(Times staff / JULIA WILKINSON)

If today is anything like the few days that preceded it, Zac MacMath will wear his helmet while manning the space between the pipes.

But that's only because MacMath, the Union’s starting goalkeeper, said wearing the protective headgear following a concussion — and its subsequent recurring symptoms — has become almost essential, whether or not he likes it.

MacMath and the Union host Sporting Kansas City tonight. (For a preview on the game, on Union interim manager John Hackworth's bid to keep things consistent, click here.)

“That’s my personal decision,” MacMath said of wearing the helmet last weekend against D.C. United. “I’ve had people recommend it to me, but it’s definitely my choice. Don’t know how much longer I’ll wear it, or if I’ll wear it this weekend or not. Probably depends on how hot it is.”

MacMath sustained a concussion May 5 in a loss at Seattle. He played the next match, against visiting New York May 13, before sitting out a pair of road matches — May 19 at FC Dallas and May 26 at Toronto FC. He finally returned to the pitch, in league play at least, for last weekend’s match with D.C.

He said the helmet hasn’t disrupted his play, which has produced a 2-7-1 record with a 1.30 goals-against average.

“I don’t think it affects me and the way I play,” MacMath said. “I think it’s a little uncomfortable, but that’s it. I’ve never worn one before. It takes time. I don’t think I’m going to be used to it any time soon. It’s about not thinking about the helmet and just thinking about the play.”

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The Union will be without starters Sheanon Williams (right big toe avulsion fracture) and Gabriel Gomez (left knee contusion, patellar tendonitis), who were among the four players listed as 'OUT' in the MLS injury report, which was published late Friday. 

The others are: Krystian Witkowski (concussion symptoms), and Chandler Hoffman (left big toe fracture), whose injury was initially reported here.

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Be sure to check back to the blog tonight, for the Union's starting lineup and analysis of it, around 6 p.m. There'll also be some postgame stuff up here around 11 p.m., so stay tuned for that, too.