The fans that turned out to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Aug. 25 to see the New England Revolution experienced quite the show. The Revs edged out the New York Red Bulls, 2-1, that night thanks to an own goal by a New York defender in the 80th minute, stretching New England's unbeaten streak against the Red Bulls to seven games. The win also gave the Revolution a Major League Soccer-best 42 points at the time.
With all the action on the field, at first glance it might have been easy to overlook the throng of shirtless young men parading around the stadium with the letters L-A-R-E-N-T-O-W-I-C-Z painted on their chests. Of course, it's hard to ignore a player with a name that takes 11 Brown men's soccer players to spell out.
Taking a break from preseason practice in Providence in late August, the Brown men's soccer team had traveled to Foxborough to watch an old teammate - Jeff Larentowicz '05 - whip through the air and flit across the backfield for the Revolution. The Bears' cheering section was in full force that evening.
"We're always proud of Jeff," Brown Head Coach Mike Noonan said. "He has applied himself to get to where he is."
After fighting for playing time as a rookie in 2005 and trying to prove himself as a reserve last year, the four-time All Ivy defender Larentowicz has emerged as a mainstay on the Rev's backline this season. He has two goals and four assists this season, but more importantly he has helped the Revolution to a 14-6-7 record, good enough to have already wrapped up a spot in the playoffs.
"It takes a while to break into (Major League Soccer) teams," Larentowicz said. "There's older players and they're always bringing in internationals, so it's tough for a young player."
The Revs selected the 6-foot, 1-inch redhead in the fourth round (45th overall) in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. He was second on New England's reserve team in playing minutes, but Larentowicz only made one appearance at the highest stage in his first season. After that year, the former Brown captain, not one to sit around and wait for opportunities, went out and impressed his coaches in practices and reserve games during the offseason.
"He has a competitive desire that burns inside of him, that drives him," Noonan said. "He doesn't allow anyone to tell him he can't do something."
Larentowicz finally got to showcase his abilities in 2006, starting 19 games and appearing in another seven for New England.
"Last year we had injuries. Guys went down. It was my chance to get thrown into the fire," he said.
Larentowicz had no difficulties coming through under pressure last year, netting the game-winner for the Revs against the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the U.S. Open Cup. After two overtimes and a five-round shootout failed to decide a winner, the game unexpectedly fell onto the foot of Larentowicz, who took the team's seventh - and sudden death - penalty kick.
"When my number was called, I went up and I took it and I scored," he said. "It was a great feeling. Obviously, you want to be in the top five (penalty-shot kickers), but when you get your chance, you have to go out there and perform."
After his clutch kick, Larentowicz wound up playing in all four of the Revs' postseason games last year. Though New England fell short in last year's MLS Cup, falling to the Houston Dynamo in a shootout, Larentowicz was elated after the
experience.
"To be on the field for the final was awesome," he said.
After last year's whirlwind season, Larentowicz headed home to Pennsylvania to spend time with family before heading off to Bermuda and Cancun, Mexico, for training camp. For Larentowicz, traveling and playing in exotic locales is just one of the many perks of being a professional footballer.
"You work out, practice hard and then get to come back and relax at the hotel or on the beach." Larentowicz recalled. "It's fun to say that you get to do those things, but trust me, we do take our jobs very seriously," he said with a suggestive grin.
No longer a reserve, Larentowicz has started in 25 of the team's 27 games this season. This season, Larentowicz has not only taken on a new role for the team, but he has also embraced playing a new position. Recruited by Brown as a forward, Larentowicz was converted to a defender under Noonan, and this season, Revolutions coach Steve Nichol has bumped the versatile player up to the midfield.
"He's adaptable and he's consistent," Noonan said of Larentowicz. "He's a complete player in any coach's eyes. That's what Steve (Nichol) sees and that's what drew us to him."
Noonan also attributes Larentowicz's rapid development to his in-depth understanding of the game and his down-to-earth attitude.
"I try and keep things simple. I just think about soccer," said Larentowicz, who concentrated in public policy at Brown. "At 24 years old, I think I'm gonna sit on my Brown degree for a while."
The freckle-faced defensive midfielder certainly has plenty to smile about. With three regular-season games left, the Revs sit at second place in MLS, already guaranteed a spot in the postseason. Larentowicz is especially eager for the playoffs to start since his team has lost two MLS Cup finals, and he believes they have something "to avenge."
For Noonan, bringing his current team to watch a former star was not about celebrating where Larentowicz had risen, but about remembering where he had been.
"People only see him as what he is now," Noonan said. "They didn't see him when his coaches (in New England) didn't pay attention to him. When he only got to play a minute. So to see him now as a starter playing 90 minutes every game, now, it's even more satisfying for us to see."
