FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (11-11-8, 41 pts.) opens the final month of the regular season with a trip to Red Bull Arena to take on the New York Red Bulls (15-9-7, 52 pts.) on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with Comcast SportsNet broadcasting the game live on TV, and 98.5 The Sports Hub carrying the game on the radio.

The Revs enter Week 32 of MLS regular-season play just one point out of the fifth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference – as only four points separate teams currently sitting fourth through eighth – while New York, the best team in MLS, sits atop the Eastern Conference table.

This will be the third and final meeting between the two clubs this season. New York earned a 4-1 win at Red Bull Arena on April 20, before the two teams played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on May 11.

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
Team MVP vote closes Saturday following New York game

Fan voting for the 2013 Revolution Most Valuable Player is currently open, but will close at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 5 … fans can register their first-, second- and third-place votes, and then enter to win a Revs prize pack after submitting their choices … the 2013 Revolution awards – including the fan-voted MVP, media-voted best defender and the humanitarian of the year award – will be announced in a pregame ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19, before the Revolution host the Columbus Crew at Gillette Stadium … fans can vote HERE.

Saturday’s Storyline

This Saturday, the Revs face the MLS-leading New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena … the Revs, who are in the hunt for a playoff berth for the first time since 2009, travel to face the league- and East-leading Red Bulls at 7 p.m. on Saturday … the Revs have never won at Red Bull Arena, going 0-4-0 in MLS regular-season action since the facility opened in 2010 … earlier this season, New England suffered a 4-1 loss in Harrison, N.J., on April 20, before the teams played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on May 11 … this is the first time that the Revs will play two MLS matches in one season at Red Bull Arena since it opened in 2010.

The Hunt for “Red Line” October

The Revs enter the weekend just outside the playoff picture, looking in one point back of fifth-place Philadelphia – which is currently above the “red line” … a total of four points separate the fourth through eighth place teams in the Eastern Conference, with Houston (44 pts.), Philadelphia (42 pts.), New England and Columbus (41 pts.) and Chicago (40 pts.) all in striking distance of the final two playoff spots.

Another shuffle in the standings

Following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo, the Revs fell just outside the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference playoff race … following last weekend’s results, a total of five teams switched places with the Revs going from fourth to seventh, Chicago going sixth to eighth, Philadelphia going seventh to fifth and Columbus going from eighth to sixth. … with a 11-11-8 record (41 pts.), the Revs are tied for sixth place with the Columbus Crew (12-14-5, 41 pts.) … the Crew owns the first tiebreaker (wins) with New England, having 12 to the Revs’ 11.

Eastern Conference Standings (Entering Week 32):

1. New York Red Bulls – 15-9-7, 52 pts.

2. Sporting Kansas City – 14-10-6, 48 pts.

3. Montreal Impact – 13-9-7, 46 pts.

4. Houston Dynamo – 12-10-8, 44 pts.

5. Philadelphia Union – 11-10-9, 42 pts.

6. Columbus Crew – 12-14-5, 41 pts.

7. New England Revolution (11-11-8, 41 pts.)

8. Chicago Fire (11-12-7, 40 pts.)

Keep the bags packed

With only four weeks remaining the MLS schedule, the Revs will close out the season with three of the team’s final four games on the road … the team opens the month with back-to-back road games in New York on Oct. 5 and Montreal on Oct. 12, before closing the season in Columbus on Oct. 27 … the Revs’ only home game left is on Oct. 19, when the team hosts Columbus.

Happy trails

The Revs will play back-to-back road games the next two weekends … the Revs have not played consecutive games on the road since a three-game stretch from July 17 to July 27 (at Colorado on July 17, at Columbus on July 20 and at D.C. on July 27), in which the Revs went 2-1-0 … Saturday’s match in New York will be the third and final meeting between the two clubs this season … the Revs then make their only trip to Montreal’s Saputo Stadium on Oct. 12 for the second and final meeting with the Impact in the regular season … so far this season, the Revs have gone a combined 0-2-1 against New York and Montreal.

That’s more like it

After Sept. 8 and Sept. 14 (vs. Montreal and at Chicago), when the team surrendered seven goals in two games, the Revs have locked it down in the back to close out the month … the league’s top defense for much of this season, the Revs enter Week 32 on the upswing after back-to-back games allowing only single goals … the Revs are now fifth in goals against average (1.13) and tied for first in shutouts (12) … the team is also fifth in goals allowed (34) … away from home, the team has maintained its stout defensive work … the Revs rank fifth in road goals against average (1.43) and are tied for fourth in road goals allowed (20).

Sene firing on all cylinders …

Saer Sene scored his fifth goal of the season against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night and extended his point streak to four games … beginning on Sept. 8 when he recorded an assist against Montreal, Sene then had a goal and an assist at Chicago (Sept. 14), an assist against D.C. (Sept. 21) and a goal against Houston on Saturday … Sene – who led the team in scoring last season with 11 goals and three assists – has five goals and five assists on the season … he is fourth on the team in goals and tied for fourth in assists.

… and up for Goal of the Week

Saer Sene’s left-footed curler that beat Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall is one of five nominees up for Goal of the Week for Week 31 … Sene took a pass from Lee Nguyen inside the 18 and hit a one-time, left-footed shot that beat Hall and gave the Revs a 1-0 lead … fans can vote for Sene’s goal online at mlssoccer.com or by texting G3 to 22442. … goal of the week voting is open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Back-to-back for Nguyen

Lee Nguyen recorded his sixth assist of the season against Houston on Saturday as he set up Saer Sene’s fifth goal of the season … Nguyen has now recorded points in consecutive games … the midfielder scored the game-winning goal against D.C. United on Sept. 21, before dishing out an assist on Saturday … Nguyen now has three goals and six assists on the season.

A week of 250 for Reis

Matt Reis made his 250th appearance in a New England uniform on Saturday night, becoming just the second Revs player to reach that mark … he is ranked second on the Revolution’s career appearance chart, behind leader Shalrie Joseph (261, 2003-2012) … Reis also enters Saturday’s game in New York with 249 starts for New England, and should he return between the posts this Saturday, he will hit 250 starts for New England, as well … Reis is also ranked second on the Revolution’s career starts list, also behind Joseph (254).

Reis all about results

Matt Reis made his eighth appearance of the season – and his 250th as a member of the Revs – on Saturday against Houston and remains unbeaten this season … through eight appearances, Reis is 4-0-3 with a goals against average of 0.57 and three shutouts.

Tierney moving up the charts

Chris Tierney continued his climb up the all-time Revs career charts … the defender moved into a tie for eighth place on the club’s career starts chart, tying Kevin Alston with his 117th start against Houston on Saturday night … Tierney is currently ranked in the top 10 in nine different club career records, including  appearances (eighth, 128), minutes played (ninth, 10,279), assists (eighth, 21), game-winning assists (third, 10), corner kicks (third, 212), assists per game (fifth, 0.16) and assists per 90 minutes (fifth, 0.18) … should he start and play into the 19th minute on Saturday at New York, Tierney will also pass Michael Parkhurst (2005-08) and move into eighth place on the club’s minutes played chart.

Play, Eat, Score! With Revs, Papa Gino’s

All season, the Revolution and Papa Gino's will be giving away a prize package to New England soccer teams … the prize packages include: an appearance by a Revolution player at the team’s soccer practice, 50 Revolution tickets, 20 drawstring bags, 20 water bottles, 10 large Papa Gino’s pizzas and 20 Papa Gino’s small cheese pizza coupons … for a chance to win, simply explain WHY your team should have a Revolution player deliver the prize package to a practice … eight (8) winners will be selected throughout the season to win … enter HERE.

Sovereign | Santander’s “Goals for Charity” program in full swing

Sovereign | Santander, the official bank of the New England Revolution, has launched the “Goals for Charity” campaign to coincide with the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 and the second half of the Revolution season … in the program, Sovereign | Santander will contribute $500 for every goal scored during the Gold Cup 2013 and Revolution games between July 6 and October 17 (a total up to $50,000) to three Boston non-profit organizations: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Cradles to Crayons and Camp Harborview.

THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT INFO

Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls (regular season): 26-20-14

Home: 18-4-7

Away: 8-16-7

Team Notes against New York

• Saturday’s game will mark the 61st regular-season meeting and 70th all-time between the Revolution and Red Bulls in MLS regular-season, postseason and tournament action combined
• The Red Bulls are the Revs’ second-most played opponent in club history, behind D.C. United, which the Revs have faced 70 times in MLS, postseason and tournament play
• The Revs lead the all-time, regular-season series with the New York Red Bulls (formerly the New York/New Jersey MetroStars), 26-20-14On the road, the Revs are 8-16-7 against New York all time in the MLS regular season, including an 0-4-0 record at Red Bull Arena
• Since New York re-branded as the Red Bulls in 2006, the Revs have not lost to New York at home, posting a 6-0-4 record at Gillette Stadium, and an overall 8-4-9 league record … all four losses against the “Red Bulls” have come at Red Bull ArenaSaturday’s match is the third and final regular-season meeting between the two clubs this year … the Red Bulls won the first game of the three-game 2013 season series, a 4-1 victory on April 20 at Red Bull Arena … it was the first time the Revs allowed four or more goals to New York since September 17, 2005, a 5-4 MetroStars win at Giants Stadium … the two teams then played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on May 11
• Six of the last nine games have been one-goal games or draws, dating back to May 29, 2010 … in those six close games, the Revs are 1-2-3New England and New York have met in the postseason three times – all since 2003 – and the Revs have eliminated New York on each occasion … the clubs most recent playoff encounter was in the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, which the Revs won, 1-0, on aggregate

Player Notes against New York

• Forward Juan Agudelo began his professional career with the Red Bulls, becoming the club’s first-ever Homegrown signing to debut for the first team in 2010 ... Agudelo made  33 appearances between 2010 and 2012, scoring six goals and adding two assists with New York
• Chad Barrett has scored four goals against New York, all coming in 2008 – two each while playing with Chicago and Toronto
• Andy Dorman, despite not playing a game against New York since 2007, is the Revs’ leading active scorer against the Red Bulls with two goals … Dorman’s last goal against the Red Bulls came on July 7, 2007, in a 1-0 win at Giants Stadium
• Diego Fagundez has one goal in four appearances against New York … Fagundez scored in the team’s 1-1 draw on May 11
• Lee Nguyen has one goal in three appearances against New York … Nguyen scored the game-winner on July 8, 2012, in Foxborough
• Jerry Bengtson scored his first career goal in his MLS debut against New York when the two teams met on July 8, 2012
• Chris Tierney leads all current Revolution players with three assists in eight appearances – including the game-winning assist on July 8, 2012
• Matt Reis is 10-4-7 in his Revolution career against the Red Bulls, posting a 1.27 goals against average and six shutouts
• Bobby Shuttleworth is 2-2-3 in his Revolution career against New York, with a 1.68 goals against average and one shutout … Shuttleworth – a native of Tonawanda, N.Y. (a Buffalo suburb) – was in goal for both previous games against New York this season