Revolution Ready For A Turnaround?

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Worcester Sports Reporter

Across New England soccer fans awaited the 2014 Major League Soccer season with bated breath for the New England Revolution to take the field following an unexpected playoff run in 2013. Yet three games into the 2014 season, the Revolution have just one point and a record of 0-2-1. On top of that, the Revs have not yet scored a goal.

To some, the frustration is already starting to mount as the Revolution travel to the West Coast to take on the San Jose Earthquakes. Yet there is hope, and plenty of it, for Revs fans.

Early in the 2013 season, which ended in a playoff appearance, the Revolution faced similar problems to what they are facing in 2014. The Revolution did win their season opener 1-0 in Chicago, doing two things the 2014 Revs have not yet done. The Revs were then held scoreless for their next four games and picked up just two points while going 0-2-2. The Revolution actually only scored six goals through their first 10 games in 2013. So how do the Revolution turn around their scoring woes? Just get one.

The Revs starting lineup from last week's 0-0 draw with Vancouver has 100 career goals, including 19 from Teal Bunbury, 17 from Diego Fagundez and 16 from Saer Sene. The Revs also have a potent bench which includes two 1st Round draft picks (forward Patrick Mullins and midfielder Steve Neumann) and multiple other forwards.

The Revs offense has unleashed 41 shots in 2014, good for a 4th place tie in MLS with the Philadelphia Union. Of those 41 shots, 11 have come from Diego Fagundez, the Revs 2013 leading goal scorer. The Revs have also received six shots from Teal Bunbury, the man tasked with replacing the production of Juan Agudelo from 2013.

As these two players continue to play and grow familiarity with each other, it will open up more opportunities for Saer Sene, Kelyn Rowe and Lee Nguyen, amongst others. As the defense opens up to defend the strong attack, it will open more clear lanes and lead to more goals.

The Revs offense will look to get rolling this weekend when they travel to San Jose to take on the Earthquake, a team that allowed 42 goals against in 2013. They will then travel to Washington D.C. to take on D.C. United, a team that finished with just 16 points in 2013 and allowed 59 goals against. Again, the key for the Revs to turn around 2014, just get one.

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