Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Although the two-time league champion Impact finished outside of the top two in the league table for the first time last year since the 2002 campaign, they did claim the third spot just four points back of the regular season Commissioner’s Cup champion Seattle Sounders. After winning the USL-1 title in 2004 in the first year under coach Nick De Santis, the Impact went on to win the Commissioner’s Cup in each of the next two campaigns before finishing third last year.

The campaign started off in standard Impact fashion with an impressive 4-0-4 start through the first eight games. Another seven game unbeaten run (5-0-2) that began at the midpoint of the season kept Montreal in the chase for the title, but two losses in the final four games may have proved the difference as Seattle went on to finish with one loss in the second half of the season (11-1-2).

The Impact’s defensive unit again proved critical as it finished the season with 21 goals allowed in 28 games, the second lowest in the league behind Portland’s 18. They were one of four teams tied for fifth in scoring, however, with just 32 goals on the year despite striker Charles Gbeke finishing tied for the Goal Scoring Championship with 10.

The playoffs saw Montreal ousted prior to the semifinals for the first time since 2003, dropping a First Round series against Puerto Rico 5-3 on aggregate. They opened the series with a 3-2 win at home only to see a rare offensive explosion by their opposition down them 3-0 on the road. It was the first time the Impact had allowed that many goals in a postseason campaign or a playoff series since 1998 (seven playoff appearances) when they were eliminated two games to none with a 3-2 shootout loss and a 4-1 defeat by Rochester after Montreal had advanced past Staten Island 3-1.

The 2008 Season

The Impact roster from a year ago is largely unchanged with the exception of its marquee strength, the back line. The retirement of Mauricio Vincello and Jason DiTullio leave the club largely dependant on three-time USL-1 Defender of the Year Gabriel Gervais and Nevio Pizzolitto along with goalkeepers Matt Jordan and Andrew Weber, who have both proven to be among the league’s best over the past two seasons. Joining the side defensively to aid in the transition will be Adam Braz, who returns for his fifth season with Montreal after spending last year with Toronto FC in MLS. Also recently brought in was Stefano Pesoli, a 24-year-old Italian lower division journeyman who joined the club during their camp in Italy.

In the middle of the new Stade Saputo pitch when it opens this year will be the familiar face of Mauro Biello, entering his 15th year with the team and 16th in the league. He’ll be joined by the team’s second leading scorer last year Leonardo Di Lorenzo, Patrick Leduc and Matthew Palleschi among other above average USL-1 veterans. Assisting them in the midfield will also be former USL-1 standout Roland ‘Pato’ Aguilera. They will be in support of Gbeke up top as well as new addition Dwight Barnett, who registered 24 goals and six assists in two seasons with the PDL Cape Cod Crusaders.

The biggest change for the Impact will without question be the opening of Stade Saputo on May 19. The new 13,000-seat, privately financed $15 million stadium will boast a perfect 120 x 80 meter pitch. Also on the minds of the club will be the CONCACAF Champions League Canadian Qualifying competition. After years of their USL-1 peers south of the border having had the burden of US Open Cup play over the years, the Impact will experience for the first time the stresses of competing in an additional competition aside from league play as they take on Toronto FC and USL-1 rival Vancouver Whitecaps in a round-robin group playoff for the lone spot in the confederation’s club championship event.

The First Five

As is somewhat typical for the cold-climate Impact, they find themselves on the road for the beginning of the season and will be away from home for the first six contests of the year. Their opening schedule will not be overly difficult with matches primarily against the lower half of last year’s table. Montreal visits Vancouver (seventh) April 12 before heading to Miami (ninth) the following week. They then take on 2007 finalists Atlanta (fourth) and Puerto Rico (sixth) over the next two weeks before playing Minnesota (11th) on May 10. Montreal opens at home May 19 against Vancouver with a meeting against regular season runners-up Portland on the 30th.