The New England Revolution hosts Game Two of its Eastern Conference Semifinal Series on Saturday, Nov. 3, when the team welcomes the New York Red Bulls for the crucial second game of the teams' two-game, total-goals semifinal series. The teams are knotted at 0-0 on aggregate entering Game Two after the teams played to a scoreless draw at Giants Stadium last Saturday.
Saturday's kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. Fox Soccer Channel will televise the game nationally, and will include a 30-minute pregame show that begins at 7 p.m. and a 30-minute postgame show.
The Revs will train four days this week in preparation for Saturday's game, conducting sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. All sessions will begin at 10 a.m. and will be held on the Lower Practice Field at Gillette Stadium, with the exception of Friday's session, which will be held on the main stadium field.
For all sessions, media should enter the stadium through Security Command (south end of Gillette Stadium through the bank of doors under the red awning) and check in at the command center. Media must RSVP to the Revs Communications office by the close of business the day prior to guarantee admittance to the session.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION SCHEDULE: OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4
Monday, Oct. 29 - OFF
Tuesday, Oct. 30 - Training on Lower Practice Field (Gillette Stadium), 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 31 - Training on Lower Practice Field (Gillette Stadium), 10 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 1 - Training on Lower Practice Field (Gillette Stadium), 10 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 2 - Training on Gillette Stadium main field, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3 - vs. New York Red Bulls (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.), 7:30 p.m. - TV: Fox Soccer Channel (pregame show at 7 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 4 - OFF
TEAM NOTES VS. NEW YORK
• The Revs lead the all-time series against the New York Red Bulls (formerly New York/New Jersey MetroStars and MetroStars), 23-16-7 ... since the start of the 2005 season, the Revs are 7-1-3 against the New York area club in the regular season, and are undefeated in the last eight regular-season meetings (6-0-2)
• During the regular season, the Revs hold a 15-4-3 advantage in home matches against New York ... New England is 8-12-4 against New York on the road
• New York has not won in Foxborough - in any game - since June 29, 2002, a span of 12 matches overall ... the Revs have a record of 9-0-3 in that stretch, including a 1-0-1 mark in playoff matches ... New England has also out-scored New York 28-15 in that undefeated run (24-13 in regular-season action, 4-2 in postseason action)
• The Revs went 2-0-1 against New York this year in the regular season ... all three matches were played since mid-July
• The Revs have played New York more than any other MLS team in regular-season and postseason action combined, facing the Red Bulls 51 times ... the Revs have also faced D.C. 51 times between the regular season and the playoffs
TEAM PLAYOFF NOTES VS. NEW YORK
• The Revs and New York enter Saturday's game knotted at 0-0 on aggregate ... the winner of Saturday's match advances to the Eastern Conference Championship
• The Revolution have won both of the teams' prior playoff series, going 2-1-1 in those four matches, all coming in Eastern Conference Semifinal Series
• Revs claimed a victory in the last home playoff meeting between the clubs - on Oct. 29, 2005, at Gillette Stadium - when New England earned a 3-1 win and clinched the semifinal series, coming back from a 2-0 aggregate deficit
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES VS. NEW YORK
• Taylor Twellman is the Revs' all-time leading scorer against the New York area club, scoring 12 career goals while adding five assists
• Until Taylor Twellman overtook him this season, Pat Noonan was the club's leading scorer against the Red Bulls with 11 goals and six assists ... four of Noonan's goals have been game-winners, including the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 9 last season ... Noonan also posted his first career hat trick against New York on Oct. 25, 2003, in his rookie season
• Pat Noonan is also the team's leading postseason scorer against New York, hitting for three goals in four prior meetings, including the series-tying goal at Gillette Stadium in 2005.
• Steve Ralston is also New England's career leader in assists against New York, recording 12 as a member of the Revs, a majority of his 20 career assists against the Red Bulls
• Joe Franchino (24) and Jay Heaps (22) are the Revs' career leaders in games played and games started against New York
• Matt Reis is 9-2-4 in his New England career against the Red Bulls, posting a 1.38 goals against average with five shutouts
NEWS & NOTES
WIN AND ADVANCE ... THAT'S IT
After a 0-0 draw in Game One of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, the two-game, total-goals series moves to Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3 ... the winner of this Saturday's game will advance to next week's Eastern Conference Championship.
ONLY HIGH SEED TO GET A RESULT
After the first week of playoff action, the Revolution was the only higher-seeded team that earned a result on the road ... East No. 1 D.C., West No. 1 Chivas USA and West No. 2 Houston all suffered 1-0 losses away from home last weekend ... the Revs enter Game Two as the only home team that does not have to overcome a deficit on its home field.
FORTRESS FOXBOROUGH IN POSTSEASON
The Revolution has been outstanding at home in its playoff history, compiling a sterling 7-0-4 record in postseason matches in Foxborough, including a 6-0-3 mark at Gillette Stadium (MLS lists MLS Cup 2002 as a neutral game, even though the Revs played at Gillette Stadium) ... the Revs have out-scored their opponents 17-7 in 11 games at home and have posted five defensive shutouts ... the Revs have scored two or more goals six times at home in the postseason, while limiting opponents to one goal or fewer in 10 of 11 games played in Foxborough.
SHUTOUT SUPREME
Although the Revs posted 10 shutouts in the regular season, they only had two in the final third of the year, the last coming on Sept. 29 against Colorado ... the Revs' shutout at New York in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series was their second in their last three postseason games and Matt Reis' fourth in the postseason for the Revs (fifth overall in his career).
PLAYOFF PROCEDURES
New England and New York are tied at 0-0 headed into Game Two of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series ... should the teams still remain tied in total goals after this Saturday's 90-minute game, the teams would play a 30-minute mini-game (two 15-minute halves) immediately following Game Two to determine a series winner ... should the total goals still remain tied after the mini-game, penalty kicks would be used to determine the winner ... in the event penalties are needed, they would be taken at the north (lighthouse or TV left) end of the field in front of the Revs' supporters in "The Fort."
RECORD STREAK ON THE LINE
Should the Revolution advance to the Eastern Conference Championship, it would mark their sixth successive trip to the eastern title game ... already tied with Los Angeles (1998-2002) for the MLS record for consecutive appearances in the conference championship, an appearance this season would give the Revs into sole possession of that record own having advanced to the penultimate round of play every year since 2002.
PLAYOFF SUCCESS
Now in the midst of its eighth MLS Cup Playoffs campaign, the Revolution is still searching for the team's first-ever MLS Cup victory ... the Revs have seen tremendous playoff success recently, having played in:
• three of the last five MLS Cup Championship matches
• five straight Eastern Conference Championship matches (tied for MLS record)
• six straight MLS Cup Playoffs
RALSTON ONLY REMAINING RING-LESS MLS "ORIGINAL"
As one of seven remaining MLS "Originals" - players who have played every season in MLS since its inception in 1996 - Steve Ralston has seen a lot of time, both in the regular season and in the playoffs ... however, Ralston is the only remaining MLS "Original" who has not won an MLS Cup with any of his teams: Chris Armas (CHI in 1998), Jesse Marsch (DC in 1996 and 1997, CHI in 1998), Cobi Jones (LA in 2002 and 2005), Jaime Moreno (DC in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), Ante Razov (CHI in 1998) and Eddie Pope (DC in 1996, 1997 and 1999).
REVS CHOCK FULL OF AWARD FINALISTS
Four members of the Revolution were named finalists for five different MLS awards on Monday ... defender Michael Parkhurst is a finalist for Defender of the Year, as well as the Fair Play Award ... forward Pat Noonan is a finalist for the Comeback Player of the Year ... goalkeeper Matt Reis is a finalist for Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year ... forward Adam Cristman is a finalist for Gatorade Rookie of the Year ... with five finalists in eight award categories, the Revolution is the most-represented team among the award finalists.
