Frank Dell'Apa

Boston College

Knoxville’s New England connections pay off

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Former New England Revolution striker Ian Fuller guided One Knoxville FC to a 2-0 victory over the Spokane Velocity in the USL League 1 final before a sellout 7,500 crowd at Covenant Health Park on Sunday, Nov. 16. Fuller, 46, in his first year as head coach, played at Clemson University before joining the Revolution in 2002, pairing with Taylor Twellman up front as the team advanced to the MLS Cup final. Fuller followed Adrian Heath from the Austin Aztex to MLS as an assistant with Orlando City and Minnesota United before being hired by Knoxville.

Knoxville starters included winger Mark Doyle, who competed for Rhode Island FC last year; Callum Johnson, a former New York Red Bulls Academy midfielder who played three seasons at Boston College before transferring to Clemson; Stavros Zarokostas, a midfielder from La Salle Academy in Providence via the University of Rhode Island. Zarokostas set up Nico Rosamilia for the opening goal in the fourth minute, and Kempes Tekiela added a 54th-minute penalty kick.

Oct. 6, 2004 – Chris Cleary first U.S. player to score FA Cup hat trick

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Chris Cleary went from Boston College to play in England and Germany. Cleary was 25 when he scored all the Worksop Town goals in a 3-2 win over Droylesden FC. [Read more…] about Oct. 6, 2004 – Chris Cleary first U.S. player to score FA Cup hat trick

Sept. 25, 1997 – Dallas Burn 1:2 Revolution at Cotton Bowl (Att.: 6,897)

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Former Boston College forward Paul Keegan’s 88th-minute goal qualified the Revolution for the MLS playoffs in the final game of the season. Keegan, an early substitute for Imad Baba (injured after a Wade Webber tackle from behind), scored his only goal of the season off a throw-in from current Revolution general manager Mike Burns.

[Read more…] about Sept. 25, 1997 – Dallas Burn 1:2 Revolution at Cotton Bowl (Att.: 6,897)

March 26, 2003 – Alajuelense 1:3 Revolution; 1st CONCACAF Champions Cup win

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After falling, 4-0, to LD Alajuelense in the first leg at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto March 23, the Revolution became the “visiting” team three days later. Jay Heaps had been red-carded in the first leg, and was replaced at right back by Shalrie Joseph, making his Revolution debut. Taylor Twellman’s 18th-minute penalty kick got the Revolution started, Wolde Harris (53rd) and Pat Noonan (55th) cutting the aggregate deficit to 4-3. Alajuelense had altered the starting lineup, and likely entered the match overconfident, but made a key substitution as leading scorer Rolando Fonseca replaced Carlos Hernandez in the 52nd minute. Alajuelense earned a penalty kick on a Joseph 63rd-minute foul, Joseph and Daniel Hernandez (dissent) ejected during the sequence. Fonseca converted the penalty kick in the 65th minute and Alajuelense, playing with a two-man advantage, held on for a 5-3 aggregate victory.

The Revolution had virtually conceded the series by giving up home field advantage, but appeared to be on the verge of an upset before Salvadoran referee Rodolfo Sibrian’s call leading to Fonseca’s penalty kick. La Nacion assigned “7s” to both Guatemala’s Carlos Batres in the opening leg and Sibrian, who attended Boston College, in the return leg in the ratings.

Alajuelense’s squad included several Costa Rican national team members, including goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen and defender Luis Marin, who did not play in the second game; plus Alejandro Alpizar (who scored a 92nd-minute goal in the first leg), Steven Bryce, ex-LA Galaxy defender Pablo Chinchilla, Wilmer Lopez, ex-Columbus Crew forward Erick Scott, Fonseca and Hernandez. La Nacion’s highest-rated players were Fonseca and Harris, both receiving “8s” in the return leg. Chris Aduama photo

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY

March 25, 2007 – Revolution 3:1 Olimpia, Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans

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New Orleans was still recovering, less than two years post-Hurricane Katrina, and this preseason game between the Revolution and CD Olimpia turned out to be unique among the sporting events related to the city’s rebuilding. Adam Cristman scored two goals, Andy Dorman one, for the Revolution (Argentinian Jose Pacini converted for Olimpia) before a predominantly Honduran 8,947 crowd that included Mayor Ray Nagin. Brad Knighton’s performance in goal also helped establish his status as a high-level backup.

The Revolution’s visit involved several New England connections. The trip was set up by New Orleans Shellshockers coach Kenny Farrell, a former Salem State star. The Revolution had conducted preseason training in New Orleans in 2004, and the venture had concluded with Carlos Llamosa’s season-ending knee injury on the turf at Tulane University in a game that included a 10th-minute ejection of Jose Cancela. After that experience, the Revolution were inclined to avoid New Orleans, but Farrell persuaded Steve Nicol to return, partly because Farrell pitched him on involving the Revolution in the city’s rehabilitation. Nicol was also convinced by the refurbishing of the soccer field at Tad Gormley Stadium, via a donation from the New Orleans’ Saints’ Reggie Bush (in ’04, most of the fields the Revolution trained on were poor quality). [Read more…] about March 25, 2007 – Revolution 3:1 Olimpia, Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans

March 4, 1996 – Revolution select Boston College’s Paul Keegan No. 6 in initial MLS draft

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Paul Keegan became the first of several Boston College players to join MLS teams, becoming a starter for the New England Revolution in their inaugural season. Keegan provided the 88th-minute deciding goal as the Revolution took a 2-1 win over the Dallas Burn at the Cotton Bowl on the final day of the 1997 season, clinching the team’s first playoff berth.

[Read more…] about March 4, 1996 – Revolution select Boston College’s Paul Keegan No. 6 in initial MLS draft