2012: A New England Soccer Odyssey

April 14th, 2012

It is a good time to be a soccer fan in New England. No, the New England Revolution haven't signed Ronaldinho or announced plans to fast-track a stadium in Somerville, but opportunities still abound to make this summer one of the most active - and worth following - New England soccer summers for quite some time.

The Revs smoked the Galaxy for their second win of 2012.

Let's start with the Revs. Off to a 2-3-0 start (ahead of today's game vs. DC United), you could be lulled into thinking it will be just another dull season down at the Razor. But early indications seem to indicate that isn't quite the truth. With Steve Nicol gone and Jay Heaps at the helm, the Revolution have drastically altered their roster and playing style. They are a deeper team that is striving to play a more possession-oriented, attack-minded brand of football. They aren't laden with established star power, and no one is suggesting that they are ready to be considered among Major League Soccer's elite. But they have thus far proven to be a lot more entertaining and competitive than in the last couple of years.

But the Revs aren't the only reason to be excited about 2012. Although the region is still without a second or third division pro team, the men's game has expanded considerably at the fourth division (amateur) level. Joining the Western Mass Pioneers, GPS Portland Phoenix, Seacoast United Phantoms and Vermont Voltage in the USL PDL this year are the Worcester Hydra, CFC Azul and Boston Victory SC. The season is set to open in early May, and the Phoenix also have an automatic berth in the first round of the US Open Cup.

The National Premier Soccer League expanded this year, as well. Joining the Seacoast United Phantoms (they play in both leagues) and Mass United are the Seacoast United Mariners and Rhode Island Reds. The NPSL season will also kick off in early May. Between the two leagues, there are four teams in Massachusetts, two in Maine and one each in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. History has shown that it is exceedingly difficult for franchises to survive long at this level, but here's hoping history will change.

The women's game also offers a plethora of opportunities to take in a game this summer. Women's Professional Soccer may be "on hiatus," but the Boston Breakers are not. They'll be playing in the new WPSL Elite league along with the New England Mutiny. Aztec MA (formerly Boston Aztec) was originally slated to be in the Elite league, but will instead return to the regular Women's Premier Soccer League along with the CFC Passion, Seacoast United Phantoms and Seacoast United Mariners. There are still no W-League entries in New England, and Vermont and Rhode Island remain without a women's team to support, but regionally speaking there are no lack of options for catching a women's game.

Add in ancillary stories, such as New Hampshire's Morgan Andrews captaining the U17 women's national team as it attempts to qualify for the 2012 FIFA U17 World Cup, Liverpool and Roma coming to Fenway Park this summer and the Revs announcing plans to add a U14 team to their youth program, and 2012 could really be a year worth remembering. Now let's just hope the Mayans were wrong about that whole end-of-the-world thing.