Major League Bridesmaids: Chronicling The 2014 New England Revolution Season (VIDEO)

Dec 7, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New England Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth (22) and New England Revolution player Chris Tierney (8) react after a goal by Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane (not pictured) in overtime during the 2014 MLS Cup final at Stubhub Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Dearly beloved, here on the MLS Multiplex, as we prepare to give you end-to-end coverage of the 2014-15 MLS Offseason, let’s take this time to spare a thought for Jay Heaps’s New England Revolution. You see, it’s tough enough to make it to an MLS Cup Final. It’s even tougher to not only lose a final, but do it five times without winning it. These beloved losers of the competition are hereby given the undisputed title of the Buffalo Bills of Major League Soccer. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

That is a tough role to play, but it is a role that is 13 years in the making, so to predictably fall at the last hurdle every single time may be argued as…tradition in American football and ice hockey-rich New England. But enough pontificating. Let’s break down the year that was the year that was for New England’s Revolution Football Club. Or, Revolution Soccer Club.

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March was a rough month for New England. They had a win against San Jose on the road (2-1, Mar. 29), a scoreless draw with Vancouver on Mar. 22 and a couple of road defeats to open up the year. Things did turn around in April and May. From Apr. 5 through May 24, the Revs had six wins, a draw against Chicago (1-1, Apr. 19), and a loss to D.C. United (2-0, Apr. 5).

Ahen came…the losing streak. The Revolution had an eight-game losing streak, highlighted by a 5-1 smashing on Jul. 16 on the road at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy, whose paths would meet later on. But with the arrival of Jermaine Jones, he and Lee Nguyen would spark the resurgence of the Revs.

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It all started with a 3-0 shutout win over the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium on Jul. 30. In August, New England went 2-1-1, their only loss coming against the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 2 at Red Bull Arena. September would also be a solid month for the Revs, with four wins and one loss coming against the Columbus Crew, also on the road.

October would see the Revolution go guns blazing, with three wins and a 2-2 draw with the Montreal Impact on Oct. 11 at Stade Saputo. So the scene was set for a little revenge. Columbus and New York were the last two teams to defeat the Revolution in the regular season. How fitting it would be, readers, that the Revolution would set things right.

First, they destroyed the Crew 7-3 on aggregate in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The first leg saw the Revs win 4-2. Charlie Davies scored a brace in the 34th and 78th minutes, Chris Tierney scored in the 51st and Nguyen—who would end up as an league MVP finalist—scored in the 70th minute. The second saw New England rout the Crew 3-1 at home. Nguyen (43′), Jose Goncalves (55′) and Teal Bunbury (77′) scored in the second leg.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Revolution edged the Red Bulls 4-3 on aggregate. Goals from Bunbury (17′) and Jones (85′) paced the Revs. In the second leg, it was all Charlie Davies. His brace in the 41st and 70th minutes gave the Revolution the Eastern Conference title.

But, as has been case for every MLS Cup meeting, New England would falter in extra time in MLS Cup 2014 against the Galaxy. Chris Tierney did score for the Revolution in the 79th minute, offsetting a strike from Gyasi Zardes 27 minutes prior, but the class and finish from Robbie Keane, the league MVP, would consign the Revolution to a league-record five MLS Cup defeats.

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As with most MLS teams looking to retool, defense is going to be tantamount. Chris Tierney, though he was a hero for a time in the MLS Cup Final, may not have the speed and pace to be a difference maker in today’s MLS. Kelyn Rowe, Bunbury, Charlie Davies, A.J. Soares and Diego Fagundez may be sweating to see if they remain on the books next season. Aside from Nguyen earning his stripes this year, Patrick Mullins also left an impression and will be a name worth mentioning.

The expansion draft could see Kevin Alston, Davies, Bunbury, Soares, Fagundez, Mullins, Steve Neumann and Bobby Shuttleworth taken away. Jose Goncalves could be given a see-you-later this month. The logical choice that Jay Heaps will make is to work with what he currently has post-draft and add an extra wheel or two to get the engine up and running. And of course, Jermaine Jones could be signed for the long haul, even though he has a year remaining in his contract. A number of players have seen their options declined, including goalkeepers Larry Jackson, Joe Nasco and Luis Soffner, defender Jossimar Sanchez, midfielders Shalrie Joseph, Donnie Smith and Alec Sundly as well as forwards Andre Akpan and Tony Taylor.

So, followers of the Buffalo Bills of our dear competition, the days of seeing your club be the lovable bridesmaids, the lovable losers could be numbered. That isn’t to day that’s a bad thing; on the contrary, it’s a breath of fresh air that is not a nor’easter. The New England Revolution are on the rise and will challenge Ben Olsen’s D.C. United next year for the right to be the Beasts from the Easts.

That is all. The analysis is ended, go in peace. Amen.

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