FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (4-7-1, 13 pts.) plays two matches this week as the club begins 2012 U.S. Open Cup play on Tuesday before returning to MLS action this Saturday at home, the only league game on the docket this weekend.

On Tuesday, May 29, the Revolution enters the third round of the 2012 U.S. Open Cup and travels to face the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-Pro, 3-1-3, 12 pts.) at 7 p.m., at the Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg, Pa.. Tuesday’s match will be streamed on the web at revolutionsoccer.net.

The MLS schedule continues on Saturday, June 2, when the Revolution hosts the Chicago Fire (5-4-3, 18 pts.), at 7:30 p.m., at Gillette Stadium. Comcast SportsNet will televise the game while 98.5 The Sports Hub will carry the game on the radio. Saturday’s match is the only MLS game scheduled this weekend as most of the league is on hiatus during the FIFA window the next two weeks.

Harrisburg defeated New England, 2-1, in added extra time, when the teams last in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 30, 2009. Last year in MLS action, Chicago won the season-series against the Revs, picking up a 3-2 win on Sept. 25 in Chicago following a 1-1 draw on June 18, at Gillette Stadium.

SERIES INFORMATION VS. HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS
Team information vs. Harrisburg City Islanders

• Tuesday’s match will be the third time that the Revolution and USL-side Harrisburg City Islanders meet in U.S. Open Cup action … the teams have split the prior meetings, 1-1-0
• New England won the first meeting on Aug. 8, 2007, defeating Harrisburg, 2-1, in the quarterfinals before winning the club’s first U.S. Open Cup championshi
• Harrisburg upset the Revs, 2-1 after extra time on June 30, 2009 in the third round as the Revs finished the game with eight men on the field following two injuries and a late red-card
• The nickname “City Islanders” might seem an odd moniker for a team located in south-central Pennsylvania, but the nickname refers to the unique location of the City Islanders’ home stadium: on an island in the middle of the Susquehanna River.
• The Harrisburg City Islanders were founded in 2004 … in 2007 the City Islanders won the USL-2 championship with current manager Bill Becher … the City Islanders have advanced to the playoffs in their division in all but one year of their existence … the lone exception was in the 2006 season.
• The Revs are 11-10-3 overall in the U.S. Open Cup since 1997 … they are 2-1-1 all-time in U.S. Open Cup competition against USL-Pro teams (formerly USL-2).

SERIES INFORMATION VS CHICAGO FIRE
Team information vs. Chicago

• Saturday’s match will be the 41st MLS regular-season meeting between the two teams and the 60th meeting overall, including MLS Cup playoffs, U.S. Open Cup and SuperLiga meetings
• Chicago leads the all-time, regular-season series between the two teams, 18-13-9 … in all meetings, Chicago holds a 28-21-10 edge in the series
• The Revs are 9-8-3 at home against Chicago all-time, including a 7-5-2 record at Gillette Stadium
• The Revs have struggled at home against the Fire of late, and are 0-4-1 in their last five home matches against Chicago, dating back to the start of the 2008 season
• The Revs are winless against the Fire in their last 10 regular-season meetings, with New England’s last in-season win coming May 6, 2007 at Gillette Stadium (3-1)
• Saturday’s match is the first of three regular-season meetings between the two clubs this year … on Aug. 18, the Revs will travel to Chicago before returning to Gillette Stadium to host the Fire on Oct. 20
• Chicago won the 2011 regular-season series after defeating New England, 3-2, on Sept. 25 at Chicago following a 1-1 draw on June 18, at Gillette Stadium
• The Revs’ win in Chicago in SuperLiga 2010 remains the Revs’ first – and only -- victory at Toyota Park since the stadium’s inaugural year in 2006 ... prior to the win, the Revs were 0-6-1 in their seven previous appearances at Toyota Park (2007-present), and had been outscored 14-2 in those matches
• The Revs are a combined 2-9-4 in all competitions against the Fire since the start of the 2008 season ... that record includes nine regular-season games, four playoff matches and two SuperLiga games ... the Revs’ 1-0 win on July 17, 2010, in the SuperLiga group stage was their most recent victory in the series
• New England and Chicago have met at least five times per season (regular-season, playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, SuperLiga) six times since 2002 … in 2007 and 2004, the clubs only played each other four times each … the high came in 2006 when the teams met seven times – four times in the regular season, twice in the playoffs and once in the Open Cup
• The Revs and Fire have met in seven of the last 10 postseasons (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) … in total, the teams have met in the playoffs in eight seasons, all since 2000

Player Notes vs. Chicago

• Shalrie Joseph is the team’s active leading scorer against Chicago, with one goal and four assists in 23 matches… Joseph’s lone goal against the Fire was scored in the clubs’ 1-1 draw on May 9, 2009, at Toyota Park
• Ryan Guy has two goals in two appearances against the Fire as Guy recorded two stoppage-time goals at Chicago on Sept. 25, 2011
• Matt Reis is the Revolution’s all-time wins leader against the Fire with seven, while he has posted a 1.48 goals against average and five shutouts … Reis also has three career postseason shutouts in seven appearances against Chicago
• Diego Fagundez recorded his first career assist on Ryan Guy’s second goal against Chicago on Sept. 25, 2011
• In the 2009 MLS Cup playoff series against Chicago, Shalrie Joseph recorded his first career postseason goal

TEAM NOTES
Revs battle Harrisburg in U.S. Open Cup Play on Tuesday Night

The Revolution will begin play in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 29, with a third-round match against the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-PRO) … kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg, Pa. … Harrisburg advanced to the third round with a victory over PDL-side Long Island Rough Riders, 2-0, on Tuesday, May 22, in a second-round game played in Harrisburg … since winning the club's first-ever championship in the U.S. Open Cup in 2007, the Revs have struggled with a 2-4-1 record, reaching the semifinal round just once -- a 2008 loss to D.C. United.

Revs Seek Revenge from 2009 Tilt

Tuesday’s match will mark the third-ever meeting between the two clubs in U.S. Open Cup play, and the Revs will seek revenge following a 2-1 upset win in extra time for the City Islanders the last time the squads faced each other on June 30, 2009 … the Revs finished that game with eight men after making three halftime substitutions and then suffering two injuries and a late red card … prior to their 2009 meeting, the Revs defeated Harrisburg, 2-1, in the 2007 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, en route to the 2007 Open Cup title.

Road Struggles in U.S. Open Cup Action

Despite having success at home during U.S. Open Cup play – with 8-3-2 marks -- the Revs have historically struggled on the road during the tournament, posting a 3-7-1 record outside of New England … the Revs’ last three Open Cup matches since 2010 have been played on the road, and the Revs are 1-2-0, with the lone victory coming in the 3-2 win in the 2011 MLS Play-in round at D.C. United.

Bounce-Back Effort Needed after 2011 Performance

New England was left with a bitter taste in its mouth in its last U.S. Open Cup match last season, suffering a 5-0 loss at the hands of Sporting Kansas City in the second game of the MLS Play-in round on May 25, 2011 …the loss was the club’s worst loss in its U.S. Open Cup play history, marking just the second time the club has lost by more than three goals in the tournament.

Shuttleworth Expected to Get the Nod

Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth is expected to start in net for New England on Tuesday night when the Revs take on the Harrisburg City Islanders in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup ... Shuttleworth -- who has been Matt Reis’ primary backup in each of the club's first 12 games -- started both of the club's U.S. Open Cup Play-in matches in 2011 and made three saves in the team's 3-2 victory at D.C. United on April 26.

Goals Rain Down in May

The Revs scored two second-half goals on Saturday, pushing the team’s goal total to 11 goals in five games in the month of May … following just one goal scored in the month of April, the Revs averaged 2.20 goals per game in May and have been held to a single one-goal game – the 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake on May 5 … following that defeat, the Revs averaged 2.67 goals per game: scoring four goals against Vancouver (May 12) and a pair of goals in matches against Houston (May 19) and at D.C. (May 26).

But Multiple Goals for Both Teams

Despite an offensive scoring surge in May, the Revs conceded two or more goals three times during the month … Saturday’s loss marked the second consecutive game the Revs have allowed at least two goals in a game after the 2-2 draw against Houston on May 19.

Late Goals Hurt Revs

The game-winning goal-against in the 61st minute on Saturday marked the second straight week that the Revs have given up the game-winning or game-tying goal against in the 60th minute or later … on May 19 against Houston, the Revs dropped points after surrendering an 87th minute equalizer against Houston.

Another Loss in One-Goal Game

The Revs’ 3-2 loss at D.C. United on Saturday was the club’s league-leading eighth one-goal game this season … the Revs are now 2-6-0 in those games and last picked up a win in a one-goal game on May 2 – a 2-1 win against Colorado.

Reversal of Fortune

The Revs came out of halftime with a two-goal deficit on Saturday at D.C., but roared back, equalizing with goals two minutes apart – in the 48th and 50th minutes … that swing marked the first time that the team erased a two-goal deficit this season … the euphoria was short-lived, however, as D.C. struck for the go-ahead goal in the 61stminute and went on for the win.

Most Come-backs Thwarted

Seven times this season – including Saturday at D.C. – the Revs allowed the first goal … the Revs are now 2-5-0 when their opponent strikes first with the two wins coming against Colorado (2-1, May 2) and Vancouver (4-1, May 12), both at home.

Sène’s Streak Extends

Saer Sene scored his seventh goal of the season on a rebound finish on Saturday, marking the third consecutive game in which the Frenchman has scored a goal, dating back to May 12 against Vancouver … Sene is one of three players in MLS to have a current goal-scoring streak of three or more games, joining Columbus’ Justin Meram (3) and New York’s Kenny Cooper (4) … San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski compiled a league-leading five-game streak when he scored in each game from March 24 through April 21.

Saer’s Monster Month of May

Saer Sène scored five goals and added one assist in the month of May after recording the Revs’ first goal at D.C. United on Saturday … Sene scored two goals in the month of March, but was held scoreless in his three appearances in April … before Saturday’s goal, Sene scored against Colorado (May 2), scored a goal and an assist against Vancouver (May 12) and added two goals against Houston (May 19).

Soares Shoots and Soars

A.J. Soares scored his first goal of the season off of a Chris Tierney corner kick on Saturday … the goal was Soares’ second career goal after he scored at Philadelphia on Sept. 7, 2011 … both of his career goals have come off of a header … Soares scored last year at Philly off of a free kick, also from Tierney.

Finally Set-Piece Success

The Revs scored their first goal off a set piece on Saturday night at D.C. … the Revs’ first set piece goal came off a corner-kick as A.J. Soares headed home Chris Tierney’s service … prior to Saturday’s game, the Revs had not scored off a corner kick, or direct or indirect free kick yet this season.

That Lineup Looked Familiar

Saturday’s starting lineup against D.C. United – the same one head coach Jay Heaps used on May 19 against Houston – marked the first time this season Heaps named the same starting 11 in consecutive games … it also marked the first time since Sept. 10 and 19, 2011, that the Revolution used the same starting 11 in back-to-back games.

That Guy Again

Ryan Guy stepped into the defensive central midfield for the second time in as many games on Saturday night at D.C. … Guy had never played that particular position in his professional career before May 19 against Houston … in his Revs career, Guy has played left wing, right wing, left back (in reserve games), right back and attacking central midfield.

Cardenas Comes on Early

Following Ryan Guy’s right calf injury in the 28th minute, Fernando Cardenas stepped in at right wing, forcing Benny Feilhaber into Guy’s central midfield spot after he started on the right wing … Saturday’s substitute appearance was Cardenas’ 10th of the season.

Tierney Takes Share of Team Lead

Chris Tierney recorded his third assist of the season on A.J. Soares’ headed goal on Saturday at D.C. United … the assist moved Tierney into a tie for the team lead in assists with Shalrie Joseph (3) … the assist was Tierney’s 14th career assist – and second in the month of May – following his assist on Lee Nguyen’s second goal on May 12 against Vancouver … Tierney is now two assists shy of 10th place on the Revs’ career assist list, currently held by Joe Franchino (16 assists).

A Peek Ahead to Saturday…

After Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match at Harrisburg, the Revs will return home for the first of first of three regular-season meetings against the Chicago Fire this year … the Revs went 0-1-1 against the Fire last season and most recently played on Sept. 25, 2011, a 3-2 Chicago win.

Still Searching for First East Win

The Revs return home on Saturday to face Chicago in the club’s third consecutive game against an Eastern Conference opponent … the Revs have struggled all year against the East as the Revs are 0-4-1 within their own conference … all four wins of the team’s wins in 2012 have come against Western Conference opponents.

YOUTH UPDATE
Under-18s

The Under-18s most recently suffered a 1-0 loss to FC Greater Boston on Saturday, May 19, at Harvard University in Boston … the U18s are now 8-8-3 and are in fifth place in the Northeast Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s East Conference.

Under-16s

The Under-16s most recently played FC Greater Boston to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, May 19, at Harvard … the U16s are now 11-6-2 and are in third place in the Northeast Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s East Conference.

The youth teams will face rivals FC Greater Boston in the back half of the teams’ home-and-away series on Monday, May 28, at the Fruit Street Athletic Field Complex in Hopkinton, Mass. The U18s will kick off at 10 a.m., followed by the U16s at 12:30 p.m.