Revolution head coach Jay Heaps stayed true to his word and named a “blended” lineup against the Richmond Kickers in the U.S. Open Cup last night. Defender Stephen McCarthy scored on his first appearance of the season, while midfielder Steve Neumann also found the net in his first start as a member of the Revs. Brian O’Connell of ESPN Boston has the thoughts of Heaps, McCarthy and Neumann on the win.

Rookies Steve Neumann and Patrick Mullins took the plaudits for the result – both recorded a goal and an assist – with Mullins netting the game-winner late in the first half. Heaps praised the dynamism of Neumann and the work-ethic of Mullins as the rookies made the difference. Check out Craig Forde’s piece in MLSSoccer.com as the Revs advance to the fifth round of Open Cup play.

The Revolution Academy has seen recent success with both Scott Caldwell and Diego Fagundez advancing through the ranks before starring for the first team. Adam Reilly of WGBH News recently spoke to Director of Youth Development, Bryan Scales, and Under-18s forward, Amadu Kunateh, about how the academy functions and their hopes for the future of soccer in the U.S.