FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The goal which sent the Revs to MLS Cup was made in New England.
Scott Caldwell, the first-ever captain of the Revolution’s Under-18 team back in 2008, was born and raised in Braintree, Massachusetts. He corralled the remnants of a blocked shot 30 yards from goal and quickly turned to put the New York Red Bulls back under pressure, spraying the ball out wide.
Chris Tierney, one of the longest-serving players in Revolution history with 160 career appearances in the regular season and playoffs, grew up just outside of Boston in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He settled Caldwell’s pass with one touch before whipping a cross into the box.
Charlie Davies, who recently recalled sitting in the stands at the old Foxboro Stadium as a 10-year-old to watch guys like Alexi Lalas and Paul Keegan suit up for the Revs, is from Manchester, New Hampshire. He slipped in between a pair of Red Bulls defenders and powered home a header from close range.
The 70th-minute goal pulled the Revs level at 2-2 on the night, but more importantly it restored their 4-3 aggregate advantage. It was a lead they’d never relinquish en route to a fifth Eastern Conference title.
“It’s a special night,” said Jay Heaps. “Those (local) guys were just pretty amazing.”
Heaps, of course, is himself a native New Englander. Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, and raised in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, he made 243 regular-season appearances for the Revs (third all-time) before taking over as the club’s head coach ahead of the 2012 season.
Throughout the course of the past three seasons, Heaps has taken great care to instill grit and determination within his side, something he’s achieved, in part, by turning to his fellow New Englanders.
“A lot of our aggression and the way we play stems from a New England culture,” Heaps said. “I was born and raised here and I think we want that, because when you get into the trenches, when you get into the battles, I really feel that’s an advantage for us. I love having guys out there that have that character and know who they are.”
Heaps and the four local players on New England’s roster – including the Revolution’s first-ever Homegrown Player, Diego Fagundez, who grew up in Leominster, Massachusetts – now have the chance to help their hometown club do something it has never done before.
Lift MLS Cup.
“This franchise has been there four times and hasn’t won yet,” said Davies. “For us to finally get a chance to win one would be extremely special, especially since I grew up here. Bringing a championship back to Boston would be the ultimate goal and something we hope we can do.”
