VANCOUVER—Ask Tim Parker about his solid rookie campaign in Major League Soccer and the 22-year-old Whitecaps centre back will tell you he isn’t all that surprised by how well he’s played this season.
He’s exceeded his own expectations, sure, but Parker—Vancouver’s first pick in January’s MLS SuperDraft, going 13th overall—admits he’s more surprised by how much he’s played.
“I’ve been given a lot of opportunities here,” Parker told Sportsnet, “maybe a lot of opportunities that I might not have been given at other clubs, so I think that ending up here and getting the time I am (getting) here is very fortunate.”
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That time has come largely because of injuries and suspensions to his teammates, but Parker has made the most of his opportunities. He’s started the past four MLS games, and even scored his first professional goal last month in Vancouver’s first CONCACAF Champions League group-stage matchup against the Seattle Sounders, a 1–1 draw.
The Whitecaps’ next CCL group-stage game goes Wednesday night at BC Place, where the team will face Honduran side Olimpia. While Vancouver currently has their sights on the MLS Cup—and, with the best record in MLS at present, the Supporters’ Shield—coach Carl Robinson has called this “a game we need to win.” Parker, who could be selected to start, said the team is prepared to face an unknown like Olimpia.
“We have to watch film and get used to their tendencies. This week we’ve been training a little differently to get used to them,” Parker offered.
The Whitecaps would gain control of their group with a win on Wednesday (the Sounders and Olimpia have played twice, pulling out a win each). Olimpia will be an aggressive challenger—their matchup with the Sounders in Seattle was an extravaganza of tempers and emotion—but according to Parker, there isn’t so much pressure on the Whitecaps, whose next MLS game comes Saturday at home against Seattle, as a desire to hold steady.
“We want to be consistent. This way especially once we go into the playoffs and all the other competitions that we’re still involved in, that we’re performing as best as we can,” Parker said.
Even as Parker has flown somewhat under the radar this year, he’s been a huge contributor on Vancouver’s already exceptional defence. The Hicksville, N.Y., native, who spent his college career at St. John’s University in his home state, has had to adapt to playing with a few different central defensive partners this summer. He was paired with veteran Kendall Waston—who’ll be available for the Olimpia game after missing last week’s MLS matchup with Colorado to serve a suspension—after Pa-Modou Kah was felled by a facial fracture, and he admits the different pairings have been a challenge.
“It gets confusing at times,” he said, “because sometimes you want to get used to playing with someone. But I’ve been fortunate enough to play with Pah and Kendall, who are two experienced guys in the middle of the field, so getting used to them is kinda one and the same, because they’re both so experienced.”
For Parker, the season has already shattered expectations. But he’s not done yet—there are bigger goals for the team, and maybe a few more surprises, too.
“I’d love to continue to play,” he said. “If that happens then I’ll be grateful. If I get a chance to play in the playoffs, then that’ll obviously be an experience that I definitely wouldn’t have thought I would get.”
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