Parkhurst hopes he can wave off surgery

Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst has survived confrontations with the biggest and fastest attacking players in Major League Soccer for two seasons. Parkhurst missed two games at the start of last season but has performed in every minute of 70 of the Revolution's last 72 MLS playoff and regular-season games.

But Parkhurst sustained an unexpected setback last Sunday when he dislocated his left shoulder in the Gulf of Mexico, causing him to miss exhibition wins over Inter Playa del Carmen (7-0) and Pioneros de Cancun (1-0), and making his status questionable for the season opener at Chicago April 7.

"A bunch of us were out swimming after practice," Parkhurst said yesterday. "I took a wave the wrong way and it crashed on top of me. I am real careful about my shoulder and I never put it in a bad position."

Parkhurst had surgery on that shoulder while attending Wake Forest University and wears a brace during games and practice.

"I saw doctors after I came back [Monday]," Parkhurst said. "We are not quite sure what to do yet, but I am going to see a shoulder specialist next week and base what I do next around him. There is a possibility of surgery or of playing with it. I had it at Wake Forest and I played through it [he had surgery after his freshman season], but the circumstances are different now because the season is a little longer. It's similar to what I had [at Wake Forest] but I'm a little worried about it because, obviously, the first surgery failed and that's never a good thing."

Parkhurst was first examined in Cancun, where a doctor told the Revolution coaching staff shoulder injuries are common for swimmers because of the waves. But Parkhurst did not receive a specialist's opinion because the head physician for the Patriots and Revolution was not in Boston and the teams' shoulder specialist is with the Red Sox in Florida.

"There is a chance, if it is surgically repaired, I will be out for a while," Parkhurst said. "But I am hoping that's not the case. It depends on the doctors. If they decide I can wait until after the season [for surgery], I should be back in a week."

Parkhurst, who was convinced he would become a pro soccer player after attending the Revolution's inaugural game in 1996, has set standards for central defenders with an ability to defuse attacks with positioning and quickness. The Revolution led MLS in goals-against average (1.09) last season and Parkhurst owns the league record for fewest fouls (six in 2005). He committed 12 last year.

James Riley, a teammate of Parkhurst's at Wake Forest, took the central defender spot in a 3-5-2 alignment this week.

"James has never played there in a [three-man back line] but he reads the game well and he is a real good man-marker," Parkhurst said. "He should be fine. It's a challenge for him."

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.