Colorado Rapids 2 Down Earthquakes II, 2-0

April 17, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Colorado Rapids 2 News Release

Colorado Rapids 2 (4-0-0, 12 pts) defeated Earthquakes II (2-2-0, 6 pts) in a 2-0 victory tonight, capturing their first clean sheet of the season. Rapids 2 remains the only undefeated team in MLS NEXT Pro after winning their fourth straight match of the 2023 season. Forward Pariss Mitchell opened the scoring in the 50th minute off an assist from Jackson Travis, marking his first-ever professional goal. In the 92nd minute of the game, midfielder Yosuke Hanya sealed the deal with the team’s second goal of the night. Hanya has now scored in all four matches for Rapids 2 and leads the team with four goals.

Notable:

Rapids 2 recorded its fourth win of the season in tonight’s match versus Earthquakes II. With its win tonight, Rapids 2 is the only undefeated team in MLS NEXT Pro.

M Yosuke Hanya scored his fourth goal of the season in tonight’s match against Earthquakes II. He has now scored in all four regular season matches for Rapids 2 and leads the team with four goals.

F Pariss Mitchell recorded his first-ever goal for the club in tonight’s match versus Earthquakes II. The goal also marks his first-ever goal in a professional match.

D Jackson Travis earned his first assist of the season in tonight’s match versus Earthquakes II

Rapids 2 earned its first clean sheet of the season in tonight’s match versus Earthquakes II

Goalkeeper Diego Gurrola made his professional debut tonight for Rapids 2 after stepping on for Abraham Rodriguez in the 26th minute

Defender Steve Flores, midfielder Daouda Amadou and forward Pariss Mitchell all appeared in the starting XI for the first time this season in tonight’s match versus Earthquakes II

Defender Daniel Garcia and midfielder Rémi Cabral both made their return from injury and appeared in their first match of the season for Rapids 2 in tonight’s game versus Earthquakes II

Select postgame quotes transcribed below.

COLORADO RAPIDS 2 HEAD COACH ERIK BUSHEY

On the match:

“I am proud of the players. I think I say that each game, but it holds true each game. The story of the first half is Abraham Rodriguez going out with injury. He is somebody that we have relied upon to help us get the victories that we have secured thus far. I think that was a greater challenge than even the opponent at that point. We had to be able to respond to losing our leader. For the guys in terms of soccer, we had to be smart. We wanted to protect Diego (Gurrola). It was his…