Taylor Twellman scored in the sixth and 39th minutes in his third Revolution start, during the “soft” opening of Gillette Stadium, which had ceded naming rights to internet venture CMGI (College Marketing Group Information). [Read more…] about May 11, 2002 – Taylor Twellman kick starts Gillette opening – 50 years and forever
Mike Masters played basketball and soccer at Williams College, teaming with future New England Revolution defender Dan Calichman (Toronto FC assistant coach) and goalkeeper Rob Blanck (Navy women’s team assistant to former Harvard assistant Carin Jennings Gabarra) on Mike Russo’s soccer team. Masters then went on to perform for the Albany Capitals and San Francisco Blackhawks, before moving to England on a free transfer in January of 1992. [Read more…] about May 10, 1992 – Mike Masters scores first goal by U.S. player at Wembley
Fore River’s Jack Kershaw, who had been expected to be a reserve, because of an ankle injury, scored eight minutes before halftime for Fore River. Marre and Dunn countered in the second half.
May 9, 1920 – St. Louis Ben Millers 2:1 Fore River SC at Federal League Baseball Park (Att.: 12,000)
Fore River hoped to capitalize on tactical savvy and technique, plus the fact the St. Louis teams “are used to playing only 60-minute games,” according to The Boston Globe. [Read more…] about May 9, 1920 – Fore River SC falls in U.S. Open Cup final
The Boston Globe listed attendance at 10,000, “the biggest crowd of people to ever watch a soccer game in the Boston area.” Several sources who were at the game as players or spectators are convinced the crowd was greater than 10,000. My primary source is Frank Mirisola, a South Boston businessman and former Boston SC player/long-time supervisor of referees for the Boston Public Schools league. Mirisola said he “saw the ticket receipts and it was 15,000 … it wasn’t quite full.” Everett Memorial Stadium held 18,000 on bleacher seats, according to Sal LoGrasso, a long-time Everett resident and former Boston SC and Boston Minutemen defender. [Read more…] about May 8, 1964 – Liverpool FC draws a (15,000) crowd in Boston
Juan Agudelo scored twice in six games with Chivas USA before being sent to the New England Revolution, where he totaled seven goals in 14 matches, in 2013. That has been Agudelo’s most productive MLS season – nine goals in 20 games. Agudelo, 24, is on pace for his first double-figure goal total this season, with six in 10 games.
Agudelo burst on the scene as an 18-year-old with the New York Red Bulls, but failed to become a regular starter. Agudelo totaled six goals in 33 games (13 starts) with the Red Bulls before being traded to Chivas USA in 2012. Agudelo’s career seemed to be on the rise with a transfer to Stoke City, but he was unable to secure a work permit and was loaned to Utrecht, where he scored three goals in 14 appearances in 2013-14.
The Revolution hoped Agudelo’s return would help them contend for the MLS Cup, a year after they lost to the LA Galaxy in the 2014 final.
Revolution coach Jay Heaps is hoping to capitalize on Agudelo’s combination of size, skill and strength, also using his playmaking ability, in a 4-4-2 alignment. Agudelo, born in Manizales, Colombia, has reemerged on the U.S. national team scene – he scored in his debut, a 1-0 win over South Africa in Johannesburg Nov. 17, 2010, and has totaled three goals in 22 appearances.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
May 6, 1916 – Bethlehem Steel 1:0 Fall River Rovers at Coats Field (Att.: 15,000)
The rivalry between Bethlehem Steel Company FC and Fall River Rovers FC kicked off in the 1916 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final. The teams represented two of the country’s major industrial centers, the Bethlehem team composed of European imports, known for their precision passing game, and the Rovers a mostly native-born team relying more on effort than skill. [Read more…] about May 6, 1916 – A U.S. OPEN CUP RIVALRY IS BORN
Jimmy Fund benefit game in rain storm. Roy Bloomfield finished a Ron Newman shot deflected off Bill Brown, then Newman earned two PKs, Bloomfield and Graham Newton converting. Lopez scored for Toronto. Roddy Pearce (Jamaica) commanded midfield, plus Ev Cummings and Emmet Kapengwe (Zambia), according to Seamus Malin story in The Boston Globe. Future NASL commissioner Phil Woosnam is player-coach, thanks to Bob Sales story.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY
Spectators for the Boston Breakers’ home-opener at Nickerson Field included Mayor Menino, the Boston Red Sox’ Nomar Garciaparra and Lou Merloni, former New England Patriot John Hannah, plus Olympian Joan Benoit Samuelson. Homare Sawa scored past Tracy Ducar (Lawrence/North Andover) in the 62nd minute for the Atlanta Beat, which would go on to play in the WUSA final before a 21,078 crowd at Foxboro Stadium Aug. 25, 2001. The Breakers finished in sixth place in their first two seasons, then won the 2003 regular-season title under coach Pia Sundhage before the league folded.
The Boston Minutemen, guided by former Yale coach Hubert Vogelsinger, reached the semifinals of the NASL playoffs in their first year. The roster included several internationals and English First Division players. Ade Coker and Carlos Metidieri performed for the U.S. national team. The back row of this team photo includes Steve Twellman, uncle of future New England Revolution all-time leading scorer Taylor Twellman. [Read more…] about May 4, 1974 – Dallas Tornado 0:0 Boston Minutemen at Texas Stadium (Att.: 9,124). First Minutemen game in inaugural NASL season
Fall River SC went on to the final, falling, 4-3, to the McIlvaine Canvasbacks of San Pedro at Rancho La Cienega Stadium. Fall River teams have won five U.S. Open Cup titles and New England teams have won 10 U.S. Open Cups (nine from Massachusetts, one from Rhode Island). Fall River clubs also won five American FA Cups, the competition running from 1885-1924.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY