Arguably two of Missouri State’s greatest goalkeepers, Lance Parker and Matt Pickens, will be in uniform on Saturday night when Chivas USA plays host to the Colorado Rapids in the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, Calif., at 9:30 p.m.
Pickens will likely be the starting goalkeeper for the Rapids, while Parker is projected to dress as the backup for Chivas USA. Parker currently ranks second on the depth chart for Chivas behind Zach Thornton.
Pickens ranks in the top five of every career goalkeeper category at Missouri State. Pickens finished his career at Missouri State ranked third in saves (268), fifth in goals-against average (1.22), third in shutouts (13), third in wins (28), fourth in minutes in Goal (4,456) and second in games started (58). During his career with the Bears, Pickens was a three-time MVC Player of the Week, a three-time all-MVC performer (01-03) and was on the all-newcomer team in 2001.
Parker ranks in the top five of four of the six goalkeeper categories at MSU. Parker finished ahead of Pickens in goals-against-average with 1.00 compared to Pickens’ 1.55. Parker also earned MVC Player of the Week and all-MVC honors (06-07) twice in his MSU career.
The game will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol starting at 9:30 p.m. central time.