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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Most high school seniors never get the chance to sign a professional sports contract. All the more rare is the instance when it happens twice before graduation.

But on Wednesday, 18-year-old Diego Fagundez put pen to paper for the second time in three years, signing a multi-year extension with the New England Revolution. Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the club, per league and club policy.

Fagundez, who attends night classes at Fitchburg High School, originally signed with the club in November 2010 at age 15 following a sensational two seasons in the Revolution Youth Academy.

In 27 MLS games, he’s scored four goals and added three assists and has become one of the most recognizable faces of the franchise thanks to his creative flair on the field and trademark mohawk haircut.

“He’s a guy that we wanted to try to lock in for the ... I say the long-term, even (though) when his current deal expires, he’ll still be a young player,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said on Wednesday. “The timing was just right for us, and obviously it was right for him.”

The same could’ve been said at the time the club originally came to terms with him in November 2010. As one of the country’s most promising prospects in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the club knew it had to act quickly before he was lured overseas.

Entering his third professional season, the front office realized it would be beneficial to negotiate with their teenage sensation. Even though he had just turned 18 last month, Burns knew there was interest abroad.

Given that, the Revolution general manager admitted that he was somewhat surprised that he was able to re-sign the talented teenager before his initial deal expired.

“A little bit, given that he had another year after this,” Burns said. “I wasn’t sure which route he would want to go, but we’re obviously pleased that he wanted to remain here.”

According to Fagundez, who was born in Uruguay before he and his family moved to the U.S. when he was five, staying local was one of the primary reasons behind his decision to re-sign.

“I like the environment here, and my family (does too),” Fagundez said on Wednesday. “It’s a nice country and I just need to get all my stuff sorted out. It’s kind of hard to just grab all of your stuff and just move away."

Fagundez has come a long way since his MLS debut -- a debut that saw him score and set up a penalty in the waning minutes against Chivas USA on August 6, 2011.

Although he hasn’t become a fixture in Jay Heaps first XI, the 18-year-old’s ability to inject life into the attack through his creativity and cunning runs is often the hallmark of a player on the precipice of greater success.

“The collective feeling amongst the organization is that he obviously has an upside,” Burns said. “Now it’s up to him to find a way to make it as difficult as he can on Jay to play as often and regularly as he can.”

Fagundez understands he could have tested the international waters and sought to find a place where he could get regular playing time. While he was comfortable in his current role with the Revolution, he admitted that his decision to sign on the dotted line wasn’t a hasty one.

The Revolution announced the signing of 18-year-old Diego Fagundez, the team’s first-ever Homegrown player, to a multi-year contract extension.

“We’re pleased that Diego has made the commitment to remain in New England,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “While he’s only 18, we believe he has a very bright future with our club and in Major League Soccer.”

Fagundez became the third-youngest player (15 years, 273 days) to sign an MLS contract when he signed with the Revs on November 15, 2010. Fagundez, who was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, moved to Leominster, Mass. when he was five.

He made his MLS debut on Aug. 6, 2011 against Chivas, scoring his first career goal in that game. He was the second-youngest player to score a goal in MLS history (16 years, 173 days).

Fagundez has made 27 appearances (11 starts) with the Revs, scoring four goals.

Jerry Bengtson and Matt Reis may get the lion’s share of the credit for Saturday’s 1-0 win in Chicago, but the Revolution’s first victory at Toyota Park in nearly seven years wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of the new and improved defensive unit.

First pick Andrew Farrell and offseason addition Jose Goncalves fit right in with returning defenders A.J. Soares and Kevin Alston, and helped keep Fire forwards Sherjill MacDonald, Maicon Santos and Chris Rolfe from finding the scoresheet.

“It was a hard fought battle,” Revolution head coach Jay Heaps told the media after the game. “I thought we did a lot of good things, with a couple of mistakes here and there that led to a lot of their chances. Overall it was pretty solid.”

Farrell wasted no time exhibiting the speed and savvy that convinced the club to trade up to select him first overall in January. In the early moments, he outpaced Dilly Duka, and even chased down a long wayward pass from Soares before it crossed the touchline.

Goncalves, an imposing and experienced center back from the Swiss League, lived up to his billing inside the back four. He made a number of quick recoveries and displayed his strength on key challenges inside the defending third.

“They were coming at us and we did a good job of keeping them at zero until halftime when we got the wind (at our backs) a little bit,” Revolution captain Clyde Simms told the media following the game. “Then we started to play in the second half and then we got the goal and towards the end they started pushing a lot of numbers. I’m really happy we kept them out of our goal.”

While the defense held up its end of the bargain, the central midfield pairing of Simms and Kalifa Cisse also stepped up to give the Revs their first win in the Windy City since a 2-1 victory July 8, 2006.

In fact, the use of two defensive midfielders served the Revs well in the middle of the park on Saturday. Cisse fortified the rear by outmuscling the Fire midfielders, and in the instances where they advanced into the area, Simms provided cover and plugged the passing lanes.

“It was something we sort of set up to do this game with our formation,” Simms said. “(Chicago) is very strong in midfield and we wanted to neutralize that and take advantage of that. I think we did a good job of that, especially in the second half.”

For Heaps, the waning moments of the match was when his club truly showed its mettle. With the Fire regularly crashing into the New England end, the Revs withstood the pressure thanks to tight marking and timely tackles.

“We were sharp defensively and thought we had a couple more chances, maybe after we scored the first one -- I thought we could have had another one,” Heaps said. “I liked the way we finished the game. The guys were fighting for every inch.”

Jerry Bengtson’s 62nd-minute header handed the New England Revolution (1-0-0, 3 points) a season-opening 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire (0-0-2, 0 points) on Saturday at Toyota Park. The Honduran International broke a scoreless draw when he glanced through a Kelyn Rowe cross at the left post.

Goalkeeper Matt Reis made four saves, including a stunning 31st-minute stop on a Dilly Duka blast.

The win gives the Revolution their first season-opening victory since 2009, when they beat San Jose 1-0 at Buck Shaw Stadium. The win also extended a modest three-game winning streak dating back to last October.

* What it means: The changes made during the offseason have reaped early rewards. European veteran Kalifa Cisse partnered with Clyde Simms in the central midfield and helped win the Revs a number of second balls and challenges. First-round pick Andrew Farrell played like a seasoned veteran while central defender Jose Goncalves was a rock in the rear and made a few timely recoveries. Additionally, the physicality head coach Jay Heaps wanted to see this season was evident from the start, and a number of tough tackles and challenges showed that the Revs weren’t going to be pushed around by an equally gritty Chicago side. Bengtson’s goal also signaled that his scoring touch -- which disappeared for stretches last season -- could be making a comeback.

* Stat of the game: New England committed 21 fouls, eight more than Chicago’s 13. Last season, a host of opponents pushed the Revs around to disrupt their game plan. But on Saturday, it was New England’s turn to dish out the punishment.

* A long time coming: The 1-0 win gave the Revolution their first victory in Chicago since July 8, 2006, when they beat the Fire 2-1.

* Shutout streak extended: New England, which hadn’t given up a goal in its final two games of 2012, extended its shutout streak from last season to 241 minutes.

* First pick makes MLS debut: Farrell, whom the Revolution traded up to select in January’s SuperDraft, got the start at right back. Farrell’s start marks the fifth straight season that the Revolution has featured its most-recent first round pick in the First Kick starting XI.

* What a difference a year makes: Starting center half Clyde Simms was the only member of the Revs midfield that started last year’s season opener. In fact, he was only one of four starters, including Kevin Alston, Reis and A.J. Soares, who also started in the 2012 season opener.

* Rookie gets nod on left: Second-round draft pick Donnie Smith earned the start on the left side of the midfield, with regular Lee Nguyen switching to the right. The 22-year-old rookie signed with the club two weeks ago after putting together an impressive preseason. He went 53 minutes in his MLS debut before coming off for Kelyn Rowe.

* Toja gets first Revs start: Juan Toja earned his first start in a Revolution uniform on Saturday, and went 79 minutes. The former FC Dallas midfielder was acquired via the allocation process last August, but injuries limited him down the stretch last season. The start also marked Toja’s first MLS start since July 19, 2008, when he played his final game for Dallas before embarking on a four-year European excursion.

* Next up: The Revolution remain on the road next weekend to face the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Saturday, March 16. The game kicks off at 5 p.m. and can be seen on Comcast Sportsnet New England.

They may be the last horse out of the gate, but following a first-week bye, the New England Revolution (0-0-0, 0 pts.) finally kick off their 2013 campaign against the Chicago Fire (0-1-0, 0 pts.) on Saturday at Toyota Park.

Saturday’s clash, which kicks off at 7:30pm ET, pits the long-time conference rivals on the national stage, as NBC Sports Network will provide the television broadcast. Locally, listeners can catch the action on the airwaves at 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Although the Revs are anxious to get their season underway, the Fire enters the match with a similar mindset -- but for a very different reason.

Last week, Chicago fell victim to the defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy, with an embarrassing 4-0 score line, to boot. It was a game in which nothing went right for Frank Klopas’ club. The revamped central midfield -- featuring former Revolution center half Jeff Larentowicz -- did nothing to thwart the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. Galaxy striker Mike Magee pulled off a First Kick hat trick, and put heavy pressure on Fire forward pair Maicon Santos and Chris Rolfe to respond. But a response never came, and the Fire suffered the worst loss of Week 1.

While the Fire’s misfortunes might suggest that the Revs have their adversary right where they want them, a quick history lesson should immediately dispel any such assertion. The last time New England knocked on the door at Toyota Park and grabbed a victory, Clint Dempsey and Taylor Twellman were spearheading the attack, putting the date of their last Windy City win at July 8, 2006. While much has changed since that 2-1 triumph (consider that current Revs head coach Jay Heaps started that game at right back), one thing hasn’t: three points at Toyota Park has proven an elusive animal for the past six seasons.

Returning to modern day MLS, the Revolution, much like the Fire, also feature a newly-renovated midfield. European veteran Kalifa Cisse joined the club during the offseason, as did old friend Andy Dorman (who played for the club from 2004-07), and both give the team the veteran savvy it desperately craved last season. Former Swiss League stalwart Jose Goncalves solidifies a backline that leaked through a number of backbreaking goals last season. First overall pick Andrew Farrell is the projected starting right back, and will be counted upon to make a few timely forays into the attack. Perhaps the biggest question mark can be found up top, where the weighty burden of bagging goals belongs to Jerry Bengtson. The Honduran International scores at a prodigious rate for his country, but hasn’t yet translated that success at the club level.

It may be early, but Saturday’s showdown should prove to be an entertaining affair. Chicago will rely on Larentowicz and Joel Lindpere -- who may switch back to the wing -- to keep the Revs on their heels. Meanwhile, the New England defense must stay disciplined, especially without last year’s leading scorer Saer Sene available as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery.

If the Revs can grind it out for 90 minutes and find a way to grab an opportune goal, they’ll stand a chance to steal three points at place that’s been stubbornly unkind to them in recent years. But if they can’t find cohesion inside the defending and middle thirds, then their winless ways in the Windy City will likely continue.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- As the first overall pick in January's MLS SuperDraft, Andrew Farrell wasn't all that concerned with the heavy expectations that awaited him in New England.

He could deal with the pressure. He could shoulder the demands that come with being the No. 1 pick. The way he looked at it, all he had to do was work hard, and everything else would fall into place.

But there was one thing about becoming a pro that worried the former Louisville defender: How would his new teammates take to the new kid on the block?

"That's something I was kind of scared about coming to MLS," Farrell said. "You don't know how welcoming people are, but it's been a super welcoming (atmosphere) and coaching staff is great."

His apprehension about ingratiating himself with the rest of the Revolution squad is proof positive that the soft-spoken Farrell isn't your typical No. 1 pick.

While some top picks come into camp with their own agenda and expect those around them to cater to their every need, Farrell has adopted the exact opposite approach.

"He's humble, but he's also very smart with the way he carries himself," Revolution head coach Jay Heaps said. "He's the No. 1 pick, but how he was accepted in the locker room was unbelievable. From day one, he took it as a responsibility to come in and work as hard as he could."

There's no questioning Farrell's work ethic. Since his arrival seven weeks ago, Farrell has hit the ground running, quickly trying to adapt to top-flight soccer. He admits that he's made mistakes in the process, but one thing he has fully grasped is the level of play in MLS.

"In college, I used a lot of my athleticism and got away with stuff because I was a pretty decent athlete," Farrell said. "Here, everyone's an athlete. In college, there's only a small crop of players who are pretty good, but here, everybody's good."

Heaps, for his part, isn't concerned with Farrell's learning curve. Yes, the 20-year-old may not have a single minute of MLS experience on his resume. However, the Revolution head coach has come away impressed thus far.

"One of the things he brings is that he's very aware of the game," Heaps said. "He's got a very high soccer IQ. When he receives the ball, he's not just receiving it, he's already (contemplating) the next play as it's coming to him. His preparation on the ball and technical ability is very good."

That acute soccer sense has served Farrell well so far. In five preseason games, Farrell hardly looks like an inexperienced rookie. Rather, his runs, positioning and passing are the trademarks of a seasoned pro.

Nevertheless, Farrell isn't about to call himself a finished product. Instead, he continues to work on improving his game. He seeks out his coaches and teammates whenever possible. So far, so good.

"My positioning's gotten a lot better and my technical ability's gotten a lot better this preseason," Farrell said. "So I think learning that, and going (into practice) day in and day out, has helped me so much."

He's also taken to heart an important piece of advice that's especially pertinent to rookie defenders.

"Don't dwell upon your mistakes," Farrell said. "(If) you make a mistake, you get on with the next play. You don't get caught up on one play, so that's something I always think about."

Of course, Farrell's transition from the college ranks to the pros is far from over. There's still plenty to learn. His first major test will likely come during Saturday's season opener in Chicago.

But Farrell isn't worried about nerves or making mistakes. He's the first to admit that he's got a support system that, no matter the challenge or difficulty, will help him get up to speed.

"Coach Heaps helps me a lot with that, along with the veterans," Farrell said. "It's a good group and we've jelled well and that's something that some teams don't have. I'm just excited for Saturday, and hopefully we get the win."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It’s a question that Jay Heaps has never stopped asking himself. A question that, as a second-year head coach, he’s found especially difficult to dismiss.

"Can I do more?"

For Heaps, who 16 months ago was handed the task of returning the Revolution to its former glory, it's more than just a question. It’s a challenge.

“Whether it’s my first year or my 10th year,” Heaps said, “I want to be someone who self-analyzes and can adapt.”

It should come as no surprise that the Longmeadow, Mass., native looked within and adapted as his first season at the helm unfolded. After all, adapting and analyzing have always been trademarks of Jay Heaps -- whether as a player, a broadcaster or in his current role as head coach.

So it wasn’t all that surprising that Heaps went into his first season as a coach anxious to learn and make adjustments on the fly, and doing whatever it took to shorten the learning curve.

But one thing he quickly learned is that there simply is no substitute for actual experience. His first year on the bench was an education. And to his credit, Heaps embraced the lessons and amended his coaching style accordingly.

“One of things I certainly want to get better at and make sure of is to give (the players) a little more trust,” Heaps said. “I think (during) my first year, I really wanted to control a lot of what was happening on the field at all times.”

Letting go of some control isn't easy for Heaps, who’s never tried to hide his classic take-charge personality. During his playing days, the fiery defender grabbed any opportunity to put his team in the driver’s seat, often with one of his trademark forward runs down the flank.

An example of his attempt to concede some control came during the second half of the 2012 season. In the first half, Heaps made it a habit of yelling at the referee or assistants whenever a call went against his club.

“I think I was hoarse the whole first half of the year,” Heaps quipped.

Eventually, he learned that the hostile approach probably wasn’t helping his cause with the league’s officiating. So he took a step back and made adjustments. He realized that he had to manage his emotions better -- and it didn’t end with his interactions with the referees.

Shortly after his mother, Jane, passed away last May, Heaps could see that his team wanted to rally for him. While he appreciated the sentiment, Heaps stepped back and saw it for what it was: a teaching moment.

“There’s a time when you need to use that emotion,” Heaps said. “I think at that time it was so heavy, it may have hurt them a little bit.”

Although Heaps has used the lessons from last season to tweak and refine his coaching style as he enters his second season at the helm, one thing he won’t change is his fundamental belief in the principle of preparation. With the first game of the 2013 season set for Saturday against the Chicago Fire, Heaps is focused on having his team ready.

“I want to release all of the (collective) anxiety of our team on Friday at 5 p.m. so they know our game plan, they know who we’re playing, they know how we’re going to play, so they can go to bed that night and know that they have to step on the field and deliver,” said Heaps. “And hey, if we get beat here or there, that's fine. But we’re not going to get beat for not knowing the other team.”

Can Jay Heaps do any more than what he’s doing now? That’s hard to say. But one thing’s for sure: He isn’t about to take it easy any time soon.

Jay Heaps will be afforded fewer excuses in 2013.

Last season, the Revolution head coach, along with general manager Michael Burns, ostensibly built the 2012 Revolution from scratch. Youth was served, mistakes were made (and made again), and in the middle of it all, one of the best players in club history packed his bags for the West Coast. Not unpredictably, New England fell well short of the postseason.

With year one under his belt, rising expectations are on tap for year two. Success will not be determined by the number in the win column, but rather, where they stand in the playoff picture. Which begs the question: Are the Revolution ready to make a playoff run?

Before we touch upon that topic, let's take a quick glance at where they've made improvements, and where more might be necessary.

In an effort to strengthen their spine, the Revolution brought in a trio of seasoned Europeans. Kalifa Cisse gives the midfield the bulldog it needed, while the addition of Andy Dorman injects the creativity and vision the attack severely lacked last year. In the rear, Jose Goncalves is a ball-winner and set piece threat, and gives AJ Soares an experienced defender to lean on.

The European trio is also expected to bring some welcome leadership. Following the midseason Shalrie Joseph trade, the club predictably sputtered to the finish, winning only three games in the final three months. Though Clyde Simms brings a steadying presence to the pitch, he won't have to do it alone this season, thanks to likes of Cisse, Dorman and Goncalves.

Another area that's already looking brighter in 2013? The back four. Sure, last year's unit cut the goals against total by nearly a quarter from 2011. But mistakes and mental errors constantly plagued the defense. So the club traded up to draft Andrew Farrell, a versatile back who's proven his pedigree during the preseason. Tyler Polak and Donnie Smith may be young, but both give Heaps intriguing options at left back, where veterans Chris Tierney and Kevin Alston figure to get the most minutes.

While the front office certainly addressed its most glaring blemishes, some key concerns still remain.

For starters, leading scorer Saer Sene, who suffered an ACL injury last August, is likely to miss the first two months. Making matters worse, strike partner Jerry Bengtson is on call with the Honduran national team, and will be summoned for World Cup qualifying throughout the year. So the Revolution have to find a way to spread the scoring wealth.

Despite the veteran signings, the Revolution struggled to find cohesion on the pitch during the preseason. Yes, the first few games were used to raise the fitness levels. Yet, the first-teamers rarely found themselves on the same page.

Then there's the issue of consistency. Last year, the Revolution earned an admirable 6-7-4 first half record before slumping through a 3-10-4 second half. Clearly, the team must find a way to establish an identity -- and keep it from start to finish.

On the whole, this edition of the Revolution is stronger than their predecessor. The renovations in the rear and central midfield should give the club its first double-digit win total in four years.

Yet, the entire conference has gotten stronger as well. The competition in the East is sure to be fierce. Given that, it'll take a lot of outside help for the Revolution to sneak into the postseason.

Nevertheless, the expectations of the Revolution faithful are only escalating. While a climb up the conference table may satiate some, anything short of the postseason won't be tolerated inside the locker room.

Excuses? They'll be in short supply around Gillette Stadium this season.

The Revolution announced the signing of 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft pick Gabe Latigue, a midfielder out of Elon University. The Revs drafted Latigue in the fourth round (No. 61) in this year’s supplemental draft.

“Gabe did well for himself during preseason training and earned his spot on our roster,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “He has shown he can fit in on either side of the midfield and has talent on set pieces. We’re looking forward to working with him further this season.”

Following Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake -- a loss that saw the tying and deciding goals leak through the Revs' defense in the dying minutes -- head coach Jay Heaps knew that his team had to adopt a more disciplined approach for Saturday’s game against the Red Bulls.

They did that, and also managed to score a pair of first-half goals, in a 2-0 win to conclude their preseason schedule on a positive note.

“It wasn’t our best stuff,” Heaps told the media following the match. “I don’t think we moved the ball like we wanted to offensively, but I was really happy with what we did pressure-wise and defensively in the first half.”

No doubt, the Revs' offense wasn’t at its strongest on Saturday. Nevertheless, they wasted no time putting the Red Bulls on notice only four minutes into the match. Lee Nguyen crashed the area and earned a penalty in the fourth minute, then converted it moments later to give New England a 1-0 lead.

Despite the early tally, the offensive momentum quickly swung in favor of the Red Bulls, who routinely tested the Revolution's defense.

Shortly after Nguyen celebrated his second goal of the preseason, Thierry Henry ripped a shot that beat keeper Matt Reis before it smacked the far post. Close, but not close enough.

New York’s next serious bid arrived in the 28th minute when Tim Cahill came within inches of equalizing. But Nguyen volleyed Cahill’s shot right off the line, leaving the Red Bulls empty handed once again.

“We were all over them and it was just one of those ‘Life is cruel sometimes' moments,” Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke told the media after the game. "We pressed well, we created so many chances, (and) we played some great football.”

Jerry Bengtson’s 36th-minute goal was a testament to Petke’s sentiment about cruelty. The Red Bulls had dominated the first half, yet had nothing to show for it. Worse, they found themselves stuck in a two-goal deficit.

Even though the Revs held the lead, Heaps wanted to see his team find a stronger attacking rhythm in the second half. Short of that, the Revolution had to keep closing in on the ball, applying pressure and clogging up the passing lanes.

While team defense kept the scoreline intact, Reis came to the rescue when the Red Bulls approached the area. In the 66th minute, the veteran goalkeeper boldly came off his line to snuff out a dangerous chance created by Fabian Espindola. In the 83rd minute, he denied a heat-seeking Juninho free kick.

“We got a little bit tired,” Heaps said. “They broke through us, but that’s why you have a goalkeeper that makes saves and Matt Reis made a couple of big saves.”

Reis’ efforts helped earn the Revolution their second shutout of the preseason. More importantly, Saturday’s win hinted that Heaps’ team may have exorcised the defensive demons that doomed it against Real Salt Lake last week.

“Those can be situations that can haunt you,” Heaps said. “Our guys stepped up and played well and finished up the defensive side of it and didn’t give up anything.”

It may only be the preseason, but Revolution head coach Jay Heaps admitted that he didn't sleep well after Wednesday night's disappointing 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake.

Holding a 2-1 lead in the waning stages, the Revolution allowed Alvaro Saborio and Khari Stephenson to score in the 88th and 90th minutes, respectively, and walked off the pitch without a point for their efforts.

"It's very frustrating," said Heaps in a teleconference with the media on Thursday. "It's an area where game management has to be looked at."

Sound familiar? It should. Last year, game management was a major area of concern for the rebuilding Revolution.

No fewer than five times did Heaps' side let a goal slide through in the final 15 minutes in 2012, costing the club points it surely couldn't afford to give away.

And on Wednesday, the team's inability to close out a win cast itself back in the spotlight. After coming out of halftime with a 1-0 deficit, Andy Dorman and AJ Soares each scored early in the second half to put the Revolution ahead for more than half an hour.

"We showed good fight to get back in the game," Dorman told RevolutionSoccer.net after the game. "It's a shame, obviously, even going to 2-each and just getting out (without) a tie is a bit disappointing."

The loss may have left the Revolution with a bitter taste, but the silver lining is easy to find. What happens in the preseason generally tends to stay in the preseason, with many a moment -- whether good or bad -- largely forgotten by the time the regular season gets into full swing.

In light of that, Dorman knows that if there's a time to address an issue head on, the month of February is as good time to do it as ever.

"It's a good lesson to learn at this time, in the preseason," Dorman said. "The last five minutes are so important, really. It's the difference between taking points and not taking points in the league."

Meanwhile, Heaps, as he is wont to do, will go back and look at the tape. He'll examine what exactly happened, who was caught out of position, and how it can be quickly corrected.

But even before he looks at the film, the Revolution head coach already has an inkling as to how his club let three points slip through their fingers Wednesday night.

In the waning moments, Heaps said he saw his club exhibit caution rather than confidence. Fear rather than belief. In short, he saw his club shy away rather than show up in the moments leading up to the back breaking goals.

"We kind of let our heads down," Heaps told RevolutionSoccer.net. "Then, when they scored, knowing that a draw would get us through, (we couldn't stop them) and just kind of knowing game management a little would've been something we needed there."

It only took 11 minutes Saturday for the New England Revolution to find itself in an all-too-familiar position this preseason: backed up against a wall.

In their first three games of the winter, the Revolution had failed to secure a single lead, and had been outscored 6-1 within that span. So when Juninho’s blast from outside the 18 gave the Red Bulls the early advantage, well, it didn’t seem to bode well for the Revolution.

Then came the second half.

Lee Nguyen, Jerry Bengtson and Marko Jesic all scored to help the Revolution earn their first preseason victory on Saturday.

“What we were preaching was (the) response,” Revolution head coach Jay Heaps told the media following the 3-1 win. “They scored on their first opportunity, but the response was really good.”

The first half may not have gone the way Heaps scripted it, but the second stanza showed that his players were ready to break out of an offensive funk that saw them score only once this winter.

It began in the 52nd minute, when rookie Donnie Smith gave it a go before it smacked off Jamison Olave’s arm inside the area. Moments later, Nguyen chipped it through from the spot to score the equalizer.

“After their first goal, we didn’t panic,” Ngyuen told the media afterward. “We kept playing and we knew eventually we were going to get a couple of more chances and we put them away. We kept playing the ball and we stuck to our style.”

Smith, who’s currently on trial, boosted his chances on of making the squad only six minutes later. From the left channel, the second-round SuperDraft pick floated it far post to Jerry Bengtson, who flicked it through right on the doorstep.

“The ball kind of bounced up to me and I saw a couple of guys at the back stick,” Smith told the media following the match. “I just tried to serve it in there and Jerry had a great header and put it into the net.”

Although a half hour remained, it was clear that the Revolution were firmly in the driver’s seat. New York undertook wholesale substitutions in the wake of Bengtson’s goal. It was just a matter of holding the lead.

New England did that, and then some. With fulltime approaching, Juan Toja sent Jesic into the area, where the Australian trialist buried it to put the game out of reach.

Heaps challenged his players to respond, and they did just that. While he acknowledged that his team has to do better out of the gate, the early deficit allowed him to convey an important lesson.

“When you do give up a mistake, things shouldn’t change,” Heaps said. “Just (show) a little more energy, a little more response and the guys showed it.”

Single-game tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale Saturday, February 16, at 10 a.m., through all Ticketmaster outlets. Individual tickets purchased in advance start at $24 for bowl seating.

The Revs will play 17 regular-season MLS games at Gillette Stadium this year, including their home opener on Saturday, March 23, against Sporting Kansas City.

For more information on the Revolution, visit the team’s official web site at revolutionsoccer.net.

Jay Heaps knew he couldn’t stand pat following his first season as Revolution head coach.

Sure, there was improvement seen in nearly every statistical category after a disastrous 2011. New England won nearly twice as many games in 2012, and cut its goals allowed mark by nearly a quarter.

Despite the progress, the fact is the club still fell well short of the playoffs thanks to a ninth-place finish inside the Eastern Conference. Therefore, in order to return to the postseason, Heaps clearly had some work to do.

“We as a staff thought that it was really important to make moves in the offseason and to be diligent in those moves,” Heaps said.

Diligence was indeed the key in adding the pieces Heaps and General Manager Michael Burns felt the club needed to march toward its first postseason berth since 2009.

With an eye toward to adding experience to a roster brimming with youth, the first move Heaps and Burns made was the recruitment of seasoned European veteran Kalifa Cisse.

Not only did the Malian International bring eight seasons worth of experience in the English Premier League, The Championship and Portuguese Liga to the table, but he also played a premium position: defensive midfielder.

It was an impressive resume. A resume that most MLS coaching staffs would be delighted to find in their inbox. Yet, Heaps wanted more than just experienced midfielder when Cisse came to Foxboro on trial last fall.

“We really saw someone who wanted to help lead this team,” Heaps said. “We want to have him (exert) his influence and let the locker room develop a (positive) mentality.”

Days after Cisse put pen to paper on a deal with the Revolution last November, the club brought in another experienced player who, incidentally, was no stranger to New England.

Andy Dorman spent the last five seasons between England and Scotland, but not before he launched his professional career with the Revolution in 2004.

Dorman was a key figure in the Revolution’s three straight MLS Cup appearances from 2005-2007, scoring 17 goals in 112 games. It’s also worth mentioning that he and Heaps were teammates during that run of success.

So naturally, Heaps knew exactly what he was getting when he first chatted with Dorman about a return last September.

“Andy commands a certain level of respect from the players around him because he's a great locker room player that players want to be around,” Heaps said. “Not only that, but he has the international experience so now he returns with even more experience.”

Earlier this month, the club added another key veteran in Portuguese International Jose Goncalves. Like Cisse, Goncalves plays a position -- central defender -- that the front office was intent on improving prior to the 2013 season.

At 6-2, 180lbs., there’s no doubt Goncalves has the frame to become a key cog in the middle of the defense. However, Heaps and Burns are hoping that he can stay fit through a demanding 34-game MLS season after a three-season spell that only saw him play 21 games.

Time will tell whether the veteran nucleus that Heaps and Burns assembled this winter produces a postseason berth by October. After all, it’ll take more than experience and leadership for the club to climb up an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference table.

Yet, if there is one positive Heaps can draw from the additions of Cisse, Dorman and Goncalves, it’s this: all three are already in camp and have been training with the rest of the club since the start of the preseason on Saturday.

“That's great for us because the younger players can lean on them,” Heaps said. “Then (the new veterans) can learn the league a little bit in the preseason as opposed to the first or second game of the year."

It started with a splash and ended with a surprise for the New England Revolution at the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.

After trading up to the top spot only hours before the draft, the Revolution selected consensus first pick Louisville defender Andrew Farrell and wrapped up the afternoon by selecting a goalkeeper -- Indiana’s Luis Soffner -- in the final stages.

In between Farrell and Soffner (second round, 36th overall), the Revolution selected UNC-Charlotte midfielder Donnie Smith (second round, 21st overall) and Xavier forward Luke Spencer (second round, 23rd overall) at the Indiana Convention Center.

“Overall, we’re pleased with our draft and we believe we addressed a few areas we were looking to improve,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “With Andrew, we added who we believe was the best available player in this draft class. With Donnie, Luke, and Luis, we’ve drafted players who we believe can add depth and versatility to our club. Donnie and Luke give us options on the wings as well as up top, while Luis gives us talented depth in goal.”

Going into the draft, scouts pegged Farrell as the most MLS-ready prospect on the draft board. Despite playing three different positions (center back, right back and defensive midfielder) last season, Farrell’s impressive play on a back line that allowed only 0.62 goals/game earned him 2012 BIG EAST Co-defensive Player of the Year.

By trading up to acquire Farrell, the Revolution front office addressed their most pressing need: defense. Last year, New England’s back four were snake-bitten by mental errors and inconsistency, and Farrell will be counted upon to stabilize the unit.

It’s too early to tell where head coach Jay Heaps plans to use the versatile Farrell. One scenario could see the first-rounder at right back, and starter Kevin Alston being switched to left back. However, it’s clear that the team needs the most help in the center of its defense. In light of that, Heaps and Burns surely have visions of Farrell manning one of the two center back spots this season.

With their most pressing need checked off, the Revolution used the rest of their picks to add depth in other areas of the field.

The selection of Smith, whom many scouts considered a "true" left-sided midfielder, gives New England a skilled apprentice to starter Lee Nguyen. Many scouts believe he has all the skills -- speed, creativity and crossing ability -- to become a starting MLS midfielder. All he needs is time to refine those aspects of his game.

Spencer is an intriguing pick. On paper, the Revolution seem to have sufficient numbers at forward, especially with high-priced strikers Jerry Bengtson and Saer Sene onboard. But Bengtson, a regular call-up for the Honduras National Team, is expected to miss time with the World Cup Qualifying on tap. With Bengtson away, the door could open up for a bruising, target forward like Spencer, whose style of play gives the Revolution offense a different dynamic.

For its final pick of the afternoon, the Revolution decided to raise a few eyebrows in selecting Soffner. With Matt Reis and Bobby Shuttleworth set to battle for the starting goalkeeper’s spot when preseason camp gets underway, there are legitimate questions about the rationale in using a SuperDraft pick to select a projected third-string keeper. But given Soffner’s size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and shot-stopping prowess (.816 save percentage), it appears that the coaching staff jumped at the chance to groom a prospect who could someday become their starter between the sticks.

On the whole, the Revs have to feel good about what they accomplished in Thursday’s draft. They plugged their biggest hole by grabbing Farrell, added a pair of attacking prospects in Smith and Spencer, and shored up their goalkeeping corps with the addition of Soffner.

More so, it appears the Revolution made another considerable stride in their quest to become a contender four years removed from their last playoff game.