Reserves earn first victory of the season

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – Alan Koger and Zack Schilawski each scored for the New England Revolution reserves as they beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday morning. The victory was the first for New England’s reserves (1-2-1, 4 points) and kept New York’s reserves (0-3-0) winless on the season.

Alan Koger scored his first MLS Reserve Division goal on Saturday morning. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Koger gave the Revs the lead in just the first minute, getting on the end of a long ball from Franco Coria and slotting a shot past goalkeeper Alex Horwath. Horwath had left his line to meet Koger at the top of the box, forcing the rookie to take a quick shot. The goal was the first in the Reserve Division for the 23-year-old striker, who had previously found the back of the net for the Revs in a 3-2 U.S. Open Cup qualifying victory over D.C. United in April.

Schilawski doubled the Revs lead just over 20 minutes into the second half when Ryan Kinne found him in the box with a cross after a quick corner kick from Andrew Sousa. Schilawski beat his defender to head Kinne’s cross past substitute goalkeeper Chris Konopka.

The Revs’ reserve line-up consisted of ten players on the Revolution roster plus a guest player. Bobby Shuttleworth started in goal, while the backline was made up of Coria, Darrius Barnes, Otto Loewy and Gabe Mercier, a guest player from Middleborough, Mass. who plays for the New Hampshire Phantoms.  The midfield and attack were made up of Schilawski, Koger, Kinne, Sousa, Kheli Dube and 16-year-old Diego Fagundez.

After Koger gave the Revs the early lead, Dube almost added another for the visitors in the 11th minute, but saw his shot from inside the box go wide of the left post.

Schilawski nearly had a goal in the 27th minute, but Horwath managed to tip his powerful effort over the top of the box. Horwath would later deny Koger a second goal off a header with a diving save.

The Red Bulls had a chance to equalize in the 55th minute, but Marco Paullo’s shot from close range was blocked by a Revolution defender.

Shuttleworth prevented the Red Bulls from getting back into the game late in the match with a save on a free kick from 23-yards from John Rooney, brother of Manchester United and English striker Wayne Rooney.

The Revs had a late chance to make it 3-0, but Dube was denied on a close header by a save from Konopka.

The Revs reserves return to action on June 21st at Toronto FC.