Chivas' Parker preparing to make first career start
Red-and-White 'keeper ready to fill in for injured Thornton against Rapids
Thornton picked up a right quad strain in the 61st minute in the All-Star Game against Everton FC and is listed as questionable for the match against Colorado. With Dan Kennedy still recovering from surgery to his right knee, Parker would get the call.
"I'm pretty excited about it all," said Parker of the prospect of his first MLS minutes. "I'm a little nervous, but that's good. It keeps me on my toes."
Parker joined Chivas USA on March 3 of last year. The Oklahoma City native played 35 games in his four years at Missouri State University before joining the Colorado Rapids U-23 of the Premier Development League in the summer of 2007, where he played in eight games and notched a record of 4-2-2 while in the net for the team.
Parker saw his first minutes for Chivas USA against Mexican side Pachuca in SuperLiga 2008. He again appeared in SuperLiga this year, coming into Chivas USA's 1-1 draw against San Luis as a substitute on June 27. While his experience is limited, he is ready for the challenge of his first MLS match.
"He's comfortable and confident," said Chivas USA goalkeeper coach Leo Percovich. "The most important thing is that he's ready for the game."
Parker has been practicing with the first team all week in the case that Thornton won't be able to play.
"I haven't been preparing for this game any differently than anything else," said Parker. "The only thing is that I have been behind the starting back four during practices this week, which has helped get used to playing with them."
The Red-and-White face a Colorado team on Saturday with which they are currently tied for fourth place in the Western Conference. The Rapids have been a force when playing at home this season, losing only two of 10 matches at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Parker knows that the key to getting win in Colorado will be shutting down an offense that's led by U.S. national team striker Conor Casey.
"I've done some research on Colorado," said Parker. "They'll shoot from anywhere, and they have a few big guys who like to crash into the box. I'll have to be ready for that."
And while the atmosphere in the Rocky Mountains certainly won't be a friendly one for Parker and the rest of Chivas USA, the young goalkeeper can at least count on a few familiar faces in the stands on Saturday.
"My family is flying in," he said. "I haven't seen them in a while, so I'm pretty excited. I think it will be a good game."
Jeffrey King is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
