Weekly Update: April 9, 2012

Saer Sene vs. Portland Timbers

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (2-3-0, 6 pts.) returns home to face rival D.C. United (1-2-2, 5 pts.) at 4 p.m. ET, on Saturday, April 14, at Gillette Stadium. The match will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet and will also be carried locally on the radio on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2.


Saturday’s match will mark the first of three meetings between the two clubs this year, with two road matches scheduled on May 26, and Sept. 15, at RFK Stadium. The Revs swept the 2011 regular-season series after winning their home opener, 2-1, on March 26, and then shutting out United on the road, 1-0, on July 20.


SERIES INFORMATION VS. D.C. United
Team Notes vs. D.C. United

Saturday’s match is the 57th all-time, regular-season meeting between the Revolution and D.C. United … this will be the 64th overall meeting between the two clubs, who have played four MLS Cup matches and three U.S.


Open contests


  • D.C. leads the all-time, regular season series between the two clubs, 25-23-8 ... the Revs own a 15-9-4 advantage in Foxborough – including an 9-3-4 record at Gillette Stadium
  • New England and United will meet three times this year: Saturday at Gillette Stadium, followed by two road matches on May 26, and Sept. 15, at RFK Stadium … this will mark the first time since 2008 that the teams will meet more than two times in the regular season
  • The Revs enter Saturday with a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) against United since the start of the 2009 season ... last season, the Revs won their home opener, 2-1, on March 26, and later picked up their first road victory of the season, a 1-0 win at D.C., on July 20
  • The Revs’ season-series win in 2011 marked the first time either team has won three consecutive season series … United won the season-series in back-to-back seasons in 1997 and 1998 and 2003 and 2004, while the
  • Revs picked up their first consecutive back-to-back season series wins in 2009 and 2010, before winning the season series again last year
  • Seven of the last eight meetings have been one-goal games – dating back to Aug. 20, 2008 … the Revs’ 2-0 win on April 3, 2010 was the largest winning margin for either team during this stretch
  • The teams have met in three postseason series, with D.C. holding a 2-1-1 edge in those matches ... however, the Revs defeated United, 1-0, in the most recent playoff meeting on Nov. 5, 2006, to win the Eastern Conference Championship at RFK Stadium and earn a berth in the MLS Cup 2006
  • The clubs also met in the 2011 U.S. Open Cup bracket with the Revs winning, 3-2, on April 26, 2011, at Maryland SoccerPlex in an MLS Play-In match.


Player Notes vs. D.C. United

  • Shalrie Joseph leads all current Revs players with four goals against D.C. in 26 appearances ... last year in the teams’ meeting at Gillette Stadium, he recorded one goal (penalty kick) and one assist
  • Kenny Mansally has scored two goals and one assist in six career games against D.C. … Mansally scored both of those goals in a two-minute span during New England’s 2-0 win at RFK Stadium in the 2010 series opener on April 3
  • Stephen McCarthy scored the lone goal – and earned his first career game-winning goal – last season in the Revs’ 1-0 win at RFK Stadium on July 20
  • Chris Tierney has recorded the game-winning assist in three of the last four meetings against D.C. … last season, Tierney assisted Stephen McCarthy in the game’s only goal on July 20, and picked up game-winning assists in both meetings with D.C. in 2010: feeding Kenny Mansally‘s opening tally in a 2-0 win on April 3, and setting up Pat Phelan for the only goal of a 1-0 win on Aug. 7
  • Matt Reis is the Revs’ all-time leader in games played in goal against United with 24 ... Reis has posted a 9-9-6 record all-time against D.C., with five shutouts and a 1.37 goals against average
  • Clyde Simms made 182 appearances – including 147 starts – in seven seasons with D.C. United, from 2005-2011 … the Revs selected Simms in Stage 2 of the 2011 Re-Entry Process
  • Blake Brettschneider made 15 appearances in his rookie season with United in 2011, scoring one goal and recording two assists … the Revs signed Brettschneider on March 6, 2012


TEAM NOTES

Rivalry with Great History
Saturday’s game will mark the first of three regular season games this season in the storied rivalry against D.C. United – tied with New York for the Revs’ most-played opponent all-time … the Revs have played D.C. on 63 previous occasions, including 56 times in MLS regular-season action … D.C. leads the all-time, regular-season series, 25-23-8, but the Revs have held a 15-9-4 advantage in Foxborough – including an 9-3-4 record at Gillette Stadium.


Revs’ Recent Success Against United
The Revs enter Saturday’s contest with a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) against United since the start of the 2009 season … the Revs picked up key wins against United during the 2011 season, winning their home opener, 2-1, on March 26, and later picking up the team’s first road win of the season, 1-0, on July 20, at RFK Stadium … the Revs’ season-series win in 2011 marked the first time either team has won three consecutive season series.


Revs Through Fast Five
Five games into the Jay Heaps era, the Revs (2-3-0, 6 pts.) sit in a three-way tie for third place in the Eastern Conference with Houston and Columbus, behind leaders Kansas City (5-0-0, 15 pts.) and New York (3-2-0, 9 pts.) … despite losing the first two matches of the season, the Revs have won two of their last three to finish the first five games with two wins for the 14th time in club history … last season’s start (1-1-3, 6 pts.) marked the first time since 2004 that the Revs did not open the season with two wins through five contests.


Putting Shots on Net, But Scoring is Easier Said Than Done
The Revs rank fifth in MLS for shots on goal with 26, nine behind leader Montreal (35 shots on goal, 6 GP), after putting five shots on frame last Thursday in Dallas … however, while the Revs are getting shots on goal, they aren’t able to convert … the Revs scoring percentage of .077, ranks 12th in the league, as leader New York has a .230 scoring percentage (14 goals on 61 shots).


Defense, Reis Keeping Revs in Games
The Revs were shut out for the third time this season on Thursday at Dallas, losing 1-0 behind a late stoppage-time goal … however, for the third straight week, the team’s defensive effort kept the team in the game, allowing just two goals in two games … since the 3-0 loss to Kansas City on March 17, the Revs’ defense – anchored by goalkeeper Matt Reis - has allowed 0.67 goals per game while Reis has made nine saves.


Defense Only Goes So Far
The team has had one multiple-goal effort this season – a 3-1 win at LA on March 31 … with just four goals in five games -- an 0.80 goals per game average – the Revs are one of six teams in MLS to average less than one goal per game: Montreal (0.83), Vancouver (0.80), Chicago (0.67), Houston (0.67), Chivas USA (0.60), Philadelphia (0.50) and Toronto (0.50) … the Revs, however, are the only team in the group that has recorded a three-goal game.


Guy Steps Forward
Ryan Guy has become a familiar face at forward, starting alongside Saer Sène in the last two games … Guy made substitute appearances at midfield in the team’s first two matches before starting on the wing in the home opener … he later recorded his first career assist in his first start at forward at LA, when his cross was headed home by Sène.


Reis Sitting on Milestone’s Doorstep
Matt Reis enters Saturday’s match against D.C. with 99 career victories, one shy of the 100-win milestone … when he reaches win number 100, Reis will become just the sixth goalkeeper in MLS history to reach the 100-win mark, joining Kevin Hartman (173), Zach Thornton (131), Nick Rimando (126), Joe Cannon (109) and Scott Garlick (107) … Reis won 17 games with the Galaxy from 1998 to 2002 before earning his last 82 wins with the Revolution.


And Moreno Makes 12
When he checked in to Thursday’s game at Dallas in the 78th minute, Jose Moreno became the 12th new player to make his Revolution debut in 2012 … five games into the season, the Revs are one debut shy from their 13-player total in 2011 … Blake Brettschneider, Fernando Cardenas, Flo Lechner, John Lozano, Moreno, Lee Nguyen, Tyler Polak, Alec Purdie, Kelyn Rowe, Saer Sène, Clyde Simms and Jeremiah White have all make their Revolution debuts so far this season.


Pub Tour is Back on Wednesday
The 2012 Revolution Pub Tour continues this week as Flo Lechner, Lee Nguyen and A.J. Soares will be on hand to meet with fans from 7 to 9 p.m., on Wednesday, April 11, at CBS Scene at Patriot Place in Foxborough … the 2012 Revolution Pub Tour has already made three stops throughout New England at the area’s top bars, giving fans a chance to mix and mingle with their favorite Revolution stars.


Sports-Themed Career Fair on Saturday
The Revolution will join Kraft Sports Group for the Sport Management and Entertainment Career Fair from noon to 3 p.m., this Saturday, April 14, at Gillette Stadium … Revolution President Brian Bilello will join a panel of sports business experts and the event will offer networking opportunities for current students and prospective employees … registration for the event is $25 (before Thursday, April 12), and the price of admission includes a ticket to the Revolution match against D.C. United at 4 p.m.. Registration information and details can be found HERE.