Zack Steffen’s connection to Rapids Unified program produces ‘life-changing’ relationship

Nothing could have topped the moment Colin Underly learned Zack Steffen had signed with the Colorado Rapids A goalkeeper himself as a partner on the Colorado Rapids Special Olympics Unified Association Colin had idolized Steffen since his days at Manchester City Colin s favorite club The two met after the Unified club beat Real Salt Lake last May The bond was instant It was awesome He s a funny kid man Very sarcastic and a goofy guy loves to make jokes and crack jokes Steffen reported I just really loved his demeanor and his wittiness and it was just fun to be around It s constantly a privilege to have room to be a role model and for kids to look up to you Their connection is central to what the Unified campaign is all about Inclusion delight and area This weekend as the Unified company begins its th season as an exchange initiative between the Rapids and Special Olympics Colorado Steffen is helping to fill the stands for the crew s match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday In late April the club released a campaign to sell out the Unified match between the Rapids and club rival RSL which kicks off after the Rapids tournament To help the push Steffen bought and donated tickets most of of which will go to friends and family of Special Olympics athletes and the group s partners like Colin Steffen and Underly often chop it up on the field or at Unified events and it isn t uncommon for the two to like each other s posts on Instagram something Underly still can t quite believe It s amazing Colin will be like Everyone looks up to Lionel Messi or whoever but I have my own hero right here in Colorado commented Molly Underly Colin s mom and coach of the Unified association It s definitely been really special for us It goes beyond soccer The Colorado Rapids Unified squad goalkeeper Colin Underly poses with Rapids goaltender Zack Steffen during media day at Dick s Sporting Goods Park on April in Commerce City Photo by Jack Dempsey Courtesy of Colorado Rapids Admission to the Unified match comes with a ticket to the first crew s competition which begins at p m Saturday at Dick s Sporting Goods Park Fans who stay for the p m Unified kickoff will have a chance to win prizes including signed jerseys and tickets to the U S Women s National Club match at DSGP later this summer Rapids VP of group events and entertainment Caitlin Kinser one of the driving forces behind the sell-out effort thinks fans will walk away from the Unified match with more My hope is that it would provide perspective for people Kinser noted You see these athletes coming out here they re getting this amazing experience and they re playing with all their heart they re playing for a trophy they re playing for the badge They re playing for the same things that the first association is playing for I think just being able to see why inclusion matters and why it s vital to provide these opportunities for that society it will bring fans a lot of elation The Rapids have given strong endorsement to the Unified project since its inception providing charter flights with the first organization contract signing events before the season and matches on the fields their favorite players play on In the club chose Special Olympics athlete Scotty Stephens as its model for the MLS kit release event in New York The the greater part glaring difference that remains between the MLS and Unified teams is in the stands a gap the club hopes to bridge Saturday night and beyond It s really hard to put into words how much it means to our players I think this is such a special and unique opportunity and we really are changing what it means to be unified and including There s not other opportunities like this Molly Underly disclosed It s definitely changing lives in tactics I never really could have thought achievable The players and the coaches from the first association all say One squad one club and they really embrace that For years players like Cole Bassett and former Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar have made it a priority to attend Unified events This year Steffen midfielder Oliver Larraz and coach Chris Armas joined the fray and have become mainstays Steffen disclosed that beyond the ticket donation he wants even more of a presence from his teammates at the Unified games Related Articles Colorado Rapids drop third straight match in loss at San Diego FC Father-son assistant coach duo on opposite sides of Rapids-Earthquakes match Colorado Rapids come from behind draw Seattle Sounders to move unbeaten streak to three Ond ej Lingr s stoppage-time goal in MLS debut helps Dynamo tie Rapids - Rapids transfer winger Omir Fern ndez to Portland I just want to see kids having fun with smiles he stated I m a father so all I would want to see for my daughter is all the role models in the society treating her well and treating her friends well and spreading love and kindness That s what I m trying to do here The first band will begin its Rocky Mountain Cup defense Saturday after a string of bad losses The Unified squad which only plays RSL s company once per year is searching for a three-peat in the rivalry For Molly whose son has a Steffen poster hanging in his room and a gifted pair of his goalie gloves emblazoned with his daughter s name it s a goalkeeper relationship neither of them would have foreseen Colin is reminded a lot that Steffen is not only his friend but that he s looking out for him she explained And so for Colin I really do think it s one of those moments that have been life-changing for him Colorado Rapids Unified crew goalkeeper Colin Underly makes a save during a tournament against FC Dallas Unified on Aug at Toyota Stadium in Frisco Texas Courtesy of Colorado Rapids Want more sports news Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver s teams