FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – One number provides a fairly accurate glimpse into what Matt Reis has supplied to his teammates during his time with the New England Revolution.
Four digits combine to comprise the all-telling figure: 7,975.
In its base form, it describes the consecutive MLS minutes Reis played as the Revolution's starter between the sticks during a spell between 2005 and 2008, the second-longest such streak in league history.
But in a wider sense, it reveals the integral role Reis filled in the Revolution's rise to the top of MLS.
Others came and went, but Reis always remained as a safe pair of hands to guide New England as close to the summit as they could reach. His form during those successful seasons never dipped below dependable and often sailed toward excellent.
“I can't even say what he means to this team, especially being in the goal and being the last line of defense,” Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said. “He's been huge for this team – and, personally, for me – since I've been here.”
When a player enjoys such a prolonged run of appearances and form, it is tempting to think that it may never end. It always does, however, and Reis has faced up to the inevitable fact that 30-something goalkeepers can suffer injuries just like experienced field players do.
The knocks just piled up over the course of time to transform invincibility into fallibility.
Two games missed with a right adductor injury in 2008. Six games missed for a variety of ailments – a concussion and right knee inflammation among them – and others gritted through with other undisclosed problems in 2009.
[inlinenode:331903]Sixteen games missed in 2010 after offseason shoulder and knee surgeries robbed him of the first three-and-a-half months, and debridement surgery on his right ankle on Oct. 13 swept away the final fortnight of a lost season.
With the ankle fully rehabbed after diligent work through the winter and the season fast approaching, Reis kept only one objective on his mind during training camp: get through it in one piece.
“The important thing is just the health,” Reis said. “As I get older and as people get older, you break down a little faster and you don't recover as fast. That's the biggest thing: I need to make sure that I'm healthy and that I'm taking care of my body.”
A Change Of Routine
Avoiding all of those knocks and niggles requires instituting a series of adjustments designed to reduce wear and tear. The 35-year-old Reis now spends more time in the gym to strengthen his body in an attempt to ward off those setbacks and strains. He knows there may be days where he needs to stay in the training room longer or reduce his workload on the practice field to preserve himself for greater challenges.
“It's part of the game,” Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. “Obviously, he's a little bit longer in the tooth than a lot of people, but it's just an adjustment. Whether he cuts back a little bit in training or whether he does a little bit more stretching, you just have to work these things out. He needs to work them out personally and then we'll go from there.”
Those strides have seen Reis push his way through training camp without picking up a substantial injury. Nicol kept Reis out of the final preseason match against Houston as a precautionary measure after a minor back ailment caused him to miss a couple of days' worth of practice, but the amended approach appears to have yielded dividends at this early stage.
“I think I've done a pretty good job about (preserving my health), but I'm still working on it,” Reis said. “I feel that if I'm healthy and I can train day in and day out, I'll get back to where I need to be when I'm playing all the time.”
[inlinenode:331901]For a relatively inexperienced Revolution side entering this season with a completely revamped back line, Reis' return to fitness and form remains an essential part of building a winning team. Although the veteran goalkeeper played well in spurts last season, he struggled to find the consistency and the rhythm necessary to meet his own lofty standards.
After receiving a new contract during the winter and settling into his modified routine, Reis could soon locate the familiar cadence required to submit assured performances on a regular basis.
“I think when you get a key player who has been out a decent length of time, it's always good to get them healthy,” Nicol said. “You know that they are there, that you can depend on them and that they're going to do their bit. It's what you want 1 through 11.”
The Numbers Game
Some numbers carry more weight than others. As one of the two remaining links to the glory days and one of the few players with a number of years in New England (this will be number nine) under his belt, Reis must carry more of a burden as a leader within the squad.
“We're going to have to count on him for his leadership ability,” Joseph said. “I'm going to be there, he's going to be there and we're going to have to play a big part in terms of leadership and organizing this team. We have to get this team on the right track.”
Most of Reis' steering work will involve organizing the retooled back four. Current first-choice centerbacks Franco Coria and A.J. Soares made their MLS debuts in the 1-1 draw at Los Angeles last Sunday, while Kevin Alston and Didier Domi are expected to patrol the fullback positions upon their return to full fitness.
[inline_node:331900]Work still remains to ensure all parties find the same defensive page and Reis' vocal presence will go a long way to forging a cohesive unit.
Reis' role as a communicator on the field also transfers to his place in the locker room. With a number of young players within the current squad, Reis serves as an example for his peers and an oracle for information obtained only through experience.
“They do look to you for that advice,” Reis said. “They know that you've been there and you don't get as rattled in certain situations. I think that's important to go through all of the training (sessions) and be a presence back there. There's a presence in the locker room where the guys can say that he's done it before and if I'm following him and doing what he does, then I'll be OK.”
And if there are any lingering doubts about his counsel, Reis can point to that familiar number – or, perhaps, 3060 minutes, the ever-present one he'd like to post this year – and explain why consistency matters.
