Noah Palmer is finally getting his opportunity to be a No. 1 goalie in Major League Soccer, but it won't be with Real Salt Lake.
The desperate Columbus Crew acquired the rights to RSL's third-string keeper Wednesday in exchange for rookie forward Duke Hashimoto and a 2007 first-round Supplemental Draft pick.
While Salt Lake's coaching staff is happy to be bolstering its front line with the former SMU standout, the Crew are thrilled about acquiring a healthy goalie.
"Our goalkeeping situation is pretty unique and pretty significant," said Crew coach Sigi Schmid in a press release Wednesday. "We have four goalkeepers on our roster and they are all injured. Obviously we needed to do something."
The situation became desperate last weekend when Columbus starter Jon Busch tore his right ACL against D.C. United. With primary backup Jonny Walker already on the season-ending injured reserve list, and two more goalies, Bill Gaudette and Andy Gruenebaum, both out with broken hands, the Crew had to do something.
Palmer, who missed most of the 2005 season following shoulder surgery, appeared in one reserve game this year, a 3-0 shutout victory over the Galaxy Reserves.
Even though Hashimoto was a fourth-round SuperDraft selection by Columbus this year, he didn't join the team until early May because he was finishing his degree at SMU.
Despite that, he has appeared in four reserve games for the Crew. Hashimoto should be an immediate contributor for RSL's first-place reserve team as well.
"This is a good deal for both teams, giving Noah a chance to start for a senior MLS team and for RSL to acquire another young, speedy, attacking talent," said Real coach John Ellinger. "Duke is a guy who loves the game, who will run through walls for his teammates and for the badge on the front of his chest. We had him rated as one of the top players coming out of college this year, and we are excited to have him as part of the organization."
While there's no timetable when or if Hashimoto will appear in any Salt Lake senior roster games this year, Palmer will definitely be making his MLS debut next Wednesday when Columbus travels to D.C. United.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com