HONOLULU, Hawaii (Tuesday, February 21, 2012) – The Colorado Rapids took a 2-1 win over Hawaii Pacific University in a 60-minute scrimmage on Tuesday morning on the University of Hawaii practice fields as the team prepares for its participation in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational. The Rapids got goals from Andre Akpan and Scott Palguta before giving up a goal to HPU just before the final whistle.

Honolulu, Hawaii - The Colorado Rapids were greeted in traditional Hawaiian style upon arriving at Honolulu Airport Sunday evening. As the party deplaned, they were greeted with natural flower leis as a welcome to the islands for what is to be eight days of preseason and participation in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational.

The flights took roughly 12 hours, but ended with smiles and excitement as the players snapped photos and posted messages on individual social media sites announcing their arrival to the island.

The Colorado Rapids departed early Sunday morning for Honolulu, Hawaii, where they'll continue preseason training and play in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational. Twenty-nine players will take part in the camp that runs through February 26.

Perhaps no one is going to benefit more from Oscar Pareja's new 4-4-3 formation than Omar Cummings.

The Rapids striker enters 2012 on the heels of a largely disappointing season with the club last time out, when he battled a pesky ankle injury and finished with just three regular season goals, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2007.

Commerce City, Colo. - The connection between the Colorado Rapids and partner-club Arsenal, of the English Premier League, is taking a step forward this week with the news that an Arsenal player will be joining the Rapids preseason camp. Nineteen-year-old Gunners left back George Brislen-Hall will begin a trial period with the Rapids starting Friday.

Commerce City, Colo. - With today's announcement that Buenos Aires-native Martin Rivero has signed with the Colorado Rapids, we take a look at the previous players born in Argentina who have played for the Rapids.

NOTE: No player born in Argentina played for the Rapids during the first six years of existence, and only six have played for the club in the past 10 seasons. 

PABLO MASTROENI (2002-present) - Mendoza, Argentina

The Colorado Rapids made their second big South American splash of the offseason on Thursday, acquiring 22-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder Martín Rivero on loan from Argentine club Rosario Central.

Rivero figures to contribute immediately as a creative No. 10-type player that the Rapids have made little secret of their desire to pursue since the attack-minded Oscar Pareja took charge of the club last month.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Thursday, February 16, 2012) – The Colorado Rapids announced on Thursday that the club has acquired on loan midfielder Martín Rivero, a 22-year-old playmaker most recently with Rosario Central in his native Argentina. Rivero will be added to the roster as an international player pending receipt of his P-1 work visa, International Transfer Certificate, and a physical, and is expected to join the club before the team’s trip to Hawaii. Per league and team policy, details of the contract were not disclosed.

(Denver, CO – February 14, 2012) Eight Colorado Rapids players and twelve Colorado Rapids staff will be donning hard hats and swinging hammers to help build a Habitat for Humanity home in Commerce City this week.  The house that the Rapids will help build is the future home to Leticia and her three children.  Leticia and her family currently live in a rental located in an unsafe neighborhood, where they struggle to stay warm in the winter due to faulty heating.  They are so thankful to the Colorado Rapids and all of the Habitat volunteers who are helpin Read More]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:21:31 GMT http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/02/freeman-mri-reveals-deep-bone-bruise

Commerce City, Colo. - It was a slow introduction back to the turf fields at Dick's Sporting Goods Park for a few players this week. Some may remain out of practice for a few more days, especially since the group will remain on turf next week in Honolulu.

Defender Hunter Freeman's MRI on his injured right ankle was negative, revealing only a deep bone bruise. He was in a temporary walking boot today but the training staff is hopeful he can resume training next week in Hawaii. He was injured last Saturday in the final scrimmage in California against Cal-Poly.