Timbers Development Update: March 4, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams captured wins in each of their matches during a two-game road trip to Southern California over the weekend. Both the Timbers U-18 and U-16 Academy defeated the San Diego Surf and Nomads SC to extend their respective winning streaks. 

The Timbers U-18 Academy defeated the Surf 1-0 on Saturday at San Diego Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. After a scoreless first half, forward Christian Desir (Portland, Ore.) scored the game-winner in the 63rd minute, logging his fifth goal of the season. Goalkeeper Collin Partee (Camas, Wash.) recorded the shutout. 

On Sunday, the Timbers U-18s defeated Nomads 3-1 at Kinsell Field in San Diego. Desir scored his second and third goals of the weekend and midfielder James Nosack (Vancouver, Wash.) tallied his ninth goal of the season to help lead Portland to a third straight road victory. With three goals in two games, Desir now has seven goals for the season. 

The Timbers U-18s improve to 8-8-2 (26pts) and sit in fifth place in the Northwest Division. The team shares the division lead for fewest goals allowed (30). 

The Timbers U-16 Academy opened the weekend with a 2-0 victory over the Surf. Forward Alex Segovia (Beaverton, Ore.) scored his third goal of the season and midfielder Octavio Hermasillo (Portland, Ore.) scored in a second straight match, while goalkeeper Joe Wheelwright (Pleasant View, Utah) earned the shutout to help lead Portland. 

The U-16s had a season-high, six-goal outburst on Sunday, defeating Nomads 6-0 behind two-goal performances from midfielder Jacob Kempf (Camas, Wash.) and defender Peter Prescott (Vancouver, Wash.). Prescott scored his goals two minutes apart in the 28th and 30th minutes, while defender Matt Palodichuk (Vancouver, Wash.) drove in his second goal of the season in the first half to give the Timbers U-16s a 3-0 lead at the break. Kempf then tallied his two goals within a three-minute span around the hour mark and forward Rolando Velazquez (Junction City, Ore.) capped the scoring in the 78th minute. 

Unbeaten in their last four matches and the winners of three straight, the Timbers U-16s are 7-6-5 (26pts) and sit in fourth place in the Northwest Division for their age group. 

Following a stretch of 11 straight road matches, the Timbers Academy teams return home and will play nine of their last 10 matches of the 2012-13 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season at the adidas Timbers Training Center. The teams’ last home matches were Nov. 3, 2012.

The Timbers Academy play host to Strikers FC on Saturday, March 16, at the adidas Timbers Training Center; the U-18 sides kick off at 1 p.m. and the U-16s play at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific). Pateadores visits the Timbers Academy on Sunday, March 17, with the U-18 teams playing at 12 noon and the U-16 teams at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific).