The New England Revolution continued their preseason schedule on Friday afternoon with 3-0 scrimmage victory over Boston College at Gillette Stadium. Rookie Kelyn Rowe led the Revs with two goals in the win.

The Revs started the match with most of their veterans on the pitch. Matt Reis started in goal with Chris Tierney, A.

The U.S. Men's National Team last faced Canada in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but it's been more than 13 years since the teams met on Canadian soil. With the U.S. and Canada set to face each other in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET on June 3, we took a look at the history between the sides and found some interesting facts.

After losing 2-1 to the New England Revolution in a preseason scrimmage in Casa Grande, AZ last weekend, FC Tucson head coach Rick Schantz had a funny remark that made its way into the end of the PDL side's press release. "New England looked a bit surprised but they eventually realized we were better than they expected," he quipped.

The Jay Heaps era got off to a winning start as the New England Revolution beat FC Tucson (Premier Development League) 2-0 in their 2012 preseason opener. Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally were the Revs goalscorers.

Instead of the traditional two 45-minute periods, the match featured two 35-minute periods followed by an additional 45-minute period.

The New England Revolution participated in their first scrimmage in 2012 against an outside opponent last night as they played the PDL side FC Tucson. Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally scored the Revs' 2 goals that helped them get the W. The game was a total of 115 minutes and was broken into three different periods of play.

Please note: Information from this report came from live Twitter accounts of the match from New England Revolution Staff Writer & Online Host Jeff Lemiux and PDL team FC Tucson.

The New England Revolution won its first preseason match, 2-1, against PDL expansion team FC Tucson in a modified 105 minute match on Saturday at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Adin Brown, who starred in goal for the Revolution from 2002-04, is without a team heading into the 2012 season.(Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

"The Bear" and "Man Mountain" are just a couple of the nicknames former New England Revolution goalkeeper Adin Brown earned due to his imposing presence in goal.

The Revs already have their veteran leader in the back: Matt Reis. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Over the past few seasons there seemed to be a general consensus that the New England Revolution needed a veteran in the back line to help guide its relatively young defense. Admittedly, I was a part of that group.

I know Major League Soccer Soccer-dot-com already ran a quick update about this in their new "Rumor Central" feature (which I kind of like, to be honest), but it's the kind of news that we should be reporting here. Trust me, if it weren't for the fact that I'm studying for my Civil Procedure exam and staring longingly at a bottle of whiskey, sleeping pills and a handgun I would have been on top of this the moment it came out.

Thirty-eight days.

That's how much time general manager Michael Burns and first year head coach Jay Heaps have left to assemble a new and improved squad before the preseason kicks off on Jan. 16.

Following its worst season on record, it would be an understatement to say that Burns and Heaps have their work cut out for them.

Four-time MLS Cup finalists (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007) the New England Revolution have officially launched their adidas 2012/13 home jersey. The new Revs kit was unveiled to the press and public on Saturday night at the Gillette Stadium ProShop in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Revolution players Diego Fagundez, Shalrie Joseph, Matt Reis and Chris Tierney were on [.

The Revolution unveiled their new kits for the 2012-2013 seasons tonight at the Gillette Stadium Pro Shop. The jerseys feature a deliberate lack of silver and a return to the inclusion of red as well as the new addition of the flag of New England displayed prominently and proudly on the back of the jerseys just under the collar.

A day after the Revolution declined the options on seven players, the team opened its wallet for long-tenured goalkeeper Matt Reis by signing him to deal that will keep in Foxboro for his 10th consecutive season. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, per MLS policy.

In 2011, Reis made 27 starts, recorded five shutouts and posted a 1.

In the lull between the Expansion Draft and the Re-Entry draft (and by lull I mean total dearth of relevant news), we at The Bent Musket have decided it is time for our 2011 season grades. Corey, Matty, and I have looked at the four major areas of the team - goalkeeping, defense, midfield, forwards - and assigned our grades on a 4.

Impromptu Matt Reis Interview at MLS Cup

This comes by way of The Third Kit, a fantastic soccer blog that you should check out. It's the recap of a pretty comical Matt Reis encounter for an LA-based Revs fan. Interesting to hear what Reis has to say about Heaps and the SSS situation.

Ahead of the 2012 MLS Expansion Draft, during which the Montreal Impact will be allowed to draft 10 unprotected players from MLS' 18 current teams, today the Revolution have released their list of 11 protected players of whom the Impact cannot select. The Revs' protected list is as follows:

• Kevin Alston
• Benny Feilhaber
• Shalrie Joseph
• Rajko Lekic
• Stephen McCarthy
• Sainey Nyassi
• Matt Reis
• Bobby Shuttleworth
• A.

Newly named head coach Jay Heaps and the New England Revolution made a few surprise decisions on their protected list ahead Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft where the Montreal Impact will select ten players to continue building their new club.

Several big contributors to last year's squad, among them center back Darrius Barnes, midfielder Ryan Guy and forwards Milton Caraglio, the team's first Designated Player, and Kenny Mansally.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. The scene outside the Revolution locker room on Wednesday brought with it a mixed bag of emotions.

As the players and coaches cleaned out their lockers and carried their belongings to their cars, many were probably relieved to finally put the 2011 season behind them, head home, and relax after tumultuous 34 games.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Revolution midfielder Zak Boggs was named MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday.

Boggs, who's been involved in cancer research with Dr. Marsha Moses at Children's Hospital Boston since 2010, was named co-winner of the Revolution's Humanitarian of the Year award, along with Matt Reis, last month.

On Monday, the Revolution's Darrius Barnes and Zak Boggs were named as finalists for year-end MLS awards for their efforts on and off the field in 2011.

Barnes is a finalist for the XBOX 360 Fair Play Award, which is given to the MLS player who exemplifies the meaning of sportsmanship. In 2011, the versatile defender, who split time across the backline in 28 games, committed only 14 fouls on the season and was cautioned just once.

The Timbers defense began the year as the team's most glaring weakness, but became the feel-good story of the year by the end of the season. The questionable personnel choices made in the preseason doomed them from the start. To make matters worse they fell victim to more than their fair share of ugly injuries and immigration issues.

A month ago I wrote an article on why it would be best if Steve Nicol left New England. The plan was to publish it into the off-season and have the conversations that came with it then. Yesterday, I deleted that article because the Revolution beat me to it. Rightfully so. It was time for Steve Nicol to leave the club he lead for an MLS record ten years.

In his ten seasons in New England, Stevie Nicol oversaw the most successful run in Revolution's history. But, after the club's record sharply regressed over the past two years in particular, the writing was on the wall: it was time for the gaffer to go.

Many will remember that Nicol's debut came in 1999, when he replaced the last storied Revolution manager the Spiderman himself, Walter Zenga for the final two matches of the season.

The New England Revolution are gearing up to close out the worst season in their history against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon. It will be a rare early game for the Revs with kickoff slated for 12:30 PM. Having already assured themselves of the lowest win total in franchise history, New England will really just be looking to end on a high note before they put the 2011 season to rest for good.

New England has some tough decisions to make in regards to the expansion draft. (Getty Images)

It may be the final week of the season but we are moving on in the 2011 Expansion Draft lists here. I've already covered the Vancouver Whitecaps and now I will tackle another club that is out of contention the New England Revolution.

Brian O'Connell of ESPN Boston brought up in his piece from yesterday that this Saturday at Gillette will conclude the Revs' season (at least at home) with their annual awards night. The awards that will be given out include MVP, Defender of the Year, and Humanitarian of the Year. So, this got me to thinking: just who might be the most likely candidates for this year's awards?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The opponent changed, but the match looked the same as so many others in this disastrous season for the New England Revolution. Defensive miscues and a lack of inventiveness in the final third assured the Revs (5-15-12, 27 points) would finish with a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes (7-11-14, 35 points).

Welcome to the New England Revolution vs. San Jose Earthquakes live game thread! Pride and roster spots are on the line tonight as both teams are out of playoff contention. San Jose are coming off a 1-1 home draw with Sporting KC, while the Revs are looking to wash the taste of a 2-1 home loss to Seattle out of their mouths.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. With their postseason hopes officially over, the New England Revolution's final three games won't be just about finishing the season with pride. The final three weeks of the season are expected to be a trial period for players, especially with so much overhaul expected after a lackluster campaign.

Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

New England Revolution rookie centerback A.J. Soares will miss the club's final three games after undergoing ankle surgery on Thursday.

Soares started 28 games in his first season in MLS, but he injured his left ankle and will need the next 6-to-8 weeks to go through rehabilitation following the surgery, according to a team-issued release.

Following the Revolution's elimination from the postseason race, fourth-year veteran Chris Tierney suggested that "jobs are on the line" going into the final three games of season.

Although that may seem drastic, Tierney's point isn't terribly off base. With the team chained to the basement, it stands to reason that more than a few Revolution players may be playing in their final games in Foxboro this month.

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 Sean Donahue and Brian O'Connell contributed ratings for the New England Revolution's 2-1 loss to Seattle on Saturday.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Teenage phenom Diego Fagundez scored in his first MLS start, but Fredy Montero's brace officially eliminated the Revs from postseason contention as the Sounders secured a 2-1 win at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.

Fagundez, who got the nod up top with Milton Caraglio, put the Revs (5-14-12, 27 pts.

Ha ha ha. There's no better way to put a skip in your step than to throw a bunch of second- and third-stringers into an away match and get a win anyway. We mostly got tonight's reserve heavy Sounders starting 11 right, but were off on some of the details. Roger Levesque was in the game, but as a right back.

By IAN HOLLIDAY

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Sixteen-year-old Diego Fagundez scored in his first MLS start, but it was Fredy Montero who made the difference in Seattle Sounders FC's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium Saturday night.

The Columbian capitalized on sloppy defending from the Revs in the 36th and 47th minutes to overturn Fagundez's 35th minute opener and improve the visitors to 16-6-9 (57 points) on the season and keep the pressure on Los Angeles in the Supporters Shield race.

The New England Revolution begin a three-match home stand on Saturday, October 1st against the Seattle Sounders. In addition, this weekend's clash is also the Revs' annual Breast Cancer Awareness game. Through partnerships with Making Strides for Breast Cancer, We Got Soccer and Adidas, New England will outfit players, staff and officials in a slew of pink accessories while raffling and/or auctioning game-worn or game-used gear.

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 Sean Donahue and Brian O'Connell contributed ratings for the New England Revolution's 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire on Sunday.

I like this thing called winning. The Fire got things going early and never looked back against hated rival New England. The only hiccups came late in the game when things were just about out of reach. Nervous moments not withstanding, this was one of the better Fire outings all season.

Logan Pause got things started off right with a great ball in the 5th minute to spring Patrick Nyarko free on goal.

Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Dan Gargan, Josip Mikulic, Jalil Anibaba, Gonzalo Segares; Marco Pappa, Pavel Pardo, Logan Pause ©; Sebastian Grazzini (Baggio Husidic 25'); Patrick Nyarko (Diego Chaves 66'), Dominic Oduro (Orr Barouch 77')

Substitutes not used: Jon Conway, Yamith Cuesta, Corben Bone, Daniel Paladini
New England Revolution: Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Franco Coria, Darrius Barnes, Chris Tierney; Ryan Guy, Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph ©, Kenny Mansally (Kheli Dube 57'); Milton Caraglio, Zach Schilawski (Diego Fagundez 71')
Substitutes not used: Bobby Shuttleworth, Otto Loewy, Zak Boggs, Pat Phelan, Ryan Kinne
Scoring Summary
CHI - Sebastian Grazzini (penalty kick) 5'
CHI - Dominic Oduro (Sebastian Grazzini) 9'
CHI - Patrick Nyarko (unassisted) 30'
NE - Ryan Guy (unassisted) 90'
NE - Ryan Guy (Milton Caraglio, Diego Fagundez) 92'+
Misconduct Summary

NE - Franco Coria (Caution; Reckless Foul) 27'
NE - Darrius Barnes (Caution; Dissent) 46'+
CHI - Dan Gargan (Caution; Delaying a Restart) 76'

CHI - Baggio Husidic (Caution; Tactical Foul) 86'

Referee: Michael Kennedy

Referee's Assistants: Kermit Quisenberry, Paul Scott

4th Referee: Jasen Anno

Attendance: 14,567

Highlights and quotes after the break

Highlights

Quotes

Frank Klopas, Chicago Fire interim head coach
On the result:
"In the second half, being up 3-0 and tough stretch ahead of us, I had the opportunity to give some guys a break and get everyone involved in the game.

Dreadfully poor defended helped gift Chicago an early 3-0 lead on Sunday evening and only poor finishing from the Fire and a stoppage time brace from Ryan Guy left the final score a somewhat respectable 3-2 loss for the New England Revolution at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

Guy's first two MLS goals came far too late to salvage anything for the Revs (5-13-12, 27 pts.