Rapids take goalie in trade with Fire

The rights to goalkeeper Zach Thornton have been acquired by Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids in a trade with the Chicago Fire.

The Rapids yielded a conditional draft pick in the 2008 supplemental draft for Thornton, who was named the league's goalie of the year in 1998 - when the Fire won the MLS Cup championship. Thornton also has played for Portuguese club Benfica.

To meet roster limits, the Rapids waived goalie Matt Jordan, an Aurora native and Overland High School graduate, and forward Fabrice Noel, who scored one goal in nine games last season.

REPORT SAYS ROBY TO RETURN University of Colorado men's forward Richard Roby will be back at the Boulder school for his senior year, according to The Associated Press.

"I want to play in the NCAA Tournament," Roby said. "That's been my goal. Every March, I watch it and I envy the guys that are playing in it. I want to do that."

BIG 12 CHOICE Colorado junior forward Jackie McFarland has been named to the All-Big 12 Conference women's basketball first team, and senior guard-forward Jasmina Ilic received honorable mention.

McFarland is the second Buffaloes player to be named to the All-Big 12 first team, joining center Tera Bjorklund, who earned honors in both 2002-03 and 2003-04.

PLAINSMEN RISING The Sterling-based Northeastern Junior College men's basketball team (28-1) takes a 20-game winning streak into the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region IX tournament tonight against McCook Community College in Scottsbluff, Neb.

COLORADO SOARS Monarch High School graduate Louis Amundson recorded 19 points and 14 rebounds to spark the NBA Development League's Colorado 14ers (23-14) to a 112- 97 road victory against the Fort Worth Flyers (19-14).

PIONEERS TRIUMPH Heather Huffaker won the all-around, vault and balance beam events to help the 13th-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team record a 195.550-195.100 victory Friday against No. 18 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, the Pioneers' second road dual-meet win this season.

ARTEMEV, ALVAREZ ADVANCE Morrison resident Alexander Artemev and Denver resident Guillermo Alvarez advanced to the finals today of the Tyson American Cup gymnastics tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.

Artemev finished third in the men's all-around qualifying round Friday and Alvarez finished fifth.

HYDROFOIL FINALS The U.S. Hydrofoil Association Nationals are coming to Colorado this summer.

The organization's championships will be at Little Soda Lake in Bear Creek Lake Park in south Jefferson County on July 27-29.

EAGLES COAST Ed McGrane registered a hat trick to power the Central Hockey League's Colorado Eagles (39-14) to a 6-1 victory Friday against the Lubbock Cotton Kings (20-27-6) in Loveland.

RAGE DOMINATES Bret DeCecco scored two goals to help lift the CHL's Rocky Mountain Rage (14-33-5) to a 6-0 victory Friday against the Amarillo Gorillas (26-24-3) in Broomfield.