The New England started the 2003 MLS season with confidence following their last to first finish in the Eastern Conference and MLS Cup run last season. New England hoped to continue their strong performance from the previous season into the new season and make another run at MLS Cup. During the off season, Coach of the Year Steve Nicol was awarded with a contract to lift his interim tag. The off season also marked the return of the Revolution’s all time leading scorer, Joe-Max Moore. Steve Nicol hoped to have the forward duo of Joe-Max and returning MLS Scoring Champion Taylor Twellman, with newly acquired Peter Nowak handling the midfield. Unfortunately Nowak retired and the Revs were left out to dry as far as their midfield was concerned. In the Superdraft, Nicol picked Indiana forward Pat Noonan, along with BC’s goalkeeper Kyle Singer and Clemson’s Damien Westfield. During the draft, Nicol traded Alex Pineda Chacon to the Galaxy for keeper Matt Reis to add depth in the goalkeeping position. Last years 2nd round draft pick, Sharlie Joseph, along with Jason Moore, also signed with the Revs.

The Revs started the year 2-2-1, with a 2-0 revenge win over the LA Galaxy. In the next 6 games the Revs would win 2, lose 1, and draw 3. The Revs came out of the gate with a good start, but not one Steve Nicol was looking for. The Revs would go on to tie DC and win against Colorado. The win against Colorado would be the last one they would get to celebrate for awhile as the Revs went on a 9 game winless streak. Late minute goals against NY and DC would turn wins into ties and ties into losses. Everything was going bad for the Revs as injuries and call ups depleted the Revs lineup. With the departure of the unhappy Daniel Hernandez to Nexaca of the MFL, Steve Nicol went scouting in Central America and found two prospects, Jorge Vasquez and Jose Cancela. Nicol was hoping one of these prospects could fill the void of the traditional #10 role. Nicol decided to shake up the lineup even more by sending fan favorite Wolde Harris and newly acquired Argentine Jorge Vasquez to Colorado for Chris Brown and Dario Fabbro. Chris Brown in his first start got the unlucky Revs out of their winless streak and netted a hat trick to complete an impressive 5-1 win against the top team in the east, the Chicago Fire.

With the Revs on the outside looking in, superstars like Joe-Max and Twellman stepped up to put this team on the right track. A come from behind win against Columbus on 3 spectacular goals proved to themselves and the fans that this team is the same as last year, except better. The Moore and Twellman received injuries that would put them out for the remainder of the season. Rookie Pat Noonan stepped up and provided the goal scoring as the Revs beat NY in the final two games of the season. The last third of the season felt awfully familiar. That’s because the Revs finished with another excellent record in the games that really mattered. Facing elimination from a berth to the playoffs, the Revs won 7 of their last 9 to jump from 5th to 2nd. The midfield duo of Cancela and Joseph were phenomenal. The Revolution finished the 2003 campaign with an impressive 45 points, posting a record of 12-9-9, which is best in Revolution history. Only the Chicago Fire, with 53 points, was ahead of the Revs in the Eastern Conference.

The Revs entered the playoffs on a hot streak, 7-1-1 in their last nine, including 5 straight wins. The Revs would match up against the Metrostars, the same team they beat twice in the last two games of the season. The Revs walked out of Giants Stadium with a 2-0 win, with Noonan and Fabbro netting the goals. The next weekend, the Revs would tie the Metrostars, resulting in a berth to the Conference Championship, facing off against US Open Cup Champions and winners of the Supporters Shield, Chicago Fire. A game decided in the 111th minute of overtime saw the Revs lose against Chicago in heart breaking fashion.

This past year was certainly a great year for Revs fans and the Revolution as an organization. Players like Pat Noonan, Sharlie Joseph, Jose Cancela, and Marshall Leonard provided exciting play, enough to contend for starting roles next season. Revs fans have a lot to be excited about, and next season will be just as exciting.