Rush's Siguenza makes splash

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Mar 21, 2012

[FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ...] Salvadoran youth star Ruben Siguenza quickly showed off his stuff, scoring a hat trick in his second game since joining Colorado Rush, an 8-1 win over Texas club Classics Elite on Sunday. He is part of an influx of Salvadoran youth players who have arrived as a part of an international exchange program between Rush and FESA, a multi-sport program to provide opportunities for Salvadoran youth. For four things to know about Siguenza ...

FESA OUTREACH. FESA (Federacion Educando a un Salvadoreno) is developing Salvadoran athletes in soccer, swimming, even baseball. Indeed, the program started as a baseball program and expanded into soccer in 2005. Seven players on El Salvador's U-23 national team have tied to FESA. Younger players are heading to the United States and Mexico. Colorado Rush welcomed Jonathan Barahona and Siguenza, while Texas Rush added Miguel Avendano, Kevin Barahona, Diego Coca, Edgardo Mira and Giovanni Zavaleta.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. Siguenza and Barahona are scheduled to remain with Rush through August 2012. They said the opportunity to play soccer and get an education was an important reason to join Rush and live with host families.

WORLD TRAVELER. This isn't Siguenza's first stay abroad. He spent time in the Sevilla youth program in Spain. More recently, he traveled to Italy, so he wasn't taken back by the cold weather he and Barahona experienced when they moved to the Denver area this winter.

IMPACT PLAYER. The win over Classics Elite was just the second in seven games for the U-17/18 Rush, which had only scored six goals in its first six Development Academy games. Next up: the first of two regular-season meetings with archrival Real Colorado March 31 at the Stadium Field at Highlands Heritage Park.