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Rapids 1, Revolution 1

May 17, 2009 - 3:12 AM By PETER GOBIS STATS MLS Correspondent

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (STATS) - A soggy night and wet field left both the struggling Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution a little disappointed.

Steve Ralston scored on a penalty kick in the 18th minute to lift the Revolution into a 1-1 draw with the Rapids on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

Defender Ugo Ihemelu tripped Ralston in the penalty box. He then stutter-stepped and drove a low ball to the far left corner past Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens.

"The field was just too quick for everybody," New England coach Steve Nicol said of the slick artificial playing surface. "It makes it difficult to pass."

Scoring also has been at a premium for the Revolution. New England (2-2-4) has scored just twice in its last four matches, and is 0-2-3 in its last five. Five starters, including striker Taylor Twellman (neck) and goalkeeper Matt Reis (concussion), were out due to injuries.

Reis missed four games earlier this season with inflammation in his right knee.

Forward Conor Casey put the Rapids (3-2-3) ahead in the third minute, converting a header off of a cross from Jordan Harvey. Casey's goal was his fifth of the season.

"It's definitely tough to give up a goal in the first five minutes of match," said New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton. "We found a way to come back and get a point, but we need to get three points."

Coming off a two-week layoff, Colorado is 1-0-2 in its last three.

"The point is good, but we feel a little disappointed, a little deflated," said Colorado coach Gary Smith.

The Rapids had a 15-6 advantage in shots, and both teams had good chances break the deadlock.

New England's Jeff Larentowicz sent a free kick just wide of the net to the left side in the 25th minute, and Shalrie Joseph had a header off of a Chris Tierney cross out of the left wing in the 67th minute just miss.

Colorado, which finished with 10 corner kicks, nearly regained the lead in the first half when Mehdi Ballouchy forced Knighton to make a diving save in the 36th minute.

Casey also had a strong right-footed drive in the 60th minute off the right wing just miss its mark.

"I expect a little too much," Smith of the Rapids. "With our bright start, we may have set some stronger foundations for the way the game moved on. To their credit, they got back in it. We took a long time adjusting to the slippery turf, the surface."

New England, though, hasn't won since April 4, but has scored and taken a tie in its last two matches.

"When you talk about commitment, attitude and effort, it was 100 percent," Nicol said. "Overall, it was a fair result for everybody."