Powers, Rapids Disappointed but Resilient for Playoffs

By Brian Jennings 

Sunday afternoon Colorado had their sights set on a Supporter’s Shield, but after Houston took the lead the Rapids had to salvage their unbeaten home record first and foremost.  That is exactly what they’ve done all season it seems as Dillon Powers and his teammates have reacted well when the chips are down. 

“For some reason we tend to respond only when we’re down,” Powers admitted to The Voice of C38 postgame.  “We made an emphasis to get higher, press higher on the field, and have a little more energy.” 

That energy paid off as Colorado stormed out of the locker room for the second half to record multiple near-misses by Kevin Doyle, Dominique Badji, and Shkelzen Gashi but could only muster the tying score by Gashi. 

  

“I always thought we were going to get the second goal, especially after we got the first.  I was proud of the way we hung in there and believed till the end.  We didn’t get the second but I think it’s important that we didn’t just give up.” 

“This team has character and you don’t build character when you’re on top the whole time. We’ve had guys in and out, even guys from last year-that kind of fuel on the fire with the pain of last year.”  Now as the “new” season begins and the Rapids await their first playoff game in three campaigns, Powers admits the ghosts of past shortcomings still linger as motivation for him. “It’s good motivation. I think about it because it’s painful.  You don’t want to go back there because it’s hurts.” 

  

True to the C38 supporters’ mantra of #KeepFighting, Colorado has rallied from within after a dreadful 2015 season and learned how to overcome poor results even from one half to the next.  “You have to have resilience,” says Powers.  “There’s going to be moments like today where you’re going to be down a goal.  You’re not going to breeze through the playoffs.”   Rapids fans hope that last statement is the one thing Dillon didn’t quite correctly predict.