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Jeff Larentowicz and the Revs hope to start the 2009 season on the right foot Saturday in San Jose. |
The Revs enter the new campaign with high hopes, as they have reached the postseason in each of the last seven seasons, representing the longest current active streak of playoff appearances among MLS teams.
The Revolution�s streak of six consecutive appearances in the conference final was snapped last year, however, so the club will be eager to return to the top of the East in 2009.
On the road again
For the 13th time in 14 seasons, New England will open its season on the road. After bucking the trend and hosting the Houston Dynamo in the season opener last season, the Revs will once again play their opening match away from home, as they did in each of their first 12 seasons
This will mark the second time that the Revolution has opened the season in San Jose, as the Revs and Earthquakes began the 2005 season with a 2-2 draw on April 2.
Reversing the trend in season openers
New England hasn�t fared well in season openers since Major League Soccer�s inaugural campaign in 1996, as the club is 3-7-3 all-time in the first game of the season, including 2-2-2 under head coach Steve Nicol.
Aiming for a better showing in San Jose
Not only will the Revolution be aiming to open its 2009 regular season schedule with a win on Saturday night in San Jose, but the club will also be attempting to avenge a 4-0 loss to the Earthquakes suffered at Buck Shaw Stadium on Aug. 16 of last season. The four-goal defeat equaled New England�s worst loss of 2008.
To add �injury to insult,� goalkeeper Matt Reis suffered a right adductor strain and was forced out of the match in the 55th minute, ending his record streak for consecutive minutes played at 7,975 minutes.
The last win in San Jose
It has been almost nine years since the Revolution last won a match in San Jose, as the club hasn�t taken three points away from the city since July 22, 2000, when goal-scorers William Sunsing and Wolde Harris led the Revs to a 2-1 victory.
To add a bit of perspective, the Revolution�s current vice president of player personnel, Mike Burns, assisted on the Earthquakes� lone goal in that match after being traded from New England to San Jose in May of that season.
In the six matches between the Revs and Earthquakes in San Jose since 2000, New England is 0-4-2.
Maxwell released from preseason camp
Ryan Maxwell, a 2009 SuperDraft selection, has been released from the Revolution�s preseason training camp and is no longer with the team.
Maxwell was drafted by New England in the first round (15th overall) in January�s SuperDraft out of the University of Tampa. The 25-year-old appeared as a second-half substitute in all three of the Revolution�s preseason games, totaling 84 minutes of action as a right-sided midfielder.
Maxwell is the third 2009 SuperDraft selection to be released from the Revolution�s camp, as both Dado Hamzagic and Chris Salvaggione were cut last week.
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