March 20, 2011 –LA Galaxy 1:1 Revolution. Shalrie Joseph 3rd minute goal.

Shalrie Joseph led the Revolution in scoring (8 goals) during the 2011 season, a statistic indicating his impressive versatility and also the team’s lack of strikers that year. Joseph totaled a Revolution record 305 games in all competitions, carrying the Revolution as far as possible in his final seasons as the team’s supporting cast declined.

In 2005, when Taylor Twellman was named MLS MVP, Joseph had been chosen as the Revolution’s Most Valuable Player. There were several other seasons when Joseph merited MLS Most Valuable Player consideration, as he exemplified a performer who had grown beyond the league’s standard. But two transfer offers from Celtic FC for Joseph failed to be finalized, leaving questions about what might have happened had he followed Clint Dempsey’s trail to Europe.

This was not the earliest goal in a Revolution season-opener, though. Giovanni Savarese converted 22 seconds into the Revolution’s 1-1 draw with the Miami Fusion in the 1999 season-opener. Chris Aduama photo

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY