1997 New England Revolution season

The 1997 New England Revolution season was the second season for the New England Revolution both as a club and in Major League Soccer (MLS). Alongside the MLS Regular Season, the team made their debut in both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup Playoffs, although they failed to advance in either. The season began on March 29 with a 1–0 away win over the Dallas Burn, and concluded with a home shootout loss to D.C. United in the MLS Cup Playoffs on October 8. The 1997 season marked the first season with goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who would later be elevated to player-manager in the 1998 season after the departure of head coach Thomas Rongen.[1]

New England Revolution
1997 season
OwnerRobert Kraft (The Kraft Group)
Head coachThomas Rongen
StadiumFoxboro Stadium
Foxborough, Massachusetts
MLSConference: 4th
Overall: 8th
MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupThird Round
Highest home attendanceLeague/All: 57,407
(4/20 v. Tampa Bay Mutiny)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 10,242
(6/01 v. Dallas Burn)
All: 2,031
(7/31 v. Long Island Rough Riders, USOC)
Average home league attendance21,298
Biggest winLeague/All:
New England Revolution 4–2 Tampa Bay Mutiny (7/18)
Biggest defeatLeague/All:
New England Revolution 5–1 San Jose Clash (8/3)
← 1996
1998 →

Transfers

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Transfers In

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Date Position No. Name From Fee/notes Ref.
February 20 FW 11   Chiquinho Conde   Vitoria de Setubal League Allocation [2]
March 4 GK 1   Walter Zenga   Calcio Padova League Allocation [2]
March 6 DF 6   Leonardo Squadrone   Estudiantes de La Plata League Allocation [2]
March 10 DF 25   Alejandro Farías   Boca Juniors Discovery Player [2]
May 9 DF 3   Erik Imler   D.C. United Claimed off Waivers [2]
June 5 FW 23   Rob Jachym   Columbus Crew Signed [2]
June 5 DF 2   Brian Dunseth   Cal State Fullerton Allocated from MLS Project-40 [2]
July 10 MF 11   Evans Wise   Tampa Bay Mutiny Trade for Bill Harte [3]
July 16 GK 26   Jeff Causey   D.C. United Signed [3]
August 13 FW 33   Giuseppe Galderisi   Tampa Bay Mutiny Trade for Chiquinho Conde and Sam George [3]
August 13 MF 7   Ivan McKinley   Tampa Bay Mutiny Trade for Chiquinho Conde and Sam George [3]

Transfers Out

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Date Position No. Name To Fee/notes Ref.
March 3 MF 6   Geoff Aunger Waived [2]
March 3 MF 13   Mark Watson Waived [2]
March 5 FW -   J.T. Roberts Waived [2]
March 10 FW 11   Wélton   LA Galaxy Traded for the Galaxy's first-round pick in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft [2]
March 10 DF 3   Iain Fraser Waived [2]
March 10 GK 32   Aidan Heaney Waived [2]
March 10 GK 8   Peter Woodring Waived [2]
March 17 MF 14   John DeBrito Waived [2]
April 15 FW 24   Patrick Olalere Waived [2]
May 7 FW 19   Steve Klein Waived [2]
May 28 DF 9   Kevin Wylie Waived [2]
June 24 DF 17   Greg Lalas Waived [2]
July 10 DF 2   Bill Harte   Tampa Bay Mutiny Traded in exchange for Evans Wise [3]
August 13 FW 22   Chiquinho Conde   Tampa Bay Mutiny Traded in exchange for Giuseppe Galderisi and Ivan McKinley [3]
August 13 MF 14   Sam George   Tampa Bay Mutiny Traded in exchange for Giuseppe Galderisi and Ivan McKinley [3]
November 6 DF 20   Francis Okaroh   Chicago Fire Claimed in the 7th round of the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft [3]
November 13 MF 25   Alejandro Farías Waived [3]
November 13 FW 33   Giuseppe Galderisi Waived [3]
November 13 MF 3   Erik Imler Waived [3]
November 13 FW 9   John Kerr Jr. Waived [3]
November 13 MF 7   Darren Sawatzky Waived [3]

Draft results

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College draft

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The Revolution traded their first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Mutiny in exchange for the singing of former Mutiny coach Thomas Rongen.[4] In addition, the team acquired an additional third-round pick and a first-round selection (#3) in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft from the Dallas Burn in exchange for a first-round selection (#2) in the 1997 Supplemental Draft. [5]

On February 2, 1997, the Revolution selected Scott Coufal, Steve Klein, and J.T. Roberts in the College Draft. On March 6, 1997, the Revolution waived Roberts.[6]

New England Revolution – 1997 MLS College Draft
Round Overall Name Position Previous Club
2 12   Scott Coufal GK   Indiana University
3 22   Steve Klein M   Bowling Green State University
3 26   J.T. Roberts M   Northern Kentucky University

Supplemental draft

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On February 2, 1997, the Revolution drafted Bill Harte, Patrick Olalere, and Sam George in the MLS Supplemental Draft.

New England Revolution – 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
Round Overall Name Position Previous Club
1 3   Bill Harte D   Loyola University, Baltimore Spirit
2 12   Patrick Olalere F   Carson-Newman, California Jaguars
3 22   Sam George M   UCLA, Anaheim Splash

Club

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Team Management

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Position Staff
General Manager   Brian O'Donovan
Head Coach   Thomas Rongen

Source: [1]

Roster

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All listed players made appearances in MLS regular season play.[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF   USA Mike Burns
5 DF   USA Ted Chronopoulos
22 DF   USA Alexi Lalas
20 DF   NGA Francis Okaroh
10 DF   ARG Beto Naveda
8 MF   USA Imad Baba
25 DF   ARG Alejandro Farías
6 DF   ARG Leonardo Squadrone
1 GK   ITA Walter Zenga
11 FW   MOZ Chiquinho Conde
9 FW   USA John Kerr Jr.
12 FW   USA Joe-Max Moore
14 MF   USA Sam George
3 DF   USA Erik Imler
11 DF   TRI Evans Wise
7 DF   RSA Ivan McKinley
No. Pos. Nation Player
33 FW   ITA Giuseppe Galderisi
26 GK   USA Jeff Causey
7 FW   USA Darren Sawatzky
18 FW   IRL Paul Keegan
27 GK   USA Scott Coufal
2 DF   USA Bill Harte
2 DF   USA Brian Dunseth
23 FW   USA Rob Jachym
19 MF   USA Steve Klein
9 DF   USA Kevin Wylie
24 FW   NGA Patrick Olalere
17 DF   USA Greg Lalas

Non-competitive

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Preseason

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The Revolution played six pre-season matches and had a 3-2-1 record.

Matches

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January 11 Friendly New England Revolution 1–0 Raleigh Flyers
Report
February 26[a] Friendly New England Revolution 0–2 Dallas Burn Pensacola, Florida
Report Stadium: Pensacola Sports Complex
February 28 Friendly New England Revolution v Colombus Crew
March 10 Friendly New England Revolution 3–1 Kansas City Wizards Bradenton, Florida
Report
March 12 Friendly New England Revolution 5–0 Daytona Beach Sandsharks
Report

Mid-season friendlies

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Matches

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July 23 Friendly New England Revolution 0–1 Palmeiras Foxborough, Massachusetts
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 19,623

Competitive

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Major League Soccer

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Conference standings

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Pos Team Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D.C. United 32 17 4 11 70 53 +17 55 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 14 3 15 55 60 −5 45
3 Columbus Crew 32 12 3 17 42 41 +1 39
4 New England Revolution 32 11 4 17 40 53 −13 37
5 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 11 2 19 43 53 −10 35
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D.C. United (C, S) 32 17 4 11 70 53 +17 55 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2 Kansas City Wizards 32 14 7 11 57 51 +6 49
3 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 14 3 15 55 60 −5 45
4 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 14 2 16 55 44 +11 44
5 Dallas Burn 32 13 3 16 55 49 +6 42
6 Columbus Crew 32 12 3 17 42 41 +1 39
7 Colorado Rapids 32 12 2 18 50 59 −9 38 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
8 New England Revolution 32 11 4 17 40 53 −13 37
9 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 11 2 19 43 53 −10 35
10 San Jose Clash 32 9 3 20 55 59 −4 30
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield

Matches

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April 26 5 New England Revolution 1–1 (SO)
(2–1 p)
Colorado Rapids Foxborough
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 12,219
Referee: Kevin Terry
Penalties
June 1 12 New England Revolution 3–1 Dallas Burn Foxborough
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 10,242
Referee: Tim Weyland
June 22 15 New England Revolution 2–2
(2–1 p)
Dallas Burn Foxborough
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 15,819
Referee: Noel Kenny
Penalties
July 4 16 LA Galaxy 2–0 New England Revolution Pasadena
Report Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 51,704
Referee: Ali Saheli
July 6 17 San Jose Clash 3–2 New England Revolution San Jose
Report
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 11,753
Referee: John Weselak
August 3 22 New England Revolution 1–5 San Jose Clash Foxborough
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 22,673
Referee: Joshua Patlak
August 14 24 New England Revolution 1–1
(2–3 p)
LA Galaxy Foxborough
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 21,886
Referee: Paul Tamberino
Penalties
August 14 25 Columbus Crew 2–1 New England Revolution Columbus
Report
Stadium: Ohio Stadium
Attendance: 15,718
Referee: Marcel Yonan
September 20 31 New England Revolution 3–2 NY/NJ MetroStars Foxborough
Report
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 36,273
Referee: Arturo Angeles
September 25 31 Dallas Burn 1–2 New England Revolution Dallas
Report
Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Attendance: 6,897
Referee: Brian Hall

MLS Cup Playoffs

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The Revolution qualified for their first ever MLS Cup Playoffs and faced off against reigning champions D.C. United in a best-of-three matches. The team failed to secure a win in either match. It would take until the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2000 before the Revolution would appear in a playoff match again, and until the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2002 before they would advance in a playoff match-up.

Matches

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October 5 Game 1 D.C. United 4–1 New England Revolution Washington, D.C.
Wegerle   13', 56'
Moreno   65', 76'
Burns   89' Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 12,540
Referee: Tim Weyland

D.C. United win the series 2–0.

U.S. Open Cup

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The Revolution made their U.S. Open Cup debut after declining to participate in the 1996 edition. They exited in the Third Round after a 4-3 loss in sudden death extra time, to the Long Island Rough Riders.

Matches

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July 31 Third Round New England Revolution   3–4 (asdet) Long Island Rough Riders (A-League)   Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:00 PM
Attendance: 2,031
Referee: Ruben Rodhas

Honors

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Notes

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  1. ^ The friendly match against Dallas was originally scheduled for February 25, but was postponsed. [8]

References

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  1. ^ "It's One Way to Start a Revolution". Soccer America. August 30, 1998. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "2023 Media Guide: Coach and Player Registry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "2023 Media Guide: Coach and Player Registry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "MLS: Mutiny trade Hattrup to Dallas". Soccer America. January 31, 1997. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. ^ "MLS: 1997 Collegiate Draft Results (Feb. 2)". Soccer America. February 2, 1997. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  6. ^ "March 6, 1997 Transactions". Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "1997 New England Revolution Stats". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  8. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-moore-injury-a-warning/143821996/
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "2018 New England Revolution Media Guide – Stats and Records" (PDF). pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.