Real Salt Lake notebook: Findley hits net twice during big win

SANDY — Robbie Findley picked the perfect time to wake up from his nearly two-month long slumber. The Real Salt Lake striker, who hadn't scored a goal since Aug. 26, scored twice in the opening 33 minutes Saturday of his team's critical 3-0 victory over Colorado.

"It felt good, it's been a while," said Findley. "I got the start tonight, and that felt good as well."

Findley had only started one of the previous four matches, but he made the most of his start.

Findley finishes the regular season with 12 goals, second in team history to the 16 goals Jeff Cunningham scored in 2006.

Saturday's two-goal effort was his third multi-goal game of the 2009 season. Prior to his two goals against Colorado, Findley hadn't scored since scoring twice in the final five minutes of RSL's 4-0 victory over Chivas on Aug. 26 as a substitute.

The drop in production has coincided with a drop in playing time, as Findley started just three of the final eight matches this season.

RSL coach Jason Kreis acknowledged that the decisions to leave him on the bench weren't easy.

"It's been difficult over the past couple of weeks not having him the starting lineup. They were decisions based on what we've seen in the training sessions," said Kreis.

RSL's coach was pleased with how Findley trained this week though and rewarded him with a spot in the starting 11.

NOSTRADAMUS SPEAKS: For the second straight week Andy Williams backed up a bold prediction on his Facebook page.

A week ago he predicted he'd score a goal against New York, which he did in dramatic fashion. On Saturday Williams predicted he'd get a pair of assists against the Rapids, which he took care of in the opening 33 minutes.

Williams says is quitting while he's ahead, however, and won't be making playoff predictions.

RETAINING THE CUP: The Rocky Mountain Cup will be staying in Utah for another year thanks to RSL's 3-0 win over Colorado.

Colorado led the season series heading into Saturday's match with a 1-0-1 record and also enjoyed a plus-two goal differential. RSL evened the season series with a victory, but retains the Cup by virtue of the first tie-breaker, which is goal differential.

Colorado won the Cup each of the first two years, but RSL has now won it the past three. Kyle Beckerman has been on the winning side of the Rocky Mountain Cup every year.

BIG FINISH: On a night when RSL had the match wrapped up in the first half, Nick Rimando came up with some big saves throughout to earn his ninth shutout of the season.

The shutout was the 60th of Rimando's career and moves him into a tie with Houston's Pat Onstad for the fifth most shutouts in league history.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com