For New England Revolution fans, there is little doubt that Pizza Hut Park is not an MLS venue they think of with much fondness.
Since winning the first time they played there, the Revs have left Frisco in a glum mood on three consecutive occasions. Of course, two of those were not the result of games against Sunday's opponent, FC Dallas. But the game that fell between back-to-back MLS Cup heartbreaks was, and New England is determined that history will not repeat itself this weekend.
Less than 20 minutes into the last meeting in Frisco between the two sides, Steve Nicol's side found itself 4-0 down, as Dallas took advantage of a number of Revolution defensive lapses to wrap up their easiest three points of the 2006 season.
At the start of a week in which his team will play three times, this week Nicol has been preaching the importance of settling down quickly against Steve Morrow's side, which will be looking to bounce back from a defeat to New York on Thursday. Furthermore, as goalkeeper Matt Reis points out, the Revolution's early season trend of conceding early goals is one that cannot continue to be replicated.
"In Chicago and in Columbus, we gave up early goals which made it tough to play," said Reis. "Any time you go down a goal, it changes the whole game. We need to be mindful of that and make sure we start out of the gates well."
With games against D.C. United (Thursday) and Chicago (Sunday) following on the heels of the test in Texas, the Revolution are grateful that the overall health of their squad is good. Following their full participation in training, Pat Noonan and Michael Parkhurst are available to start, though with so many games imminent, Nicol could decide to continue to work them back into action more steadily.
Parkhurst has seen no game time this year while recovering from a dislocated left shoulder suffered while relaxing in the ocean on a preseason trip to Mexico. The layoff has been a frustrating one for the defender, although his involvement in training has not been totally limited.
"I am real protective of my shoulder because I have had problems in the past," said Parkhurst. "At least I have been able to do passing drills and stay relatively fit, unlike last year where I was out for six weeks and couldn't really touch a ball. This time has been a bit easier, just because I have been able to have the ball at my feet."
The prospect of matching up against Kenny Cooper and Carlos Ruiz - two "big boys" was how Parkhurst described the Dallas frontline - means that Sunday's game might come too soon for the former Rookie of the Year. If it does, he has total confidence in James Riley, who has impressed in his absence in central defense.
"I think he did fabulously," said Parkhurst of his ex-Wake Forest teammate, "It is not an easy position if you have never played it before and I think he has done great. He has showed his versatility in the past and now again. He can play anywhere along the back line or outside midfield."
Riley has been part of a backline that has allowed just three goals on the year so far. However, despite that impressive defensive record and having averaged two goals per game at the other end, New England has just four points from their opening three games.
Naturally, Reis would like to have a better record than the Revs' current 1-1-1 mark but the goalkeeper is not unduly concerned with his side's start to 2007.
"We should be undefeated and have scored 10 goals a game and never get scored on, but the likelihood of that is really nil," Reis said. "I think we have done a lot of good things. We have definitely started this year as we left last year, aside from a few mental mistakes.
"It's a long season but getting a tie on the road is never a bad thing and we took full points at home. I always feel that, if you can get max points at home and at least get ties on the road, then you'll definitely be in the playoffs."
Reis said that the Revolution need to lengthen the good spells they enjoy in games in order to put in "90-minute performances." Against Dallas this weekend, New England will aim to build a solid foundation before looking to attack, in the hope they might, this time, leave the Lone Star state with some happier memories.
"We have got to keep it tight and try and play our football," said Nicol. "(Dallas) have got some young guys so they have got some legs and I think our transition from attack to defense is going to be important."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
