There's nothing better than breaking down victories on a Monday. Through the pouring rain, slick field, and in spite of the injuries, Jay Heaps rallied the lads and emerged with a 2-0 victory on Saturday night.

When the weather plays such a factor in a match it's always difficult to break it all down with the same standards, but one thing is perfectly clear: the 2012 New England Revolution are not only winning at a better pace, they're getting better with every match.

The New England Revolution will take the rainy Gillette Stadium pitch tonight looking for their first win of the 2012 season against an Eastern Conference opponent. The Fire come into this game with a record of 5-4-3 and a road record of 2-3-1. Both clubs are still feeling the burn of being eliminated from the US Open Cup tournament on Tuesday, both by lower division sides, and will surely be hungry for three points to help ease the pain.

Goalkeeper Nick Noble saved Benny Feilhaber's penalty to complete Harrisburg's shocking comeback victory. (Photo: Derek Meluzio/pennlive.com)

It was over. No one, in their wildest dreams, would've thought a 3-0 lead for the New England Revolution with just nine minutes to play in overtime against the third division (USL Pro) Harrisburg City Islanders wasn't safe.

Saer Sène and A.J. Soares scored two minutes apart early in the second half to briefly put the New England Revolution on level terms, but substitute Maicon Santos responded for D.C. United with the game-winning goal in the 61st minute as the Revs suffered a 3-2 loss on Saturday night at RFK Stadium.

It's the day before matchday, folks! The New England Revolution are likely already in DC preparing to return the favor of a home loss to United after Chris Pontius stole a point from the Revs a few weeks ago at Gillette. Meanwhile, in the world of soccer, there have been some interesting developments.

I'm going to re-use a quote that we already had on the site earlier today, because I think it bears repeating. In the locker room after Saturday's match, Ryan Guy said, "I think it's great to be disappointed with a draw. I think last year we would have been satisfied with a draw, and this year we're absolutely not.

So I settled in to watch the Revolution-Dynamo match but I think my DVR recorded the wrong thing because I'm pretty sure I was watching a rugby match. The jerseys were the right colors and everything, but there's no way that what I saw on that field was soccer.

New England was due for a draw, and considering I find the Dynamo to be perhaps the club's fiercest rival at the moment, the result doesn't come as a shock, as these sides always play close contests.

Lee Nguyen haunted his former team with two goals and one assist in an inspired performance as the New England Revolution rolled to a 4-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

Nguyen – waived by Vancouver in March – notched his first two MLS goals, including a spectacular long-distance rocket to round out the scoring, sandwiched around first-half strikes from Saer Sène and Shalrie Joseph.

Kevin Alston and the Revolution defense held strong after some early shakiness to hold Vancouver to one goal in the Revs 4-1 victory. (Photo: Walter Silva)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Lee Nguyen scored twice while Shalrie Joseph and Saer Sene scored a goal apiece as the Revs grabbed their biggest win of the season defeating Vancouver, 4-1.

Oh look... more rain. How lovely. Well, happy Wednesday just the same. I can't think of anything witty to say this morning, so I'm just not going to even try. Here's some links to help get you over the hump.

Revolution Links

Revs break new ground with successful Cardenas appeal - MLSSoccer.

The Revolution didn't look the part of a team at the end of an eight-day, three-game stretch on Saturday. But at the end of 90 minutes, New England succumbed to Real Salt Lake 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Although Blake Brettschneider's 22nd minute goal put the Revs up early, Alvaro Saborio crashed the party with a pair of goals before the hour.

The New England Revolution lost 2-1 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night, but Jay Heaps will take a lot of positive aways from what was a good New England performance.

Blake Brettschneider scored a fantastic goal to put the Revs (3-6-0, 9 pts.) ahead in the 22nd minute, but the lead was short-lived as Saborio pulled RSL (7-3-1, 22 pts.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the New England Revolution's 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake.

While much was made of the Revs' trip down to New Jersey to take on RBNY, it certainly didn't feel like the rivalry match we had all hoped for. Coming off a bye week and a bit of a layoff, New England came out flat and were punished for it in only the 7th minute, when Thierry Henry scored the only goal RBNY would need to defeat the Revs, 1-0.

It's been an interesting ride through the first month of the Revolution 2012 season. While the change in philosophy and plan of attack has certainly changed, the results have remained mostly the same (if you remember, the Revs actually got off to a decent start last year, and were sitting on 9 points on this date in 2011).

The Union reserve team opened up their season yesterday morning against the New England Revolution's reserve squad with a 4-2 victory. With the sun beating down on the Chester Field pitch and the wind gusting, the Union reserves played a strong 90 minutes. Due to the Union's bye week, some players who may not have normally played with the reserve team, like Josue Martinez and Roger Torres, got a chance to get some good minutes in during the match.

The Philadelphia Union Reserves put on a dominating performance on Monday at Chester Park and PSP photographer Earl Gardner was on hand to capture the action.

Chase Harrison warms up before the match.

Chris Konopka looks on during warm ups.

Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

The Union reserves were impressive in their 4–2 win over New England reserves on Monday morning. Josue Martinez scored two while Antoine Hoppenot and Cristhian Hernandez each had a goal. New England scored first from a Kenny Mansally penalty kick when Chase Harrison leveled Blake Brettschneider early in the first half.

Kenny Mansally scored two goals, but it wasn't enough as the Union reserves beat the Revolution reserves 4-2 at Chester Park, Penn. on Monday.

Mansally's 19th and 91st minute strikes sandwiched the goals scored by Josue Martinez (2), Antoine Hoppenot and Christhian Hernandez.

The Gambian first appeared on the scoresheet before the 20th minute when he converted a penalty after Union keeper Chase Harrison brought down Blake Brettschneider in the box.

Yes that is not a typo. In a wet night in LA, Kelyn Rowe scored the first goal of his MLS career while Chris Tierney and Saer Sène followed up with additional strikes as the New England Revolution rolled to a 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center.

Rowe scored the game's opening goal in the 10th minute and Tierney added a quick-fire second just three minutes later to stake New England (2-2-0, 6 pts.

The New England's Revolution's front line is making way for yet another new face.

The Revs signed Swedish striker Bjorn Runstrom on Wednesday, adding another player to a completely revamped attack. Runstrom joins Saer Sene, Jose Moreno, Fernando Cardenas and Blake Brettschneider as new forwards who have joined the club since the offseason.

The New England Revolution are about to take on the Portland Timbers in the 2012 home opener. Because I'm pressed for time, I can't talk much in this space. But I have lineups!

Revolution: Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Shalrie Joseph, A.J. Soares, Chris Tierney; Ryan Guy, Lee Nguyen, Clyde Simms, Kelyn Rowe; Blake Brettschneider, Saer Sene

Bench: Shuttleworth, Cardenas, Fagundez, Mansally, Polak, Purdie, White

Timbers: Troy Perkins; Lovel Palmer, Hanyer Mosquera, Eric Brunner, Rodney Wallace; Kalif Alhassan, Diego Chara, Jack Jewsbury, Eric Alexander; Darlington Nagbe, Kris Boyd

Bench: Bendik, Braun, Chabala, Dike, Jean-Baptiste, Perlaza, Songo'o

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Preseason trialist Björn Runström is still in negotiations to join the Revs. (Photo: Joshua Pearson)

One preseason trialist who may still be on his way to the New England Revolution is Swedish striker Björn Runström. According to Runström's agent, Patrick Mörk, negotiations are ongoing with the club.

In today's installment of the Couch Captain we take a look at the Revs 1-0 loss to San Jose, and the coaching decisions made by Head Coach Jay Heaps throughout the match. Without his full compliment of players at his disposal, did Coach Heaps' have his hand played for him? Or were there places he maybe could have done a little better?

Chris Wondolowski scored the only goal of the game in the 15th minute as the San Jose Earthquakes made a winning start to the 2012 season with a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

It was the first opening-day win for the Earthquakes (1-0-0, 3 pts.

A Chris Wondolowski goal in the 15th minute was the difference between the two sides tonight as the new Heaps-era Revolution squad suffered their first defeat of 2012.

The match saw opportunities for both teams, but the away side was not able to capitalize on any. The New England boys started off the game in good form with decent runs being made by forwards Fernando Cardenas and Blake Brettschneider behind smart passes from the Revolution's heralded midfield.

Rookie Kelyn Rowe looks set to make his MLS debut on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Joshua Pearson)

The New England Revolution will look to kick-off their season on the right foot when they take on the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday night. The Revolution already have momentum from a successful preseason in which they compiled a 6-0-1 record against MLS and collegiate opposition.

After a two-day hiatus, Musket Rounds make their triumphant return! The weekend was full of great news for the New England Revolution and soccer in general, but I've decided to skip most of that and bring you more modern news. More importantly, First Kick is this weekend! The Revs will begin their season away to San Jose on Saturday.

With the New England Revolution ready to kick off the 2012 preseason on March 10th in San Jose, odds are the team is set to hand two new forwards their debuts.

Former D.C. United striker Blake Brettschneider appears likely to be one of the beneficiaries after being unceremoniously dumped from D.

A day after releasing Zach Schilawski and Ryan Kinne, the New England Revolution has added three young forwards to bolster their offensive corps. Former D.C. United striker Blake Brettschneider and Revs 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft selections, Alec Purdie and Michael Roach, both midfielders/forward, have signed contracts for the 2012 season.

After yesterday waving Zack Shilawski and Ryan Kinne, the New England Revolution announced the signing of forward Blake Brettschneider, midfielder Alec Purdie, and midfielder Michael Roach. This brings their current roster up to 26. The Revolutions stated goal is to eventually have 28 players on their roster.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

For D.C. United fans anxious over the club's four-year playoff absence, this past offseason was an exercise in patience.

While United came back from the worst campaign in club history in 2010 to compete for a postseason berth until last season's final week, a lack of experience in the back, consistency up top and depth all around derailed their chances.

With the regular season now within sight, the clock is ticking for Heaps and his staff to round out the Revolution roster. Before this week, the Revs had 24 players on their roster. The addition of Lee Nguyen brings that number to 25 and the expected signing of Blake Brettschneider would make it 26.

The Revolution and Galaxy battled to 0-0 scoreline before L.A. won it on penalties (Photo: Joshua Pearson).

After a scoreless 90 minutes, Marcelo Sarvas slotted home the game-winning penalty as the Galaxy claimed the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup championship by beating the Revolution 0-0 (4-2 on penalties) on Saturday.

Only four months removed from the end of one of the worst seasons in franchise history and already the New England Revolution are competing for silverware! Not meaningful silverware, mind, but a trophy all the same. After posting a perfect 3-0-0 record with seven goals and a plus-four goal differential, the Revs are about to take on the L.

It appears that Lee Nguyen may not have been the only addition that the Revs made to their squad yesterday. In the wake of the Revs claiming the former US National Team midfielder, last night trialist Blake Brettschneider tweeted that New England will be the next stop in his young career:

Looks like New England is home now.

Just a few notes...
* Didn't show it in the last game, but DeLeon has serious wheels. Had one decent run with the ball, but looked blistering on a couple runs without.
* Not so impressed with Rozeboom this time around. Big effort, but looked more hurried in his efforts and certainly more wasteful with the ball.

Bobby Devyne (pictured in Blue) joins the Revs on trial this week. (Photo credit: Chelsea FC)

Forward Bobby Kirobi Devyne and Left midfielder Austin da Luz have joined the New England Revolution on trial this week. Devyne is a 19-year-old Chelsea FC Academy product, while da Luz, 24, most recently played with D.

Swedish forward Bjorn Runstrom, Italian midfielder Luisito Campisi, German defender Florian Lechne and English defender Tom Cruise have all joined the New England Revolution on trial for the first time in Tucson, Arizona as the team is set to kick-off the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup on Wednesday night.

Now that the Brian Ching saga is over and done with we can now look back on what the Montreal Impact probably should have done instead of playing the hardball game with Ching and the Houston Dynamo.

Obviously getting just a conditional draft pick* isn't bad but for the most part it wasn't what Montreal and their fans would have expected in return for a player like Ching.