New England Revolution rookie Chris Tierney wasn't supposed to be on the field for last Thursday's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series opener against Chicago.
Tierney, 22, wasn't highly regarded coming out of Virginia and the Revs picked him in the first round of the supplemental draft prior to the season. Revs assistant Paul Mariner knew Tierney from his time with Greater Boston Bolts, a prominent youth club in suburban Boston, and the Wellesley, Mass. native had shown well during a tryout.
Most players drafted in his position spend most of the season in the reserves if they can even find a way to scrape on to the team. With Jay Heaps and Amaechi Igwe ahead of him at left back and Khano Smith and Mauricio Castro ahead of him at left midfield, Tierney's path to the first team looked blocked.
But the Revolution struggled with injuries and suspensions all season. Add the extra games from the CONCACAF Champions League, the U.S. Open Cup and SuperLiga, and the Revs needed Tierney to play. When most expected him to feature infrequently, Tierney ended up playing 13 games in all competitions -- including a start in the SuperLiga final -- and overtook Igwe as Heaps' backup.
When Gabriel Badilla picked up a red card in the season finale against Kansas City, the spotlight turned on Tierney once again for the playoff opener. Revs boss Steve Nicol selected him at left back with Heaps sliding into the middle. All of that experience might have helped Tierney get ready for his first playoff game, but it didn't eliminate the inevitable nerves.
"Those games always help," Tierney said. "Any experience that a young player like myself gets is going to be huge in big games like the other night. There's always nerves. But I don't think that's the worst thing. It's a way of getting yourself focused and really thinking about the job at hand."
The job at hand wasn't an easy one. Chicago's wide players had ripped apart the Revolution defense this season. Tierney would deal with right winger Chris Rolfe, who had just earned MLS Player of the Week honors after potting a hat trick and adding a couple of assists.
It didn't prove problematic for Tierney and his defensive mates. Chicago struggled to create chances as the game ended 0-0.
"I thought he did an excellent job," Revs defender Michael Parkhurst said. "It's not an easy position for a rookie to be thrown into a playoff game against Chicago."
Tierney had aid alongside him. The vocal Heaps kept in close contact to help Tierney stay in position and fill any gaps.
"Jay's a great player himself, but I think his best qualities are his organizational and leadership skills," Tierney said. "He did a really good job. We were talking throughout the game. We were talking about positioning and trying to help each other out. He does a great job with all of the young guys. He makes sure that he is doing the right thing and that everyone else is doing the right thing as well."
All the focus on defense limited how often Tierney could overlap on the left-hand side. Forays forward were few and far between, but Parkhurst said keeping a tight line was more important than flooding the attacking half.
"He contributed offensively when he could," Parkhurst said. "But first and foremost, he was solid defensively and he picked up good positions."
Whether Tierney gets to stay in that position remains a question. Tierney picked up a left knee sprain in training on Tuesday and is listed as questionable. If he can go, he wants to have the chance to stay in the team even with Badilla returning from suspension.
"You always want to be in there," Tierney said. "Having played, you just want to play more and more. But it's a big game and experience is a big factor in the playoffs. Whatever decision they make, I'm sure it'll be the right one."
Parkhurst said if Tierney gets the call, he will have to reproduce the type of form he showed in the first leg.
"Now we're going to need him to do it again on Thursday," Parkhurst said. "His first 90 minutes was good, but now we need another 90 out of him."
And if that call comes again for Tierney, he'll be ready.
"I gained some confidence playing the other night," Tierney said. "I'm up to the challenge. It should be fine."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
