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Crew-Rapids Preview

Jun 4, 2010 - 8:23 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Columbus (6-1-3) at Colorado (5-3-1), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Columbus Crew were finally pleased with their offensive effort in a tie earlier this week. The positive feelings might not last long against Matt Pickens and the stingy Colorado Rapids.

In their final game before MLS goes on hiatus for the World Cup, the Crew face the Rapids on Saturday night looking to stay unbeaten on the road.

Despite a three-point lead in the Eastern Conference, Columbus (6-1-3) has been concerned over its recent lack of scoring. The Crew lead the conference with 16 goals, but began the week having scored one or none in three of four games. Columbus lost 2-0 to Los Angeles last Saturday despite a 21-3 edge in shots.

The Crew were more productive on the attack Wednesday, playing to a 2-all draw with San Jose. Chad Marshall's header gave Columbus the lead in the 70th minute, but the Earthquakes closed out the scoring nine minutes later.

The Crew's Eddie Gaven recorded the first goal of the game in the fourth minute, although San Jose erased the lead less than a minute after that. The solid effort improved Columbus to 2-0-3 away from home, leaving the Crew and Galaxy as the only teams without a road loss.

"We have the mentality (that) we should win every game, but we'll look back on it and say (that) a point on the road isn't a bad result," midfielder Robbie Rogers told Columbus' official website. "I wondered how the guys would react to the first loss of the season. I thought everyone did a really good job."

The Crew should receive another test from a Colorado team that has given up seven goals, second fewest in the league behind Los Angeles.

The Rapids (5-3-1) will be looking for their third straight win. Since being shut out in two straight games to begin May, Colorado has recorded back-to-back 1-0 victories over D.C. United and Seattle.

Conor Casey scored in Saturday's victory over the Sounders. It was his fourth goal of the year and first that didn't come on a penalty kick.

"There was no monkey to be taken off my back by that goal," said Casey, who had a career-high 16 goals last season. "I was eventually going to score a goal off a play."

Matt Pickens recorded four saves for his third shutout of the season. Pickens' outstanding play has been critical for a Rapids team that has scored 10 goals.

The teams' two meetings last season were defensive battles, as they played to a 1-all draw in Colorado last April 11 and Columbus won 1-0 at home Aug. 1.