Kelyn Rowe’s two goals made the difference versus San Jose. Photo/Kari Heistad
By Julian Cardillo
Kelyn Rowe was the perfect player for the Revolution to have on the field last Saturday when they attempted to halt a 291-minute scoreless streak and win their first game of the season versus the San Jose Earthquakes.
Rowe, who scored both goals in the Revolution’s 2-1 win and Tuesday was named MLS player of the week, has no regard for misses, difficult angles, or long distance. Any time is a good time to shoot, so long as the ball is at his feet and he’s within 35 yards of net.
Rowe has always demonstrated an aptitude for shooting, though the dichotomy of where he scores from is incredible. That’s because he’s an expert at getting the ball to go into the back of the net from both well outside the box and from way up-close—two polar opposites, which is curious.
On Saturday against San Jose, Rowe demonstrated his dual prowess. His first goal came from a tough angle inside the penalty area, a blast that flew into the back of the net after deflecting off of defender Shawn Francis’ head. His second goal came off a freekick, Darrius Barnes heading down Chris Tierney’s cross to the left post where Rowe, unmarked about two yards off the end line, redirected the ball into the back of the net.
“You want to get shots on target because if you do, something’s going to happen,” said Rowe of shooting from long distance. “Whether it be a deflection goal, whether it be like a rebound, and again we have guys…who like to poach and finds those gaps…who are always in there fighting, so if you want to put anything on target it’s going to happen.”
…It’s going to happen.
If that’s not full confidence in one’s shooting ability, what is?
Rowe’s long range shooting ability has been on display more prominently though, as he’s been able to snipe, bend, knuckle, and curl the ball into the back of the net almost since he joined the league. In 2013, when Rowe seemed to be firing from long range every other weekend, he told me that shooting from distance was something he did a lot of at UCLA but that it took a while for him to develop the skill at the MLS level.
Nevertheless, Rowe tried and, slowly but surely, succeeded. Confidence again.
All players go through ups and downs result-wise (Rowe went from scoring eight goals in 2013 to five in 2014), though it’s their resilience and willingness to press on that makes them exceptional players over the long term. Rowe is a solid midfield player, but an even better shooter.
Rowe took seven shots on Saturday—five of them were on target—and probably didn’t expect all of them to be goals. But two of them were. And for a team like the Revolution, who struggled hard to get the ball in the back of the net throughout March, a player like Rowe, who shoots with confidence no questions asked, is a difference maker.
The Revolution plays at Colorado this coming weekend. The Rapids haven’t scored a goal through three games—much like the Revolution going into the San Jose game. Rowe would be the perfect player on that team, too.
If you want to reach Julian, email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
