Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth was not shy about sharing his feelings in regards to having a second bye week just six weeks into the season. The fifth year player commented, “Coming off a loss at home, I would think the guys are definitely going to be itching to get right back on the field and try to get more points (instead of having a bye week).” While the bye week might not have come at an opportune time, the New England Revolution stayed busy both on and off the field.
The Revolution defeat the Force 4-0
The Revolution played a scrimmage against the league-less New England Force on Friday, April 5th.
The Revs proved to be hungry in the early going with three goals scored in the first half. Clyde Simms got the scoring started when he finished off a rebound in the seventh minute. Diego Fagundez would add to the lead in the 43rd minute when he collected a pass from Kelyn Rowe and put it past the keeper. Dimitry Imbongo, who came on for Bengtson in the 32nd minute, earned a penalty in the 44th minute which was converted by Nguyen. The scoring was rounded out by guest player Fernando Monge who scored from a Chris Tierney pass. Shuttleworth and Luis Soffner each played a half in the shutout.
A number of fringe player got solid minutes, including Chris Tierney (90 minutes), Stephen McCarthy (90 minutes) and Dimitry Imbongo (58 minutes). Imbongo’s inability to make it on the score sheet is troubling since the second year player takes up an international slot and he was playing against a team that currently doesn’t have a league.
On the other side, the shifts of Tierney and McCarthy are encouraging as both players could be asked to step into the starting eleven in the near future. Tierney will likely be asked to fill the left back spot while Kevin Alston takes a leave of absence. The Massachusetts native will be an option for taking free kicks (he almost scored one against the Force) while also bringing more width to the team.
Meanwhile, McCarthy has apparently recovered from his head injury and will give head coach Jay Heaps another defensive option. While Heaps isn’t likely to veer from the stingy partnership of AJ Soares and Jose Goncalves, it should be noted that McCarthy is calm on the ball which could lead to better possession. Furthermore, injuries are likely to happen at some point which could force McCarthy into action.
The Revolution victory was done without the services of Matt Reis, Alston, Soares, Juan Toja and Chad Barrett. It’s unknown what kept some of these players out which could be a cause for concern as the Revs haven’t been at full strength yet this season. In more optimistic news, Kalifa Cisse (64 minutes) looks ready to make his return.
Revolution Players make an Impact with Rhinos
It has only been two weeks since the Revolution sent Matt Horth, Gabe Latigue, Tyler Polak and Bilal Duckett to join the Rochester Rhinos but all four players have made an impact.
The loanees made their debut for the Rhinos on March 29th in a game against the Syracuse University. In the match, Polak played his normal left back position before moving into the midfield. The Generation Adidas player put the ball in the back of the net in the game’s dying minutes to secure the 4-0 victory. Latigue also found his name on the score sheet when he curled a ball from the left flank that was headed in by forward Tam McManus. Horth and Duckett also got time in the game.
In their second game with the Rhinos, it was Latigue that would make the biggest impact as his free kick in the 27th minute was headed in by defender Tyler Bellamy. The game would end 2:0 with the Rhinos looking forward to their season opener on April 13th against VSI Tampa Bay FC.
Revolution fans should be encouraged by seeing the loanees make an instant impact for the Rhinos. With regular playing time, these young players will hope to impress Heaps enough to earn a call up to the main roster. The development of Latigue and Polak will be most important as the team needs a free kick specialist and a consistent left back.
Bye Week Reminds Fans that Life Can be Bigger than Soccer
Revolution players were also making headlines off the field during their bye week. Of course the biggest news coming off the weekend was the fact that Alston has been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia and will need to take a leave of absence. The news was immediately met with an outpouring of support from players, coaches and fans. People can continue to support the 2010 All-Star by emailing GetWellKevinAlston@gmail.com or tweeting with the hashtag #GetWellKA. Alston, 24, is expected to make a full recovery and return to the club.
The weekend also saw Fagundez attend his high school prom. The 18-year-old shared the special moment with Revolution fans with the club’s official twitter account sending out a picture. With Fagundez being a rostered player since 2010, it can be easy to forget that the Massachusetts native is still a teenager.
The weekend news served as a reminder that life can get in the way of soccer. While sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with one goal scored in four games is upsetting to fans, it’s important to recognize that these players have personal lives. Surely fans would trade anything to ensure good health for Alston. Furthermore, fans should be thrilled that Fagundez was able to experience one of the most important moments in any high schooler’s life. While criticizing players is part of being a fan, this weekend is proof that life can be bigger than soccer.
