If there was one thing the New England Revolution made clear Saturday night, it's that 2006 is the start of a brand new season.
Even though the Revs picked up right where they left off a year ago -- with the Los Angeles Galaxy on the other side of the field -- 2005 has little bearing on this season.
The Revolution beat the Galaxy 1-0 five months after losing to the Galaxy by the same score in MLS Cup 2005. For all intents and purposes, however, that game is ancient history.
"Some of the other players might (have thought about last year). I didn't think about it," Revs defender Daniel Hernandez said. "It was just the first game of the season for me. (Last year) wasn't really in my mind."
The Galaxy might have provided the Revs with some extra motivation. Before the game, the Galaxy were presented with their MLS Cup championship rings in a ceremony that was performed while the Revolution players waited for the start of the match. But Revs coach Steve Nicol dismissed the notion that rings or any ceremony fueled his club's fire.
"I'd like to think that we don't need extra things to get us going. I'd like to think that we're prepared and ready to go anyway," Nicol said. "I don't think it was any extra because of that."
Clint Dempsey scored the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute after slipping past the Galaxy defense and knocking in a header off a well-placed free kick from Andy Dorman. Dempsey afterward slid and put his hands behind him in what he said was a mock arrest as his teammates swarmed to congratulate him.
But even his goal did little to take the sting off of last season.
"It was a little bit of payback but at the same time they've got the rings and we don't," Dempsey said. "This was just a little battle that we won and hopefully we can add upon it ... but you can't really say that this is as good as a ring."
The Revs were without Michael Parkhurst due to a thigh strain. Otherwise, it was the same club that took the field at Pizza Hut Park for MLS Cup. Against the Galaxy on Saturday, the Revolution did well to bottle up Landon Donovan. The Galaxy standout had few touches and managed just one shot. Donovan's strike partner Herculez Gomez did little with the touches he had.
With Donovan a non-factor for much of the game, keeping the Galaxy attackers from doing damage was not as challenging.
"He's a dangerous guy if he turns around and gets running at you. The boys in the back did well. They kind of nullified that," Nicol said. "(But) I don't think he was 100 percent either."
Even with the victory, the Revolution have a long way to go if the club is to repeat as Eastern Conference champion and make a return appearance at MLS Cup. Goalkeeper Matt Reis was a bright spot, however. Reis turned away four Galaxy shots and broke up numerous other crosses inside the area. Aside from that, however, the club appeared out of rhythm as the passing left room for improvement.
"I don't think the ball was anywhere as near as good as we can. We showed some good signs but we've certainly got a lot to work on," Nicol said.
One thing appears certain: New England's MLS Cup loss will not hamper the team this season.
"(MLS Cup) has got nothing to do with it," Nicol said. "All we're interested in is tonight's game. We got the three points and now we move on to next Saturday."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
