PORTLAND, Ore. – Over the weekend, the Portland Timbers U-16 Academy opened play in the West Region of the 2013-14 Generation adidas Cup, taking on the LA Galaxy U-16 and Chivas USA U-16 Academy teams at the University of California, Irvine.
The Generation adidas Cup is a U-17 tournament contested by MLS academies. Along with the Timbers U-16 Academy, the West Region includes academy teams from Chivas USA, Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders FC.
The Timbers U-16s fell to the Galaxy U-16 Academy 3-2 at Crawford Field on Oct. 11. After suffering a loss to the Galaxy U-16s three weeks prior, the Timbers U-16s jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a header from Sam Kirby (Tigard, Ore.) and a goal by Davis Chimento (Sherwood, Ore.). Portland had chances to add to its lead, but the Galaxy U-16s worked their way back into the game, scoring three unanswered goals to take the win.
On Oct. 12, a second-half comeback helped the Timbers U-16s to a 2-2 draw against the Chivas USA U-16 Academy. Scoreless at the break, the Chivas USA U-16s jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second half. The Timbers U-16s rallied to level the score on goals by Reid Baez (Salem, Ore.) and Kaden Brinkman (Portland, Ore.). Tied at the end of regulation, the two teams participated in a tiebreaker shootout, with the Chivas USA U-16s prevailing. The Timbers U-16s, however, held an early advantage in the shootout as goalkeeper Grant Alcorn (Vancouver, Wash.) made a save on the first PK attempt by the Chivas USA U-16s.
The Timbers U-16s will face the U-16 sides of the Earthquakes and Sounders FC in the next round of West Region play, scheduled for Feb. 11-14, 2014. Hosted by the Earthquakes, a location for those matches will be announced in the coming weeks.
Click here for more information on the 2013-14 Generation adidas Cup, as well as a schedule and standings of all three regions.
Four Timbers U-18 Academy players help Timbers Reserves conclude 2013 season
On Monday, four players from the Timbers U-18 Academy played with the Timbers Reserves as they concluded their 2013 MLS Reserve League schedule against the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves at JELD-WEN Field. Defender Niko De Vera (Washougal, Wash.) started at left back and played the full 90 minutes against the Sounders FC Reserves.
In total, nine different Academy players saw minutes with the Timbers Reserves over the course of the 2013 MLS Reserve League season. Forward Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) led all Academy players with 10 appearances (4 starts) for the Timbers Reserves, scoring one goal. Defender Jacob Kempf (Camas, Wash.) played in eight MLS Reserve League games and logged an assist. Also seeing valuable time with the Reserves were midfielders Jesse Garcia (Hillsboro, Ore.) and Foster Langsdorf (Vancouver, Wash.) as well as forward Alex Segovia (Hillsboro, Ore.).
