No stranger to big matches, Colorado Rapids 2 goalkeeper Zackory Campagnolo is exactly the kind of player you want in net when the lights burn brightest.
With several appearances for the U.S. men’s national team across youth levels across various competitions, that experience leaves him well-seasoned at the age of 18 for the moments where a single save or mistake can decide the narrative between champion and runner-up.
“I don't really do anything different going to matches like this,” Campagnolo said during Cup preparations. “I think, especially the last three games, have all been finals. Our captain, Douda Amadou, has reminded us of that. So, I don't think this game’s any different.
“Obviously, there are different stipulations and titles on the line, but the last three games have been a final. You lose, you go home. So, I don’t think the prep is any different.”
Music to Rapids fans’ ears.
Campagnolo and his side have already navigated the gauntlet of the Western Conference playoff bracket, including a road win over higher-seeded The Town FC in the semifinal round, giving plenty of confidence to draw on as they size up their trip to the Big Apple to face New York Red Bulls II at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday (7 PM ET | Apple TV - Free).
But beyond the three-game playoff sprint lies something bigger. So much of a championship run can be about timing, and that momentum is a gift Rapids 2 have on their side.
“You look at the form we've been on, I'd say, the last few months since that June–July stretch, there's no reason the guys shouldn’t feel supremely confident,” Rapids 2 head coach Erik Bushey said.
Though Rapids 2 kept pace with the elite tier of the West all year, there was a clear midseason turning point that stamped them as a heavyweight contender.
A performance to keep in mind, given that both cup finalists had to earn their place in comeback fashion: A 6-4 comeback win over the Tacoma Defiance, flipping the script on a 3-0 deficit in the second half (HIGHLIGHTS).
From that point on, Rapids 2 went on an absolute tear, collecting 22 of a possible 30 points in the 10-game home stretch of the regular season.
Representing the badge
The shiny elephant in the room on Saturday is the chance to add another trophy to the cabinet. Something that’s eluded the Rapids organization in a decade-plus drought.
15 years since Colorado lifted the 2010 MLS Cup, last week’s Western Conference trophy was special, but completing 2025’s hardware collection would mean far more in projecting the pursuit of adding another Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in the years to come.
“Winning is why most people are in the club and associated with the club,” Bushey said. “And I've referenced a couple of times this week: the ability to see people be happy, to smile, to breathe a little bit, I think, is rewarding. And ultimately, winning is contagious, and we want that within our club in general, so we're a piece of that.”
For the goal-driven players in the group, the Cup Final is a chance to close the loop on a season that began with one shared vision.
“That’s obviously the end goal,” Campagnolo said. “At the start of the season, everyone writes down the same wish: to win a title. Not just a conference, but the whole league. I think we’ve put ourselves in a position to do that.
“We really want to represent the fans. Last game, we came out at home for the Western Conference Championship and had the supporters section and thousands of fans behind us. We want to do it for them and bring the trophy back to Colorado, where it belongs.”
Time to shine
Bushey often returns to one key theme when reflecting on this season: Rapids 2 exists to produce players who can thrive at the next level, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to win along the way.
Appearing in the Cup Final brings more eyes than ever on this young squad, and there are many ways to handle the spotlight. The 2023 Coach of the Year is the one responsible for managing the moment and message.
“It's nice, it's fulfilling, also, in a way,” Bushey explained. “We understand the design of our program is to promote the individuals here, and that is the primary goal. And so sometimes, though, that fulfillment takes longer to recognize or to realize, because you need to see the player move, contribute, and get success. And then you can reflect back and say, ‘We played a role in that,’ and how positive it is and was.”
And after he guided a similarly gifted team to the best regular season in league history in 2023, there’s a touch of delayed gratification in finally reaching this stage.
“But in these moments where we have a chance to win some games, compete for trophies, and win. When you're in the game of development, you don't always get to enjoy that in real time,” Bushey continued. “And so we get a little taste of that. We've experienced moments of that throughout the four years, but to see it come to a head at this point is really positive. And I feel super encouraged and motivated and positive for the players that are working hard behind me, because they're the ones who have earned it.”
