MLS New England Revolution

Revolution's Special Olympics Unified Soccer Team Opens 10th Season with Match at Red Bull Arena

May 11, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


HARRISON, N.J. - The New England Revolution's Unified soccer team, consisting of Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from throughout Massachusetts, traveled to New Jersey to begin their 10 th season today with an away match against the New York Red Bulls' Unified team at Red Bull Arena. Playing before the Revolution and New York squared off in MLS action (7:30 p.m.), the Unified teams celebrated the power of inclusion in sports during a 40-minute friendly match, which finished in a 1-1 draw.

In Saturday's matinee match, New England and New York played two 20-minute half with nine players a side. With free substitutions, all players on each side were able to participate. The Red Bulls got on the board first with a goal in the seventh minute, but it only took minutes for the Revolution to even the score behind a goal from Sudbury native and Unified partner Drew Johnson. In goal for New England, 20-year-old Liam Wise from Boxford, Mass. delivered two big saves in the 15 th and 16 th minutes to keep the score level at the half.

In the second half, Dorchester's own Radley Theolien, a veteran of the Revolution Unified team, nearly broke the deadlock with a shot on target from close range, though an impressive stop from the Red Bulls' goalkeeper denied his attempt. Unified partner Tyler Rocchio, an 18-year-old from Attleboro, slotted in goal for the second half and made a strong save of his own in the 31 st minute.

Celebrating its 10 th season, made possible in part by the longstanding support of Arbella Insurance, the Revolution Unified Team's mission is to leverage the power of sports to promote an environment of inclusion and friendly competition. Featuring 19 players from Massachusetts both with and without intellectual disabilities, the largest Revolution Unified team to date will play another match at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, July 20 against FC Dallas' Unified squad.

Prior to that match, on Tuesday, June 25 th (6:00-9:00 p.m.), the Revolution Unified Team and the entire 2024 Revolution roster will convene at Splitsville Luxury Lanes in Patriot Place for Bowl for a Goal Presented by Arbella Insurance . The seventh edition of the club's annual fundraiser will provide fans to spend a fun-filled evening alongside Revolution players and Unified Athletes, with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Massachusetts. Bowl for a Goal has raised over $500,000 for Special Olympics to date, including a record $125,000 in 2023. General admission tickets are now on sale for $30 and may be purchased online here . As a longstanding supporter of the Revolution Unified Team and Special Olympics, Arbella Insurance returns as the presenting sponsor of Bowl for a Goal.

2024 Revolution Unified Team Roster

Special Olympics Massachusetts Athletes:

Mars Burke Holden, Mass.

Justin Daley Norton, Mass.

Tristan Labelle Oxford, Mass.

Eli Newcomb Hanson, Mass.

William Scanlon Chestnut Hill, Mass.

John Stanley Salem, Mass.

Sofia Teixeira Hyannis, Mass.

Radley Theolien Dorchester, Mass.

Liam Wise Boxford, Mass.

John Young Plymouth, Mass.

Unified Partners:

Ryan Benoit Dedham, Mass.

Amanda Ferhani Dedham, Mass.

Alyson Green Hopkinton, Mass.

Amelia Jackson Harmony, R.I.

Drew Johnson Sudbury, Mass.

Ian Miller Attleboro, Mass.

Esvin Morales Attleboro, Mass.

Tyler Rocchio Attleboro, Mass.

Remy St. Germain Holden, Mass.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 11, 2024


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