BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- After a scoreless result in the first game of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, both the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution were looking for someone to lead them to victory Thursday night. With dedication and a bit of hard work, Chicago's Chris Rolfe became that player. Rolfe tallied the game-winning goal and an assist to lead the Fire to a 3-0 win.
"I wish I could take the credit for Rolfe's play," Fire head coach Denis Hamlett said. "Every time we play on ESPN2, he seems to come to life. Chris is probably one of the most clinical guys around the goal. Tonight he got himself in good spots. When our attacking guys step up and play their games, we are a hard team to play against."
It's no surprise to Fire fans as Rolfe stepped up his game toward the end of the season. On Sept. 25 Rolfe collected two goals and an assist in a 3-1 Fire win against Los Angeles. Then in the final regular season match, a 5-2 win over New York, Rolfe recorded his first career hat trick and two assists.
"I try to play every game the same way," said the native of Dayton, Ohio. "When you get down to the end of the season, it's easier to get motivated. It also helps playing in cooler weather."
Rolfe helped set the tone of the game Thursday night, after he was the right place to sneak a goal into the net just before the end of the first half. Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a shot toward goal. New England goalkeeper Matt Reis dove at full stretch and got a hand to it but could only knock the ball back into play. Rolfe tapped it in for a 1-0 lead.
"I watched Cuauhtemoc take the shot and tried to stay with it," Rolfe said. "Luckily I did. It was huge for us to get that goal. If it had been 0-0 at the half, they would have been content with that."
Chicago kept pushing as Rolfe earned an assist in the 74th minute, sending in a cross for Gonzalo Segares to knock home for the third and final goal. A win against New England was something that Rolfe had been waiting for.
"This is especially a big win for me," Rolfe said. "They've knocked me out of the playoffs every year that I've been here." Rolfe finished the regular season as Chicago's leading scorer with nine goals and seven assists and earned the team's Golden Boot. In his four-year MLS career, Rolfe has 30 goals and 16 assists. In the MLS Cup Playoffs, he now has three goals and two assists.
"Chris is a very talented player that has so many qualities that you want," Fire forward Brian McBride said. "You can see what he can accomplish when he's confident."
Rolfe's hot streak also came after what could have been a down point. A regular in the lineup after an early-season injury, Rolfe was dropped from the starting lineup for the Sept. 21 home game against FC Dallas. His attention grabbed, Rolfe exploded for the two goals against LA in the next game, and he was off.
"It's a process," Rolfe said. "It's about being in good spots and waiting for an opportunity. That's when I make my move. I do what I can every day in practice. I work hard every day."
His teammates know what he brings to the table. After a few strong performances in a row, they know who they can count on.
"Chris has been great all year," Fire midfielder Justin Mapp said. "The latter part of the season he's been on fire. It's a huge lift for us. We'll be looking for him in the next game."
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