Braidon Nourse
@braidonnourse.bsky.social
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Covering the Colorado Rapids and soccer in Colorado for The Denver Post. Questions? Story ideas? DMs open
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Paxten Aaronson hopes to make Colorado his home. Familiarity with players and an instant connection with Chris Armas could make that easy.

On a new No. 10 for the Colorado Rapids:

www.denverpost.com/2025/08/22/p...
Paxten Aaronson on record move to Colorado Rapids: ‘It’ll challenge me as a young player’
Paxten Aaronson saw familiarity — and perhaps a home — in Colorado.
www.denverpost.com
Reposted by Braidon Nourse
Good to see the entire soccer journalism world backing up Matt Pollard and @burgundywave.bsky.social this morning.

Pro tip to coaches:
don’t pick a fight with the journalists that cover you.

It’s is almost always a bad look.
Put out a middle of the pack product, expect coverage that reflects that. For Armas to pick this moment to publicly bash Burgundy Wave was unprofessional and it was much nastier than any coverage BW has offered the club. Matt is as good as it gets.
Chris Armas on his future being out of contract, after being snarky and attacking our coverage as always being negative and wondering how many people read us:

"It's fresh. It just ended (the season). We'll have discussions."
Chris Armas was a bit fiery and didn't directly answer the question about his future with the club, but he has alluded to this project "not being done" and that this group has more to go together.

Take that as you will. Discussions seem to still be ongoing.
It seems I didn't factor in the Rapids could also choke
YAPI HOUR OH MY GOD!!! ALL THE RAPIDS NEED IS FC DALLAS OR RSL TO CHOKE
YAPI HOUR OH MY GOD!!! ALL THE RAPIDS NEED IS FC DALLAS OR RSL TO CHOKE
PAXTEN AARONSON OPENS THE ACCOUNT!! Hugo Lloris has another moment to forget in Commerce City: getting a pass blocked by Aaronson and straight into the goal. It's on in Colorado, but don't forget, the Rapids need to win this game and have one of RSL and Dallas drop points.

1-1
Tonight's attendance: 18,258
Turns out Son CAN do it on a cold night in Commerce City
Son gonna Son. One on one with Andreas Maxsø and it goes about how you think it would. Rapids need multiple miracles.

1-0 LAFC
Aaaaaaand Dallas scores against Vancouver. It's beginning to not matter what happens here in Commerce City.
More bad news for the Rapids: Real Salt Lake scores an early one on St. Louis.
Reggie Cannon yellow card in the 17th minute. Not good, but stopped a counter
Reposted by Braidon Nourse
6' Vines with a good run into space. He crosses into the box. Navarro is able to get there. Shot blocked. A very Rafa Santos moment from Vines, @braidonnourse.bsky.social.

0-0 | #Rapids96
Vancouver gets an early DOGSO red card at home vs Dallas. Not the way Rapids fans want that one to start.
Oh yeah, and they want all these changes to start in the 2026/27 academic year to take full advantage of World Cup momentum. There's a lot of potential in this plan, but for it to start next year seems hasty.
U.S. Soccer and NextGen College Soccer Committee release "White Paper," a set of recommendations to work to align college soccer and professional soccer. As far as I've heard, the University of Denver would be on board with many aspects of this plan. Here's the big points:
"Must have" outcomes of the shift:
-Cost of running a DI college program should decrease while revenue goes up
-Increase well-being of student-athletes in multiple facets.
-Enhance identification, development of elite players for professional/national team careers "immediately."
-Complete conference restructure: "Blue, yellow, green and red clusters" based on large regions (west coast, midwest, northeast, southeast) with 8-10 teams in local "divisions" within those clusters. All based on geography with competitive interests in mind.
-Integration with professional leagues through pre-season (fall) and return-to-play (spring). Those "unofficial games" ideally would be against professional teams or rivals that would now reside in other conferences. Could also include "mini-cups" or Community Shield-style games.
-Longer calendar: A season would stretch to the entirety of the school year, not just the fall season. That means some regular-season play in the fall, a long break for winter, then tournaments in the spring. Also, more time between matches (decrease fixture congestion).
U.S. Soccer and NextGen College Soccer Committee release "White Paper," a set of recommendations to work to align college soccer and professional soccer. As far as I've heard, the University of Denver would be on board with many aspects of this plan. Here's the big points:
Mauricio Pochettino says Christian Pulisic felt something in his hamstring that took him out of the match in the first half. Said he'll be assessed back in Italy.
18,218 is your attendance from DSGP for #USMNT
51' Haji at the double! He collects a pass from -- you guessed it -- Cristian Roldan on the right wing, cuts inside to make an Australian defender eat grass, then curls it far post to give the U.S. the lead!

2-1 USMNT