NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 3, COLUMBUS CREW 3
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the 3-3 tie:
"It was absolutely disappointing. I think we were a bit naive when we were ahead 3-2. They were breaking on us the whole game and at 3-2 we really needed to be able to see the game out. I think we just had to be smart. Part of the problem is enthusiasm, but you have to be smart as well. I think we have to be smarter and we have to be able to close a game. That's the big thing. The last three goals we coughed the ball up unnecessarily. Again, on the second goal the ball was caught out and we had no one in the middle of the park. (Our players have) taken the chances. They've scored three goals and put the ball into the box for the finish. I feel as thought we've contributed quite a bit from our own downfall."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION FORWARD ADAM CRISTMAN
On earning a tie against Columbus:
"It's disappointing to go out the way we did. To score three goals and give up the late one in the first half, it's just not real good discipline to finish it off. Overall, I thought we played pretty well, and I thought we deserved to win. We're not in a terrible position. We tied and we still got a point. But, I think the key for this team is to just to be able to stay disciplined and stay focused through the games. This same thing kind of happened against Kansas City two games ago. It's important for us that if we're going to be a good championship team that you've got to build that character and stick with it."
On his first two-goal game in MLS:
"It felt really good playing with Pat (Noonan). I think we were really able to move well, and get the defenders out of position and really terrorize them. It was pretty exciting."
On being without Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston and Michael Parkhurst:
"Yeah, we (missed) a little bit of the experience and how to finish out a game. (Columbus) came out with a little more of a spark (in the second half). They did what they needed to tie the game. It's a credit to them. (Twellman, Ralston, and Parkhurst) would've been helpful in that situation that we were in, but, these guys all did well. They're pros, and they know how to do their job."
COLUMBUS CREW HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On earning the road point and how the team's character helped the result:
"It was a great [result], it was great to get the first goal. We started the game doing the things we wanted to do and then you have the counterattack goal. That's like déjà vu, it's been the way our season has been going. We lost our heads and concentration and gave up two more goals, but I was proud of our character overcoming all that we had to overcome tonight. Hopefully we build on this."
On his decision to start Will Hesmer in goal:
"We just figured we needed to change something. (Goalkeeper Andy) Gruenebaum has been playing well when he's been in there but we only have one win to show for it. It was just a decision on my part because we needed to shake things up to get the results we believe we are capable of getting."
COLUMBUS CREW GOALKEEPER WILL HESMER
On getting the start:
"(Head coach) Sigi (Schmid) took me aside on Thursday and told me that I was going to give it a go on Saturday. We had been struggling and he told me it was time for a change, and maybe that I could be the one to change things and help out with that, and I think I could contribute."
On his team's effort after giving up the three first-half goals:
"Obviously it wasn't an ideal start. New England was taking it to us in the first half with giving up three goals, but fortunately my team was able to come back from that and get us a point on the road.
On his first start in quite some time:
"It was good to get out there but it was tough giving up three goals. I didn't feel too out of place, I felt pretty sharp. The first and third goals were real tough for me as a goalkeeper to stop. The first was a deflection off of Chad (Marshall). He did a great job getting to the ball, but it just took a bad bounce. The second goal was one as a goalkeeper I'd like to think I can stop and it can be a difference between a win and a loss."
On earning a point on the road:
"It was huge, don't let me take away from that. The character of this group really shined through in the second half. I think you can see that with the season we've been having and then being down two goals in the second half and battling back."
On what midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto brings to the team:
"He's a great player who brings a lot of experience. He can make a lot of things happen with the ball at his feet, and also delivers on set pieces. His English is coming along, and once he gets that down we'll be great."
