COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – For a player who recently suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee, Rapids defender Drew Moor seems to be doing an incredible job of staying positive while facing the reality of missing extended time for the first time in his professional career.
Crutches in hand, the Rapids’ captain and the man affectionately known as the “Ironman” for his MLS non-goalkeeper record of playing every second in 69 consecutive regular-season matches was in the locker room after Colorado’s latest setback, a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night and remained relentlessly upbeat.
“It’s one of those things that I’ve never had to deal with a serious injury. I’ve been so lucky,” Moor said. “I think a small part of me is excited for the challenge. Obviously it comes at a tough time; it’s never a good time to miss a big chunk of time. I’ve just been so lucky up to this point, so one thing I’ve said is that it’s an injury that’s fixable. It’s familiar, it’s not a concussion, it’s not the unknown, it’s not life-threatening. The plan is to do everything I can so that way I’m stronger than I was before.”
In the 12th minute of Colorado’s 4-2 loss to D.C. United last Sunday night at RFK Stadium, Moor slid across his own penalty area in an attempt to stop Luis Silva’s opening goal for D.C., but in the process, the University of Indiana product suffered the first significant injury of his career. Going down in a heap of obvious pain, Moor said he knew right away something had gone terribly wrong as he clutched his injured knee.
“I knew something serious happened,” Moor said. “My knee felt like it almost turned to jelly for a second. It isn’t meant to feel that way. I feel like I’m one of those guys that knows my body really well, and I could just tell it was not good.”
- Get the latest Rapids headlines at ColoradoRapids.com
Now for the first time in his nine-plus year MLS career (and his college days), Moor faces the unfamiliar prospect of spending an extended period of time away from the field. There is no official timeline on his return yet, and while he underwent surgery on Thursday, there has not been a determination of how much of next season he might miss. Until then, Moor knows all he can do is stay positive.
“I know it’s not an easy rehab road, obviously. So I’ve got to make sure that I dedicate myself,” Moor said. “It’s not certainly something that I want to rush back from. Fortunately, part of it will take place during the offseason, so it’s not like it happened at the beginning of the season where I’d miss the entire year or anything. Do what the doctor says and be sure I’m looking after myself and taking care of myself, and stay positive through it all.”
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
