FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – After wrapping up its preseason schedule with an undefeated 6-0-1 record, the New England Revolution opens the 2012 regular season campaign under new head coach Jay Heaps at San Jose at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10, at Buck Shaw Stadium. The match will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet and will also be carried locally on the radio by 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Saturday’s match will mark the only time the two clubs will face off this season. New England is unbeaten (1-0-1) when opening the season at San Jose after a 2-2 draw on April 2, 2005, at Spartan Stadium, and a 1-0 win on March 21, 2005, at Buck Shaw Stadium.
TEAM NOTES
Revs Open 17th Season
The Revs kick off their 17th season on Saturday, entering the year with a 185-214-94 all-time record since the league’s launch in 1996 … New England has been out-scored 771-690 in 493 games, while posting 103 shutouts … the Revs have appeared in the postseason on 10 occasions, including a stretch of eight consecutive playoff berths from 2002 to 2009 before missing the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the last two years (2010-11) … New England is one of nine original MLS teams still playing in MLS.
Starting on West Coast Again
The 2012 season marks the seventh time in the last nine years the Revs will open their season on the West Coast (2004, 2006, 2010 and 2011 at LA; 2005, 2009 and 2012 at San Jose) … the Revs are 1-0-1 in their previous two season openers at San Jose: a 2-2 draw on April 2, 2005 (Spartan Stadium) and a 1-0 win on March 21, 2009 (Buck Shaw Stadium).
Starting the Season…
Heading into Sunday’s opener against San Jose, the Revs are 4-8-4 all-time in MLS season openers, including a 3-8-3 mark on the road … the Revs have only opened an MLS regular season at home on one occasion – a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo at Gillette Stadium on March 29, 2008 … five of the Revs’ last six season openers have resulted in a shutout decision, with New England posting a 3-2-0 record in those matches … in 2011, the Revs posted a 1-1 draw at LA to open the season.
…With a New Coach
For the first time since 2000, a brand-new coach will be patrolling the sideline for the Revolution at the season opener … Jay Heaps will open his first-ever season as the Revolution’s head coach on Saturday at San Jose … the last time a brand new coach was the head coach on opening day was in the 2000 season when Fernando Clavijo began his first season – 13 seasons ago … after Clavijo was fired seven games into the 2002 season, Steve Nicol – who was one of Clavijo’s assistants at the time – took the reins and was then hired full-time in the off-season and continued as head coach for the start of the 2003 season.
Jay Heaps Facts and Figures
Jay Heaps, 35, is the sixth head coach in club history, and is also the second-youngest active coach in MLS (behind D.C. United’s Ben Olsen) … Heaps had a nine-year playing career in MLS, first with the Miami Fusion beginning in 1999 through June 2001, then with New England (June 2001-2009) where he concluded his career before retiring following the 2009 season … Heaps remains the club’s all-time leader in appearances (243, shared with Shalrie Joseph) and minutes (21,619).
Heaps’ Opener Record
As a player for the Revs, Jay Heaps’ Revolution teams went 2-3-2 in eight seasons he was on the field for the season opener (2002-09), including a 1-0-1 mark against San Jose … overall in his career, Heaps’ teams went 3-3-3 all-time in season openers, including a 1-1-1 mark in his three season openers he played while with the Miami Fusion (1999-2001).
Personnel Not Available
Several players will definitely not be available for Saturday’s season opener for various reasons:
Chris Tierney (suspension following red card in 2011 season finale at Toronto)
Jose Moreno (awaiting U.S. P-1 Visa)
Zak Boggs (ankle injury)
Sainey Nyassi (hamstring injury)
Western Results Few and Far Between
Saturday’s match in San Jose gives the Revs an opportunity to snap a 16-game winless streak in matches played in the Mountain or Pacific Time zones, which dates back to September 2009 … since earning a 1-0 win at Seattle on Sept. 26, 2009, New England is 0-11-5 in matches played in the Rockies or on the West Coast, and is just 2-13-5 since the start of 2009 in the two Western-most time zones.
Results Even Tougher in Pacific Games
The Revs will also be looking to snap a lengthy losing streak on the West Coast as the Revs have not won on the West Coast since a 1-0 victory at Seattle on Aug. 20, 2009 … since that game, New England has gone 0-8-2 in West Coast games, including an 0-4-0 record in 2010 and an 0-4-2 record in 2011 … those include matches against Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
More Debuts Coming on Opening Night?
Revolution rookies have had a habit of getting the nod in the starting lineup in season openers – a trend that could continue Saturday … in 2011, both A.J. Soares (center back) and Stephen McCarthy (central midfield) drew starting assignments in last year’s season opener against LA in Carson, Calif. … in 2010, rookies Zack Schilawski and Seth Sinovic started at forward and left back, respectively … in 2009, Kevin Alston (right back) and Darrius Barnes (center back) both earned starts … while no rookies started in the 2008 season opener, the Revs stated three rookies on opening day in 2007 (Wells Thompson, Gary Flood and Adam Cristman).
Preseason Recap
The Revs capped an undefeated preseason last Saturday night after a 0-0 draw against the LA Galaxy in the finals of the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz. … after a scoreless 90 minutes, the Galaxy topped the Revs, 4-2, in penalties to claim the title … leading up to last Saturday’s finale, the Revs were the only undefeated team in the tournament, going 3-0-0 in the round-robin stage with wins over LA (3-2 on Feb. 22), New York (2-0 on Feb. 25) and Real Salt Lake (2-1 on Feb. 29) … earlier in preseason, the Revs also took a 2-1 win over PDL side FC Tucson (2-1 on Jan. 28) and two wins against Boston College (3-0 on Feb. 10 and 2-1 on Feb. 15).
2012 Preseason Results
Jan. 28 FC Tucson W, 2-1 Nyassi (Rowe), Mansally (PK)
Feb. 10 Boston College W, 3-0 Rowe (Feilhaber), Rowe (Purdie), Roach (ua)
Feb. 15 Boston College W, 2-1 Purdie (Rowe), Joseph (Rowe)
Feb. 22 LA Galaxy W, 3-2 Feilhaber (ua), Lozano (Rowe), White* (Purdie)
Feb. 25 New York Red Bulls W, 2-0 Rowe (ua), Rowe (Sène)
Feb. 29 Real Salt Lake W, 2-1 Fagundez (Schilawski), Runstrom(ua)
March 3 LA Galaxy T, 0-0 none (LA won, 4-2, in penalties)
guest/unsigned player
Happy Trails
The Revs completed a seven-game preseason schedule by outscoring their opponents, 14-5 … in the six games in which the team scored during regulation, the Revolution scored the first goals and never trailed during the game, going 6-0-0 when scoring first.
Baby-Faced Assassin
Rookie midfielder Kelyn Rowe – age 20, whom the Revs selected with the third overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft out of UCLA – was the Revs’ surprising leading scorer in preseason … with four goals and four assists in six games played, Rowe factored in all but two of the team’s seven goals in the preseason … in fact, Rowe factored in his first Revs goal just 38 minutes into his competitive action after sending a cross in against FC Tucson which Sainey Nyassi converted … in two games against Boston College, Rowe recorded two goals (on Feb. 10) and two assists (on Feb. 15) in a pair of wins … at the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup, Rowe had one assist against LA on Feb. 22, and both goals against New York on Feb. 25.
Winning Rights to Nguyen
The Revs picked up U.S. National Team veteran Lee Nguyen on Friday, March 2, through the Waiver Draft after the midfielder was waived by Vancouver … Nguyen originally signed with MLS in December 2011 and Vancouver won a lottery for his player rights … Vancouver then waived Nguyen on March 1, and the Revs selected him the next day … after one stand-out season at Indiana, Nguyen turned pro and signed with PSV Eindhoven and then moved to Randers FC in the Danish SuperLiga … after four years in Europe, Nguyen moved to Vietnam, playing for Joang Anh Gia and Becamex Binh Duong … Nguyen earned several caps with the U.S. National Team in 2007 and was a part of the 2007 Copa America squad.
Two Waived on Monday
The Revs waived two players on Monday: midfielder Ryan Kinne and forward Zack Schilawski … Kinne made one MLS appearance after the club selected him in the third round (42nd overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft … Schilawski made 50 appearances, including 28 starts, while scoring six goals and adding one assist … the club picked Schilawski in the first round (ninth overall) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
Mansally Gets 10th Cap
Gambia internationals Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi were called up to the Gambia National Team for its Feb. 29 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria … while Nyassi was unable to travel because of a hamstring injury, Mansally came on as a substitute to earn his 10th cap with Gambia in the 2-1 loss in Banjul, Gambia.
College Ticket Program Announced
Available only to students with a valid college ID, the Revs’ new college student season ticket holders will receive special benefits including their own section at Revolution home games … for $99, the 17-game package includes one ticket to every regular-season home game, a limited edition college student season ticket holder t-shirt and access to international games before they go on sale to the general public “College Corner” – the designated section for college student season ticket holders – will be located near The Fort, which is home to the Revolution’s supporters groups.
2012 Pub Tour on Tap
Revs players will stop by several of the region's top bars and pubs ahead of the first home game of the season as part of the official 2012 Pub Tour … there is no cover charge for the Revs' events and they are open to the general public, ages 21 and older:
March 12 – Phoenix Landing (Cambridge, Mass.) – Kevin Alston, Benny Feilhaber, Ryan Guy, Shalrie Joseph
March 20 – Banshee (Dorchester, Mass.) – Darrius Barnes, Saer Sène, A.J. Soares, Chris Tierney
March 21 – Ri Ra (Providence, R.I.) – Matt Reis, Kelyn Rowe, Clyde Simms, Jay Heaps
YOUTH TEAMS SCHEDULE & UPDATE
Tuesday, March 5
5 p.m. – Training (Dana-Farber Field House)
Wednesday, March 6
5 p.m. – Training (Dana-Farber Field House)
Thursday, March 7
5 p.m. – Training (Dana-Farber Field House)
Youth teams play friendly against division opponent
The youth teams played a series of three 30-45-minute friendly games against division opponent Oakwood SC on Sunday, March 4, at TD Bank Oakwood Soccer Park in Portland, Conn. … the teams drew, 2-2, on aggregate with goals from Ramiro Osorio (Hooksett, N.H.) – assisted by Colin Sweeny (Southborough, Mass.) – and Matt Bitchell (Byfield, Mass.) – assisted by Devin Devoy (North Attleborough, Mass.) … the games kicked off the Revs’ final week of preparations before resuming their fourth season as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
South Africa travel roster announced
The youth development program has announced its 18-player Under-17 travel squad for the 2012 Future Champions Gauteng Tournament ... the tournament will be held Monday, March 26, through Saturday, March 31, in Johannesburg, South Africa and will feature 12 youth clubs from five different continents ... for the full travel roster, click HERE.
Youth teams resume season March 10
Kicking off the second leg of the 2011-12 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, the youth teams will take on D.C. United at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Md., on Saturday, March 10 ... both teams finished the 2011 portion of the season at the top of the Northeast Division of the East Conference: the U18s hold a 4-1-0 record (12 pts.), while the U16s are 3-2-0 (9 pts.).
