Post-Game Quotes: Rapids win
Recap: Rapids Make Quick Work of Houston
Stars Line Up in Win Over Houston
Rapids Head Coach Gary Smith
On Ian Joyce’s debut in goal…
“It is a helluva of day for the lad. I was thinking about this before the event and you never know what is going to happen, but he makes his debut; it is his first appearance for us, he keeps his first clean sheet, and there is a very good chance that he is going to have his first child in the week. There was actually a concern that his wife might go into labor last night and we would be down two goalkeepers. He more than anyone has a right to celebrate tonight for sure.”
On the game…
“I think overall there are two things that come to mind. The first one is that I am very-very pleased of course to get the three points and against a side like Houston who are very competitive and to my second point, someone like Dominic Kinnear I have a huge amount of respect for. The way he prepares his teams. Those sides are never easy to beat. Even with 10 men you could see the fire in their belly and their thinking that if we could just get one (goal) we have a bit of a chance. Now of course it is an uphill struggle with 10 men, but the fact that we scored two quick goals as well after they have gone down. But the two point for me are- we got the three points and that we got them against a side I respect enormously.”
Rapids FWD Conor Casey
On his goal and two assist performance…
“Obviously a great start for us. We have been playing from behind the last couple of days so it was nice to get a lead early. Then by halftime to have a three goal lead and being a man up was huge. It very unexpected and easier win for us.”
On playing in a 4-4-2 tonight and regaining chemistry with Omar Cummings…
“Yeah, it was nice that we were playing a little bit closer and we were able to break through a bunch of times. We have been playing well in the 4-3-3 but it felt comfortable in the 4-4-2 tonight.”
Rapids GK Ian Joyce
On the game…
“I think the hard work and the determination shown by the team tonight came through in the end. From start to finish, we really had the right attitude going into this game. We are in a playoff push now and we really approached this game with the right mentality and we came through in the end.”
On his MLS debut and due any minute with their first child expecting wife…
“I try to prepare myself mentality as much as possible and stay fit to be ready for these moments. Luckily the timing worked out well with my wife that we didn’t have the baby in the last couple of days and hopefully in the next couple of days I’ll become a daddy for the first time and really cap this off the right way.”