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March has not been kind to the Revolution under Head Coach Jay Heaps. Dating back to 2012, the team has won just five of 20 matches in the month of March. Only seven of those 20 matches have taken place at Gillette Stadium, with the schedule historically favoring teams who play in warmer locations.
In 2017, bucking this losing trend may prove difficult, as the Revs visit two playoff teams from 2016 in its first three matches. The campaign begins in Commerce City, Colorado, where the Revolution will square off with a Rapids side that finished two points shy of the Supporter’s Shield last season. The Revs then host Orlando City SC before facing Supporter Shield winner FC Dallas on the road.
2017 Opening Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
| Sat, March 4 | Colorado Rapids | Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, Colo.) | 6:00 PM ET |
| Sat, March 11 | Orlando City SC | Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, Mass.) | 2:00 PM ET |
| Sat, March 18 | FC Dallas | Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas) | TBD |
In 2016, the Revs struggled against these clubs, going 1-2-3 in league and Open Cup play. The team’s only victory came at home against the Rapids.
Earning results in these season-opening matches will prove important, as slow starts have forced the Revolution into an early hole in each of the past five seasons. In three of these seasons, the Revs fought back to qualify for the playoffs. Last season, the club didn’t fully recover until August, when a late-season run ended a tie-breaker short of a playoff berth.
Now, the Revs face an uphill battle in its quest to leave March with a winning record. Can the club avoid an early-season hole—and earn results, in March, against top-tier MLS clubs?
Heaps will have its work cut out for him when he takes the field in Commerce City on March 4.