Revs 2013 SuperDraft Recap

Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Andrew Farrell (1^st Round, 1^st Pick)

Player Profile:

• Position: Defender
• Height: 5′ 11″
• Weight: 165 lbs.
• Birth Date: 04-03-1992
• Birthplace: Louisville, KY

Career at Louisville:

2012 First-team NSCAA All-American, 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, 2012 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Started all five NCAA Tournament games as freshman.

2012 Stats: 23 Starts, 4 Goals, 9 Points

Highlights: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/08/mls-superdraft-andrew-farrell

Twitter: @louisville05

1-1 Interview With MLS: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/17/superdraft-13-andrew-farrell-selected-1

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Donnie Smith (2nd Round, 2nd Pick)

Player Profile:

• Position: Forward
• Height: 5′ 11″
• Weight: 158 lbs.
• Birth Date: 12-07-1990
• Birthplace: Matthews, North Carolina

Career at UNC Charlotte:

2011 College Cup Championship Appearance, 2011 College Cup All-Tournament Team, Named Second Team All-Atlantic 10.

2012 Stats: 16 Starts, 4 Goals, 4 Assists, 12 Points

Highlights: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/12/25/mls-superdraft-donnie-smith-char

Twitter: @Donnie9Smith

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Luke Spencer (2nd Round, 4^th Pick)

Player Profile:

• Position: Forward
• Height: 6’2″
• Weight: 198 lbs.
• Birth Date: 11-28-1990
• Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

Career at Xavier:

2009 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship All-Tournament Team, 2011 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team, 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship All-Tournament Team, Lead Musketeers to second round of NCAA Tournament

2012 Stats: 20 Starts, 14 Goals, 8 Assists, 36 Points

Highlights: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/12/mls-superdraft-luke-spencer

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Luis Soffner (2nd Round, 17^th Pick)

Player Profile:

• Position: Goalkeeper
• Height: 6’4″
• Weight: 210 lbs.
• Birth Date: 08-28-1991
• Birthplace: St. Louis, MO

Career at Indiana:

Started all 24 games played in 2012, 13 shutouts, 2012 NCAA College Cup Champion, 2012 College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player and All-Tournament Team, Academic All-Big Ten

2012 Stats: 24 Starts, 18 Goals Allowed, 0.72 GAA, .816 Save Pct.

Highlights: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/07/mls-superdraft-luis-soffner

Twitter: @louie_soffner

Revolution Choose Andrew Farrell In First Pick of 2013 MLS SuperDraft

With the 1st overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, the New England Revolution have selected defender Andrew Farrell of Louisville
(Courtesy of the New England Revolution)

In the first pick of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, the New England Revolution have selected highly talented Andrew Farrell, a center back out of the University of Louisville. Farrell is a promising pick for New England, as the club hopes he can tighten up a shaky defensive core with A.J. Soares, Stephen McCarthy, and Kevin Alston. Now that the generation Adidas player has been ‘scarfed’ as a Rev, head coach Jay Heaps will be eager to get the first round pick accustom to the club, and see how well he will fit into his squad this pre-season. After all, the Revolution did not trade up for the first pick in the draft for nothing. Andrew is excited about his MLS future, and when asked about being drafted first overall, he told the media “Obviously you want to be the first guy off the board and New England is a great club…a new journey begins with New England”. The biggest question Revolution fans are asking is what position Farrell will play and if his performance will meet the hype. “Obviously there is pressure on me as a rookie, but I have to prove what I can do” Farrell said, “I think that right back won’t be too hard, I played some right back in college”. Andrew went on explaining that wherever Jay Heaps has him play is fine with him.

Player Profile:

• Height: 5′ 11″
• Weight: 165 lbs.
• Birth Date: 04-03-1992
• Birthplace: Louisville, KY

Career at Louisville:

2012 Season:

-First-team NSCAA All-American,

-MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and

-Big East Defensive Player of the Yeae.

-23 Starts, 4 goals, 9 points

-As freshman, started all five NCAA Tournament games

Highlights: http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/andrew-farrell

Twitter: @louisville05

1-1 Interview With MLS: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/17/superdraft-13-andrew-farrell-selected-1

 

Boxing To Distract Revolution And Fans

Danny O’Connor (Framingham, MA) practices his punches for Sunday’s match after the Revolution game    (Photo Credit: Jason Dalrymple)

Revolution soccer tickets may not be in the highest demand this season, or the last few seasons for that matter, but boxing? Really?

The boxing match will take place on August 12^th, following the Revolution home game against the Montreal Impact at 7pm. It is evident that many marketing ploys and ticket giveaways occur frequently at Gillette Stadium to boost soccer sales, but adding another sport to the main event is ridiculous.  This decision takes away from the soccer match if anything, and it is hard to imagine too many fans will stay late for boxing on a Sunday night. The organization believes bringing a local boxing star in Danny O’Connor will capture some new Revs fans.

Revolution president Brian Bilello said, “This will be a unique event that will add value for our fans. We think we’ll convert some boxing fans to Revolution soccer and vice versa.”

Hosting this boxing event looks more like an act of desperation than a ‘unique event that will add value to our fans’. If the fans need an added value, it sure as hell does not come from other distractions at Gillette Stadium.  Like any fan base in any sport, the fans want to be entertained and more importantly, they want their team to win.

The added value should be a new signing, possibly a big name goal scorer or someone who the fans can idolize and cheer on. Trading away captain and fan favorite Shalrie Joseph last week does not help the situation, but it makes the fan wonder ‘Who WILL the Revs sign next?’

Joseph’s absence opens up about $500,000 in cap room, and New England is still holding Diego Fagundez in their back pocket.  Despite some speculation, starting Diego with some consistency would not only give the the 17-year-old a shot to prove his starting ability, but it would attract plenty of the younger Revolution fans as well. Ticket and concession sales can only fall more if something is not done by next season.  With just 12 games left, the Revolution must make a brash move soon to capture a playoff spot this season, or at least gear up for the next.

-Matt Bloom

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