The Standard

Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Matt Moore

Missouri State graduate Lance Parker had a standout career as the soccer team's goalkeeper before he graduated.

"He was the complete package," coach Jon Leamy said. "He is bright and intelligent. You didn't have to tell him stuff twice. He always worked hard on the little stuff."

Then, more than a year ago, Parker left the school before he graduated to play soccer for the Premier Developmental league.

Then, he played in a camp with the Colorado Rapids where he met goalkeeper- coach Leo Percovic. Even though Parker wasn't drafted that year, his chance meeting with Percovic would help him secure a place on a team.

That year, Percovic became the goalkeeper coach for Chivas USA, one of two Major League Soccer teams from Los Angeles, Calif., and when it came time to find a second string goalkeeper for the team, he knew where to look.

After playing with the team through the preseason, he was signed to a four-year contract last year. The team has the option to drop or keep him every year of the contract, but he has been kept on for his second year. "I love it here," Parker said. "It is a great atmosphere. I don't necessarily get in the game but I am waiting for my turn to play."

Parker may have to wait awhile. He is currently behind Zach Thornton, who is the best goalkeeper so far this season in the MLS. Thornton leads the league with five shutouts to lead his team to a league best record of 6-1-1 this season.

This season, Thornton has a goal-allowed-against average of 0.380 which is only a little lower than his career average of 1.27.

Thornton is a five-time All-Star, and he won Goalkeeper of the Year in 1998. Of the 238 games he has played in, he has only not started in six of them.

However, he is 36-years-old.

"Goalies usually retire in their '40s so he still has years to play," Parker said. "He has been in the league since it started so I have been learning a lot from him, though."

Like the mental aspect of the game.

"It is a side of the game that I never saw in college or anywhere else before," Parker said. "I am learning how to run the team."

He also continued learning in his academic career. Since Parker got out to Los Angeles, he worked towards earning his degree.

"I had three classes I needed to finish up so I worked with my teachers for a couple of them, and I took the last one at California State University - Dominguez Hills," Parker said. "I graduated in December of '08. I just got my diploma a couple of months ago, and it is hanging on my wall."

When thinking back, Parker said that this is where he wanted to be at this point in his life.

"Yeah, I can't say that I expected to be here, but I definitely hoped I would be here," Parker said. "Ultimately, I would like to be a starter, of course."

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