FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (1-1-0, 3 pts.) opens its 2013 home schedule this Saturday, March 23, when the team hosts Sporting Kansas City (1-1-1, 4 pts.) at 4 p.m., at Gillette Stadium. #BeThere323 as the Revs attempt to open their 17-game home schedule with a victory against Sporting. Comcast SportsNet will broadcast the game live on TV in high definition, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will have the call of the game on the radio.
Prior to the match, the Revolution will host the 2013 Executive Lecture & Sports Management and Entertainment Career Fair at Showcase Live at Patriot Place.
Starting at 12 p.m., attendees can meet with hiring representatives from sports and entertainment organizations from around New England. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion with Revolution president Brian Bilello, Boston Celtics director of ticket sales Jim Davis, New England Patriots vice president of sales Murray Kohl, MLS senior director of communications Will Kuhns and Fenway Sports Management managing director Mark Lev.
@bilalduckett Mar 11, 2:15pm
Teaching @scaldwell15 how to eat pho with @LeeNguyen24... It's a work in progress lol pic.twitter.com/Zy1UScuhI3
@RevsPrez Mar 13, 11:56am
Happy to get Diego extended. Pretty sure #NERevs fans will be excited to have him around for a while.
@CBarrett19 Mar 16, 8:03pm
Disappointing loss. We had our chances to lead and tie. 1-1 is still good first two games away. Can't wait for the home opener. #BeThere323
@AjSoares Mar 17, 5:38pm
Tomorrow at 6. Come get a burt with me. @AnnasBoston
ICYMI: STORIES FROM THE WEB
revolutionsoccer.net:
March 16 – Union 1, Revolution 0
March 16 – Postgame Quotes, Union 1, Revs 0
March 16 – Revs undone by Union’s one pivotal moment
mlssoccer.com
March 14 – Revs hail Fagundez’s growth
March 16 – Revs disappointed to lose on single opportunity by Union
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
#BeThere323
After a bye week and two road games, the Revs finally open their home schedule this Saturday … the team is 1-1-0 entering their home opener, playing both previous games on the road.
Early Doors
Saturday’s match against Kansas City – on March 23 – is the team’s earliest-ever home game … before this year, the earliest the Revs ever played in Foxborough was March 24, when the team hosted the Portland Timbers in 2012.
Going for 2-of-3 this weekend
If the Revolution earns the win on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, it will mark the first time since 2010 that the Revs produced wins in two of the their first three games … that season, the Revs started the year 2-1-0 with wins at D.C. and vs. Toronto … in 2012, the Revs started the year 0-1-2, following a 1-0-2 start to 2011.
Looking for a spark vs. Sporting
The Revs are winless in their last four games against Sporting KC, going 0-2-2 since July 2011 … however, those results include three matches in Kansas City to just one in Foxborough … in the team’s last three meetings at Gillette Stadium, the Revs are 2-1-0 – including back-to-back wins on Oct. 16, 2010 (1-0 win) and April 23, 2011 (3-2 win).
Familiar faces as foes
When the Revs line up against Sporting on Saturday, there should be two familiar faces in light blue: left back Seth Sinovic and midfielder Benny Feilhaber … the Revolution originally drafted Sinovic in the second round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, but waived him following the 2010 season … Feilhaber originally came to the Revs through the Allocation process in April 2011, but was traded to Kansas City in December 2012.
Caldwell, club’s second Homegrown, debuts
Braintree, Mass., product Scott Caldwell made his MLS debut on Saturday at Philadelphia, becoming the Revs’ second Homegrown player to appear for the first team … he joined Diego Fagundez, who was the team’s first-ever Homegrown signing in 2010 and who made his MLS debut in August 2011 … Caldwell played 90 minutes in the central midfield against Philly, marking his first-ever MLS action … Caldwell signed with the Revs in December 2012, following his stellar four-year career at collegiate powerhouse, Akron … Caldwell was the Revolution Academy’s first-ever Under-18 captain when the program launched in 2008.
Shuttleworth steps in
Bobby Shuttleworth, who started the Revs’ final five games of 2012 in goal, stepped back in between the sticks on Saturday in Philadelphia … Matt Reis was held out of the game with knee inflammation, leading to Shuttleworth’s first start of 2013 … in his last six appearances dating back to 2012, Shuttleworth has posted an 0.83 goals against average with two shutouts.
Revs, Ted Baker team for fashion show to benefit AmericaSCORES
Soccer and fashion will collide on Wednesday, April 3, at 7:30 p .m., when Revolution players and wives model looks from Ted Baker London’s Spring/Summer line, all to raise money for America SCORES – which partners with urban schools to provide a high quality, team-based program that integrates soccer, poetry and service-learning … held at BOND at The Langham, Boston (250 Franklin Street), and emceed by WHDH-TV anchor Sarah French, the fashion show will feature Revs stars Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Andy Dorman, Lee Nguyen, Saer Sene and A.J. Soares, along with team wives … Dellaria Salons & Spas’ talented hair and make-up artists will style the models, while DJ Joe Bermudez will provide the musical backdrop for the evening … tickets to the 21+ event can be purchased online for $25 HERE … a limited number of tickets will be available at the door the night of the event … tickets are also available for a special VIP reception at 6:30 p.m. for $50, which will include a one-hour reception with sweet treats and cocktails, courtesy of Bombay Sapphire.
Single-game tickets on sale
Single-game tickets to 2013 New England Revolution matches are now on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets … individual tickets purchased in advance start at $24 for bowl seating … the Revolution’s Ticketmaster page is available HERE.
SATURDAY’S OPPONENT & SERIES INFORMATION
Revolution vs. Kansas City (regular-season): 13-22-10
Home: 7-11-5
Away: 6-11-5
TEAM NOTES AGAINST KANSAS CITY
- Kansas City leads the all-time, regular-season series between the two teams, 22-13-10
- Saturday’s match will be the first of two games between the teams this season … the Revs will travel to Sporting Park on Aug. 10 for the return match
- The Revs are 7-11-5 all-time against Kansas City in Foxborough, including a 3-8-5 record at Gillette Stadium
- Kansas City won the three-game series last year, going 2-0-1 against the Revs, including a 1-0 win at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 4 … the Revs were held scoreless last year in all three meetings, losing 3-0 on March 17, drawing 0-0 on July 21, before the 1-0 loss at home on Aug. 4
- Rajko Lekic is the last Revs player to score a goal against Sporting, coming on July 30, 2011, at Sporting Park
- 31 matches between the clubs have been determined by one goal or fewer … 12 games have been decided by a two-goal spread, while just two matches – including the 3-0 KC victory last March – have been decided by three or more goals
- The teams also met twice outside MLS regular-season competition: once in SuperLiga (a 1-1 draw in 2009), and once in the U.S. Open Cup (a 5-0 KC win on May 25, 2011)
PLAYER NOTES AGAINST KANSAS CITY
- The Revs’ active leading scorer against Kansas City is Chad Barrett, who has four career goals against Sporting … all four of his goals came in 2006 and 2007, two each year while he was with Chicago
- Sainey Nyassi also scored a goal against KC: the game-winning goal came on April 9, 2008 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark … he also has one assist against Sporting
- Juan Toja has also previously scored against KC, a 2007 goal while he was with FC Dallas
- Clyde Simms has recorded two career assists in 19 career appearances against KC … Simms recorded single assists in 2006 and 2007 while a member of D.C. United
- Chris Tierney has one assist against Kansas City, helping set up Shalrie Joseph’s game-winning strike on Oct. 16, 2010
- In 32 appearances (31 starts) against KC, Matt Reis is 11-11-9 with a 1.34 goals against average and seven shutouts
- Reis set his single-game high of 11 saves against KC in a 0-0 draw on July 11, 2009, at Gillette Stadium
- Reis also recorded an assist – his first since 2007 – on the Revs’ only goal in a 1-1 draw on July 30, 2011, at Sporting Park
- On Oct. 16, 2010, Bobby Shuttleworth posted his first-career shutout, a four-save effort against Sporting at Gillette Stadium
PROMOTIONAL EVENTS THIS WEEK
The Revs have scheduled several off-field events this week leading up to the team’s home opener on Saturday:
Monday, March 18: A.J. Soares will feature as a celebrity burrito roller at Anna’s Taqueria (446 Harvard St., Brookline, Mass) … 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. … Soares, an Anna’s fanatic, will roll $10 burritos with all proceeds from his two-hour stint going to Boston Children’s Hospital.
Tuesday, March 19: Clyde Simms will join fellow judges Stephanie Keller (assistant professor at the Berklee School of Music), James Massone (contestant on season two of The Voice) and Erika Van Pelt (finalist on season 11 of American Idol) at the Revolution’s National Anthem Audition Finals at The Lansdowne (5 Lansdowne St., Boston, Mass.) … 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. … a group of finalists, who were selected from among more than 75 submissions, will perform the National Anthem for a chance to sing it at Gillette Stadium this season, including Saturday’s home opener against Sporting KC.
Wednesday, March 20: Chad Barrett, Bilal Duckett and Diego Fagundez will swing by the 2013 Pub Tour stop at CBS Scene (200 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Mass.) … 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. … fans of all ages are invited … the Rev Girls will be on hand and attendees have the chance to win tickets to Saturday’s home opener against Sporting.
Thursday, March 21: Gabe Latigue, Stephen McCarthy, Luis Soffner and Juan Toja will be at the 2013 Turf Tour stop at The Kroc Center (650 Dudley St, Dorchester, Mass.) … 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. … this private event for members of the Kroc Center will feature a clinic run by Revolution Academy coaches, a Q&A session with the players and an autograph session.
REVOLUTION ACADEMY UPDATE
Revs Academy unbeaten against South Central Premier
All three of the Revolution Academy’s youth teams returned to action last weekend, earning a combined 2-0-1 record … the Under-14s started the day with a 5-0 win against South Central Premier … the Under-18s then played to a 1-1 draw, before the Under-16s topped South Central Premier, 3-2 … the teams return home on Saturday, March 23, when the U14s take on FC Westchester before the U18s and U16s host BW Gottschee at Durfee High School in Fall River, Mass.
Following last weekend’s games, the Under-18s are 8-2-2 (26 pts.) overall and rank second in the Northeast Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s East Conference based on points per game … the Under-16s hold a 6-2-4 record (22 pts.) and are currently in fourth place in the division … the Under-14s are now 6-2-0 (18 pts.), which is good for fifth in U.S. Club Soccer’s Northeast Pre-Academy League based on points per game.
Summer Player Development Programs enrolling
The Revolution Academy’s Player Development Programs are now enrolling for summer sessions, with locations all over New England … the Revolution Academy trains players of all abilities in all aspect of the game, including ball mastery, speed of play, coordination and balance and movement with and without the ball … the objective of all the training programs is to replicate the speed, tempo and environment of the Revolution Youth Teams’ training sessions … through the age-appropriate player development sessions, we foster an atmosphere that is competitive, challenging, demanding and fun … encouragement and support from our professional coaching staff allows every player to gain a better understanding of – and continued passion for – the game … more information, including the full summer schedule, is available HERE (.pdf).
