The 1997 New England Revolution season was the second season for the New England Revolution both as a club and in Major League Soccer (MLS). Along with the MLS regular season, the team made their debut in both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup Playoffs, although they failed to advance in either. The season began on March 29 with a 1–0 away win over the Dallas Burn, and concluded with a home shootout loss to D.C. United in the MLS Cup Playoffs on October 8. The 1997 season marked the first season with goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who would later be elevated to player-manager in the 1998 season after the departure of head coach Thomas Rongen.
Transfers Transfers In
Date Position No. Name From Fee/notes Ref. February 20 FW 11 Chiquinho Conde Vitoria de Setubal League Allocation March 4 GK 1 Walter Zenga Calcio Padova League Allocation March 6 DF 6 Leonardo Squadrone Estudiantes de La Plata League Allocation March 10 DF 25 Alejandro Farías Boca Juniors Discovery Player May 9 DF 3 Erik Imler D.C. United Claimed off Waivers June 5 FW 23 Rob Jachym Columbus Crew Signed June 5 DF 2 Brian Dunseth Cal State Fullerton Allocated from MLS Project-40 July 10 MF 11 Evans Wise Tampa Bay Mutiny Trade for Bill Harte July 16 GK 26 Jeff Causey D.C. United Signed August 13 FW 33 Giuseppe Galderisi Tampa Bay Mutiny Trade for Chiquinho Conde and Sam George August 13 MF 7 Ivan McKinley Tampa Bay Mutiny Trade for Chiquinho Conde and Sam George
Transfers Out
Date Position No. Name To Fee/notes Ref. March 3 MF 6 Geoff Aunger Waived March 3 MF 13 Mark Watson Waived March 5 FW - J.T. Roberts Waived March 10 FW 11 Wélton LA Galaxy Traded for the Galaxy's first-round pick in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft March 10 DF 3 Iain Fraser Waived March 10 GK 32 Aidan Heaney Waived March 10 GK 8 Peter Woodring Waived March 17 MF 14 John DeBrito Waived April 15 FW 24 Patrick Olalere Waived May 7 FW 19 Steve Klein Waived May 28 DF 9 Kevin Wylie Waived June 24 DF 17 Greg Lalas Waived July 10 DF 2 Bill Harte Tampa Bay Mutiny Traded in exchange for Evans Wise August 13 FW 22 Chiquinho Conde Tampa Bay Mutiny Traded in exchange for Giuseppe Galderisi and Ivan McKinley August 13 MF 14 Sam George Tampa Bay Mutiny Traded in exchange for Giuseppe Galderisi and Ivan McKinley November 6 DF 20 Francis Okaroh Chicago Fire Claimed in the 7th round of the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft November 13 MF 25 Alejandro Farías Waived November 13 FW 33 Giuseppe Galderisi Waived November 13 MF 3 Erik Imler Waived November 13 FW 9 John Kerr Jr. Waived November 13 MF 7 Darren Sawatzky Waived
Draft results
College draft
The Revolution traded their first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Mutiny in exchange for the singing of former Mutiny coach Thomas Rongen. In addition, the team acquired an additional third-round pick and a first-round selection (#3) in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft from the Dallas Burn in exchange for a first-round selection (#2) in the 1997 Supplemental Draft.
On February 2, 1997, the Revolution selected Scott Coufal, Steve Klein, and J.T. Roberts in the College Draft. On March 6, 1997, the Revolution waived Roberts.
New England Revolution – 1997 MLS College Draft Round Overall Name Position Previous club 2 12 Scott Coufal GK Indiana University 3 22 Steve Klein M Bowling Green State University 3 26 J.T. Roberts M Northern Kentucky University
Supplemental draft
On February 2, 1997, the Revolution drafted Bill Harte, Patrick Olalere, and Sam George in the MLS Supplemental Draft.
New England Revolution – 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft Round Overall Name Position Previous club 1 3 Bill Harte D Loyola University, Baltimore Spirit 2 12 Patrick Olalere F Carson-Newman, California Jaguars 3 22 Sam George M UCLA, Anaheim Splash
Club Team management
Roster All listed players made appearances in MLS regular season play.
Non-competitive Preseason The Revolution played six pre-season matches and had a 3-2-1 record.
Matches
Mid-season friendlies Matches
Competitive
Major League Soccer
Conference standings
Overall standings
Matches
MLS Cup Playoffs
The Revolution qualified for their first ever MLS Cup Playoffs and faced off against reigning champions D.C. United in a best-of-three matches. The team failed to secure a win in either match. It would take until the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2000 before the Revolution would appear in a playoff match again, and until the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2002 before they would advance in a playoff match-up.
Matches
D.C. United win the series 2–0.
U.S. Open Cup
The Revolution made their U.S. Open Cup debut after declining to participate in the 1996 edition. They exited in the Third Round after a 4-3 loss in sudden death extra time, to the Long Island Rough Riders.
Matches
Honors
New England Revolution – 1997 League and Team Awards Honor Name Revolution Team Most Valuable Player Walter Zenga Revolution Team Scoring Champion Alberto Naveda (20pts; 7g, 6a) Revolution Team Defender of the Year Francis Okaroh MLS All-Stars Alexi Lalas, Ted Chronopoulos, Walter Zenga MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Walter Zenga (finalist) MLS Player of the Month Walter Zenga (September) MLS Player of the Month Chiquinho Conde (Week 10), Alberto Naveda (Week 11)
Notes
References