CHESTER, Penn. (March 23, 2024) – New England Revolution II (0-0-0; 0 pts.) begin the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign on Sunday afternoon, when the team visits Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park. The match kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET with Sean Saint Jacques calling the action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Revolution II embarks on the new MLS NEXT Pro season following a record-setting campaign in 2023, highlighted by New England’s first postseason appearance en route to the Eastern Conference Final. The 2023 regular season saw New England collect club records in several categories including wins (14), goals scored (57), shots on target (155), and goals scored by Academy products (25). Last season also saw four Academy products suit up for professional action for the first time, five players tallying their first professional goals, and the first hat trick in team history scored by Homegrown midfielder Esmir Bajraktarević. New England also added three more Homegrowns to its first team roster in the offseason in Malcolm Fry, Peyton Miller, and Santiago Suarez, all of whom were regulars on Revolution II’s roster last season.
This season, Revolution II will play 28 matches against Eastern Conference opponents. Revolution II prepared for the 2024 campaign with a nine-week preseason, highlighted by a two-week trip to Bradenton, Fla., where the team played five preseason friendlies against a combination of MLS NEXT Pro and USL Championship opponents. New England went 2-2-1 during the preseason, with newcomer Alex Monis leading the team in scoring with four goals over five appearances.
Alongside Monis, New England’s group of newcomers also includes goalkeeper JD Gunn, defenders Hesron Barry and Collin Smith, midfielders Gevork Diarbian and Luka Borovic, and forwards Liam Butts and Andrej Bjelejac. A total of six Revolution Academy standouts also signed amateur agreements with the team last week as Eric Klein, Damario McIntosh, Alex Parvu, Cristiano Oliveira, Jamie Kabuusu, and Steban Lopera are set to feature on matchday rosters throughout the season. Local players continue to shine throughout New England’s pro pathway with Massachusetts natives Oliveira, Kabuusu, Lopera, Olger Escobar, Patrick Leal, and Brandonn Bueno, Rhode Island natives Diarbian and Parvu, Vermont native Max Weinstein, and New Hampshire native Colby Quiñones all featuring on the 2024 roster.
Philadelphia Union II opened its 2024 season with a 2-1 win over Toronto FC II last weekend. Revolution II owns a 5-2-0 record over Union II, earning three straight regular season victories last year before defeating Philadelphia, 3-2, in the opening round of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Playoffs.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR AGAINST PHILADELPHIA UNION II:
- New England beginning its fifth season, third in MLS NEXT Pro, following its record-setting 2023 campaign where the team collected a club-record 14 wins.
- Revolution II remaining unbeaten in season-opening matches dating back to the team’s inaugural season in 2020.
- New England improving upon its 5-2-0 all-time record and 2-1-0 record at Subaru Park vs. Philadelphia Union II.
- Head Coach Richie Williams leading the team in his first regular season match with Revolution II.
- New England newcomers Alex Monis, Collin Smith, Hesron Barry, Gevork Diarbian, JD Gunn, Liam Butts, and Andrej Bjelajac making their Revolution II debuts.
- Monis netting his first goal of the season after leading New England with four in five preseason matches.
- Academy players Cristiano Oliveira, Damario McIntosh, Jamie Kabuusu, and Alex Parvu potentially making their professional debuts, joining the 29 Academy products that have debuted with Revolution II since 2020.
