Gregg Berhalter Michael Parkhurst Columbus focused on 2016

Reigning champions Portland Timbers square off against Columbus Crew to kick start the 2016 MLS season.Almost three months have passed since Columbus Crew SC watched the Portland Timbers celebrate their 2015 MLS Cup win at Mapfre Stadium in Ohio's capital, but for Crew SC captain Michael Parkhurst, time hasn't made the loss any easier to swallow.

"It's still fresh in the mind," Parkhurst told ESPN FC ahead of Sunday's rematch in Oregon (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN) on the opening day of the 2016 MLS campaign. "The new season has come upon us real quick."

Nobody is looking forward to it more than Parkhurst. The 2015 final was the former U.S. national team defender's fourth career MLS Cup…