COMMERCE CITY — At the end of a recent training session, Rapids Special Olympics team forward Mackenzie Beauvais-Nikl addressed every coach and player on the team in a roll call of love, beginning with coach Phil Knight.

“Phil! I love you,” she said. “Ibsen! I love you …”

Her team loved the way she ended its match with the Special Olympics team from FC Dallas after the Rapids game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night, scoring a goal with seconds remaining to forge a dramatic 2-2 draw that was hard fought, joyful and heartwarming to watch.

“It was amazing. I was so ready to do this,” said Beauvais-Nikl, 18, a Thomas Jefferson High School student whose beaming smile gleamed under the bright stadium lights. “I don’t even know what happened. I just wanted to get a goal, and I did, at the last minute. I’m so happy.”

Beauvais-Nikl and her teammates might be even happier Friday when they fly to Portland to play the Timbers’ Special Olympics team. They will stay in the team hotel with the Rapids, who have gotten behind their Special Olympics project in a big way.

Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens attended two practices, working one-on-one with goalkeeper Morgan Butler, 19. Saturday night, he warmed her up and calmed her down before the game, then stood by her goal offering advice throughout the game’s two 15-minute halves, celebrating every save she made. Rapids players Chris Klute and Marvell Wynne also came out to watch the Special Olympics game after they beat rival FC Dallas 2-1.

The Rapids are among four MLS teams that support Special Olympics squads. Last year the Rapids’ Special Olympics team flew to Seattle to play the Sounders’ team.

The concept grew out of a relationship between Special Olympics Colorado and Rapids executives Jeff Jacobsen, vice president of commercial operations, and Wayne Brant, director of marketing and fan development.

“Once you saw that with Seattle last year, it was easy to make those phone calls to Dallas and Portland,” said Rapids president Tim Hinchey. “Now we’re at a point where there’s no doubt, when Jeff and Wayne go to our MLS meetings, they’re telling these guys, ‘We need to own this. It’s great for everybody. We need to do this on a much larger scale.’ “

In fact, they went to MLS meetings last week and made a case for expanding the concept. Representatives of the New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy decided on the spot to take part next year, and others expressed interest.

“The overall vision is to give these athletes the first-team experience from start to finish,” Brant said.

The Rapids Special Olympics team had its first practice at the stadium Aug. 13, after the Rapids welcomed them into their locker room and gave them a full “kit” including uniforms, warm-ups, cleats, shin guards and duffel bags. At another practice, Drew Moor presented the captain’s armband to Sam Villela and explained what that responsibility meant.

“When I heard about getting into soccer for Special Olympics, I wanted to try it because I hadn’t played a sport in a long time,” said Villela, 19, a 2012 graduate of Manual High School. “It’s a great thing. I never thought I could make it this far.”

Before the game Saturday night, the Special Olympics athletes got to see a highlight video of their equipment party on the stadium’s big video screen. Then Villela called his teammates into a circle where they held hands. “On three, teamwork,” he said.

“One, two, three, Teamwork!”

Late in the first half, forward Ibsen Ojeda got hit below the midsection with a ball that knocked the wind out of him. As play continued, Jacobsen went on the field to check on him, but Ojeda insisted he wanted to stay in the game. Seconds later, the ball was at his feet and he scored to tie the game 1-1.

Ojeda has trouble communicating with words. He loves Chivas of the Mexican first division. He plays basketball, skis and plays the guitar. He dances after scoring goals, and pretty much whenever the spirit moves him.

“He loves to play soccer,” said his grandfather, Eleasiff Ojeda. “It is an obsession for him, so he is so happy when he is playing.”

Knight, one of the team’s three coaches, has been coaching Special Olympics soccer for five years and says it’s one of the most rewarding things he’s done.

“It is a privilege,” Knight said. “They’re a determined bunch of kids, they don’t let any obstacles get in their way. They get frustrated at times, like we all do, but they deal with it. It’s a great group.”

Knight is deeply grateful for what the Rapids are doing to support Special Olympics.

“They’re leading the way, and they’re dragging other teams with them,” Knight said. “It’s great to see the momentum we picked up last year is continuing, and I think next year it’s going to grow even further.”

In a ceremony after the game, Rapids technical director Paul Bravo hung medals around the neck of every player on both teams.

“We did good,” said Villela. “I had my players go out there and play their hardest. We tied up, and it’s a good game. We tried our best, I did my best being the captain, I’m proud of my team, I’m proud of the other team.”

John Meyer: 303-954-1616, jmeyer@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jmeyer26