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Reis helps Revolution get past Fire

Oct 29, 2006 - 2:03 AM FOXBORO, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Goalkeeper Matt Reis made a pair of clutch stops in a decisive shootout and converted an attempt of his own to lift the New England Revolution to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire, clinching the Eastern Conference semifinals series.

Needing to win by at least one goal after a 1-0 loss Sunday in Game One of the two-game aggregate goals series, the Revolution overcame an early tally by the Fire with goals by Taylor Twellman and Pat Noonan to force overtime.

Following a pair of scoreless extra sessions, New England won the shootout, 4-2. Reis stopped Thiago on the first attempt and later powered a shot past Chicago goalkeeper Matt Pickens to help the hosts take control.

Reis' diving stop of Ivan Guerrero's attempt kept the Revolution's shootout advantage at 3-2, and Twellman followed with a blast into the corner to end the series.

By scoring the final three goals of the series, New England advances to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth straight season. It will face either DC United or New York next weekend.

Twellman forged a 1-1 tie by taking a feed from Joe Franchino and converting in the 41st minute and Noonan followed a rebound with a hard shot that made it 2-1 in the 58th minute. Reis made four saves for the Revolution, who improved to 7-1-3 all-time at home in the postseason.

Nate Jaqua gave the Fire a 1-0 edge in the contest and a two-goal advantage in aggregate goals by converting with a sliding kick in the 18th minute. Pickens stopped eight shots but none in the shootout.