There is a sturdiness to this Rapids team, as well as an all-for-one mantra that helped underpin a dramatic turnaround from last place in the West in 2015 to a conference finals berth.
Colorado Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni and goalkeeper Zac MacMath prepared for just this unfortunate eventuality.
MacMath was one of the top ‘keepers in Major League Soccer during the first part of this season, standing tall behind a defense that would surrender fewer goals than any other team in MLS. But when a long-rumored move for U.S. national team legend Tim Howard finally came to fruition this summer, the writing was on the wall.