TAKE FIVE: SOCCER TRIPLEHEADER

What: Colorado Rapids vs. Real Salt Lake

When: 7 tonight

Where: Peter Johann Memorial Field, UNLV

Tickets: Sold out

Also: UNLV women play Southern Utah women at 2 p.m. today; UNLV men play BYU at 4 p.m.; these games are free.

For the first time as a professional soccer player, Las Vegas High graduate Herculez Gomez will play before family and friends in his hometown.

Gomez said he could use 200 tickets, which might be impossible to obtain for tonight's sold-out exhibition match between his Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake at Peter Johann Memorial Field.

Real has dispersed more than 2,000 tickets.

His Rapids teammates haven't known Gomez long, because he was traded from the Los Angeles Galaxy to Colorado in December. Still, they've noticed a difference in him lately.

"I'm a little happier than usual, with a big smile on my face and a spring in my step," Gomez says. "I'm disappointed it won't be played at a bigger venue, but it will definitely be good to see the community support the game."

New Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo has moved Gomez from his natural position up front to the left wing, and he scored twice during a hectic preseason that included games in Mexico, England and Spain.

"I have mixed emotions," Gomez says of the new position. "It's all about exploiting spaces, and I'll use my speed and skill to get around defenders. Coach feels I can be a great help to the team in that position. I'm sure goals will come."

Other notes of interest about today's tripleheader:

1. Let's play three

The tripleheader of exhibitions starts at 2 p.m., when the UNLV women play Southern Utah. At 4, the Rebels' men's team plays BYU. Admission to those games is free. Fans will be asked to leave the field after the second match, and those with tickets to the Major League Soccer game will be able to reenter the field at 6:30.

2. Been a while

A major soccer game was last held in Las Vegas in 1977, the lone, nondescript season for the Las Vegas Quicksilvers in the North American Soccer League. Clavijo coached the Seattle Seadogs of the old Continental Indoor Socce r League, against the Las Vegas Dustdevils in their second, and final, season in 1995.

3. Bloody good show

Colorado defeated Barnet and Millwall by 1-0 scores in two friendlies at the training grounds of Arsenal, the Rapids' partner club, in England. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger watched both, then spoke French with Rapids goalie Bouna Coundoul and Japanese with midfielder Kosuke Kimura.

4. Dishing it out

Keep an eye on 5-foot-7 midfielder Terry Cooke of the Rapids. Last season, he led MLS with 11 assists. The native of Birmingham, England, started out in the Manchester United system, where he played with David Beckham, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes. He played for Sheffield on Wednesday in England's second division before landing in Denver.

5. Is Freddy for real?

Freddy Adu will be 18 in June? Seems Nike has been hyping him since he was 9. His two goals and eight assists in 32 games last season underwhelmed D.C. United, which dealt him to Salt Lake in the offseason. Adu has spent the past week in Texas, in training with the U.S. Under-20 national team.

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