BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chris Rolfe has scored a lot of goals in his life, but they don't come in groups of three very often.
"This is the first time I have had a hat trick since, if not college, then high school," Rolfe said after scoring three goals in the first half of the Fire's 5-2 win over the New York Red Bulls Thursday.
With the win, the Fire clinched home-field advantage against the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the two clubs. The two-leg, aggregate goals series will begin next Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Rolfe also had two assists in the second half as the Fire put a second hurting on the Red Bulls this season, following their 5-1 win in East Rutherford, N.J. in May. Many believe the Fire play harder against New York this season because the Red Bulls' coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, begged out of his Fire contract last year to move to New York.
"Our guys went out and played well and stuck to our game plan tonight," said Fire head coach Denis Hamlett. "I know our players know the history between our teams but we never talk about it. When we play our game I think we are hard to beat." Rolfe turned home a Stephen King cross into an empty goal in the 11th minute, then volleyed home a half-clearance on a corner kick from outside the area in the 32nd minute, after Juan Pablo Angel's header tied the score.
Then in the 38th minute, Rolfe ran onto a Cuauhtemoc Blanco backheel and calmly passed the ball into the lower left corner past New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero for a 3-1 halftime lead.
Rolfe became the fifth Fire player to score a hat trick, the first to score all three goals in one half. The last Fire player to scored a hat trick was Nate Jaqua on June 4, 2005 against Chivas USA.
"He had a fantastic night. I told him to remember when he would go at guys and tonight he did just that," Hamlett said. "He had that mindset tonight that he was going to score. If he gets a chance he can put the ball on goal."
Rolfe started the Fire's fourth goal when he sent a through ball from midfield to Fire defender Diego Gutierrez streaking down the left side. Gutierrez, who was feted at halftime for his long service with the Fire, sent another long through ball past two Red Bulls to Brian McBride streaking in from the far right side for an easy tap-in.
"I saw Diego running down the outside and I saw a Red Bull player turn on his outside foot," Rolfe said. "Somehow it snuck through, it was a great run by Diego and a great pass to Brian."
Gutierrez, who was playing in place of suspended defender Gonzalo Segares, has announced his retirement at the end of this season.
"What can you say about his performance tonight?" Gutierrez said about Rolfe. "I don't think he did anything wrong tonight. I tried to make a run, hoping he would see me, it was a perfect pass and I was glad to get it to Brian."
The Fire scored their fifth goal in the 75th minute and Rolfe earned his second assist of the game. Second-half substitute defender Daniel Woolard was in the game for less than a minute when he dove headlong to head home a Rolfe cross from the right, after the ball popped out following a tackle in midfield.
Rolfe was alone when he made the pass, and could have taken the shot in an attempt for a club-record fourth goal of the game.
"Initially that is what I was planning on doing but I saw him flying into the box and I had to pass to him," Rolfe said.
The win was the first for the Fire in the month of October. They will be taking on the Revolution for the sixth time in eight years in the MLS Cup Playoffs, a team Chicago has defeated three times this year, including by a 4-0 margin and a 3-0 margin.
"I think most people in the league know we are a good team and I think tonight's game shows we are ready for the playoffs," Rolfe said. "We have a lot of respect for New England. They are a good team but we'll be prepared and ready to play them."
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