their roster of late.
Colorado's latest move netted veteran midfielder Carlos Valderrama, who with his orange-blond mane is one of Major League Soccer's most recognizable players and a perennial all-star.
Upon his arrival last week, the 39-year-old Valderrama not only replaced the newly blonded Carrieri as the Rapids' golden boy, he also bumped the 1998 North Stafford High School graduate from the starting lineup for Saturday's game at RFK Stadium against D.C. United.
"Any player that's not going to start gets disappointed," said Carrieri, who just joined Colorado himself via trade from San Jose on June 12. "But we're trying to find where everybody fits, and I just kept my head, tried to be ready. When you get bumped by Carlos Valderrama, you can't complain too much."
Carrieri got his shot later, though, entering as the Rapids' final substitute in the 87th minute. He made his presence felt almost immediately, taking a feed from Raul Diaz Arce deep on the right side and ripping a shot at United goalkeeper Mike Ammann.
With the score knotted at 1, Carrieri saw some bonus action in two five-minute overtime periods and used his speed and fresh legs to create opportunities for the Rapids. His drop feed to a streaking Ross Paule at the top of the box nearly resulted in a game-winning score in the first minute of extra time, but Paule's blast soared over the net.
Later, Carrieri took matters into his own hands, warding off a defender and whirling for a left-footed rip that spun high and wide. Still, the 1-1 draw resulted in a much-needed point for Colorado, which at 2-8-4 was tied for the fewest points (10) in the MLS entering the contest.
"They wanted me to play wide, make some runs forward," Carrieri said. "I opened up a couple of chances. I felt dangerous, put some pressure on their defenders, and I think if I had been out there a little longer I could have put one in the back of the net."
The evening was a homecoming of sorts for Carrieri, who had plenty of family and friends in attendance on Saturday. He took the opportunity to spend some time with his parents in Richmond yesterday before flying back to Colorado to ready for a rematch with D.C. on Wednesday.
The most popular player in a Rapids jersey on Saturday, however, was Diaz Arce, a native of El Salvador who also joined Colorado on June 12. Diaz Arce spent three seasons with the United and ranks as the club's all-time leading scorer.
He joins Carrieri and Valderrama, as well as defender Rich Kotschau and goalkeeper Scott Garlick, both acquired in the Valderrama trade with Tampa Bay, to give Colorado five fresh faces in its rotation.
"The challenge of the trades is that it almost makes us a new squad," Rapids coach Tim Hankinson said. "And we have to learn on the spot. We're finding a way to play."
Hankinson will also work to find playing time for Carrieri, taken by San Jose with the No. 1 pick in February's MLS SuperDraft. He started in both of his appearances with the squad before Valderrama's arrival, averaging better than 60 minutes per game, and scored his first professional goal on June 20 at New England.
It's certainly a better situation than the one Carrieri encountered in San Jose, where he was buried on the bench behind an overabundance of forwards. Though it's too soon for Hankinson to comment on Carrieri's development in Colorado, he has been impressed with the youngster's speed, energy and attitude.
"I think Chris is the type of player that Carlos needs around him because he moves so well without the ball," Hankinson said. "Chris is relentless in trying to get himself in and around the box. It's a lot easier to play more experienced players right now, but I think in time we'll see Chris develop as an important player."
In the meantime, Carrieri is taking it all in, learning all he can from Colorado's invaluable stock of experienced players.
"The important thing at this stage is to listen and learn--don't try to be the head honcho, the cocky kid running around thinking he's the man," Colorado veteran Marcelo Balboa said. "That's part of every athlete--you've got to have self-confidence, to a point. But he's been good. He's been listening, he's trying to learn, and if he does that he's going to be a very good player.
"I don't even think he knows how much talent he has."
