REVS IMPRESSED WITH FORMER NPSL STAR MIULLINS

New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps cannot say enough about his first round draft choice, Patrick Mullins.

“In his first days of training, he has asserted himself,” Heaps said as the Revs continue their preseason swing with stops in Florida and Arizona. “We’re excited about where we see his progression going.”

Mullins was drafted in the first round with the 11th overall pick as he scored the second most goals in Maryland history and with the Revs  looking to continue their offensive output, scoring 39 goals in MLS 2013 (good for seventh in the league), which was 10 more than 2012.

“Patrick will give us a versatile player that can play a couple of different of positions for us,” Heaps exclaimed about the left-footed forward.

Mullins, a New Orleans native, will look to continue his success on the field as he has dominated wherever he has played. Patrick has played with the New Orleans Jesters since 2011 and competed with the club when they joined the NPSL’s Southeast Conference in 2013. However, his greatest accomplishment was winning the Herman Trophy, given to the best female and male soccer players in NCAA Division I soccer, back-to-back years, a feat that has only been accomplished three times previously by a male.

In his time at Maryland, Mullins notched enormous numbers, putting in 47 goals and 119 points in his career; Mullins even scored the lone goal for Maryland in the 2013 National Championship as the Terps fell to Notre Dame 2-1 in December.

Now that the former Jester has made the step to MLS, Heaps is now looking for the same production.

“I really like his development so far and he is showing me that he has what it takes,” the Revs coach noted of Mullins. “We’re looking for young players that can help.”

The Revs are looking for that right player on the top of the field, as they continue their push through the preseason and open their regular season on March 8 in Houston. This coming off a very successful 2013 campaign, where they finished third in the Eastern Conference and met eventual MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

“We understand what it takes to get into the playoffs after making it last year and we know how hard we need to work to make it there, so that is what we are stressing (in preseason),” Heaps added.

New England was pleasantly surprised in 2013 by the play of now 18-year-old Diego Fagundez, who scored 13 goals and led the team in scoring. What Heaps will look for in the preseason will be to find a matching piece to that scoring machine.

“We are looking to not only progress the players from last year (in the preseason), but we are looking to get the younger players in and give them minutes.”

In 2014, there will be little doubt that Patrick Mullins will be ready to continue the scoring outpour that he is accustomed to in college and the NPSL.