ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The Portland Timbers U-23s received second-half goals from midfielder Steven Evans and forward Emery Welshman and a shut-out performance from goalkeeper Spencer Richey in a 2-0 road win over Fraser Valley Mariners FC at Bateman Field on Friday night.
In the middle of a season-long, three-match road stretch, the Timbers U-23s keep pace in the playoff race in the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division with the win. Following Friday's results, Portland currently sits in a two-way tie in second place with the Washington Crossfire.
Scoreless at halftime, the Timbers U-23s took the lead early in the second half after Fraser Valley was called for a handball in the box, which set up Evans for a penalty-kick goal. In the final minutes of the contest, a long ball played over the top by Richey set up Welshman for a scoring chance and the forward was able to put away the insurance goal for the 2-0 victory.
Richey recorded his second shutout of the season and was credited with an assist, Evans scored his third goal of the season and Welshman logged his second goal to help lead the Timbers U-23s (8-3-1, 25pts) to their third win in the last four matches.
Mariners FC (0-12-1, 1pt) received 13 saves from goalkeeper Mark Village in the loss as the team closed out its June schedule.
The Timbers U-23s finish a two-game road trip in British Columbia on Saturday against Victoria Highlanders FC at Royal Athletic Park at 7:15 p.m. (Pacific).
Notes: The Timbers U-23s swept the regular-season series against Fraser Valley with a record of 2-0-0 and out-scored Mariners FC 5-0 in the series … All-time, Portland is 5-2-0 against Fraser Valley … Spencer Richey becomes the first Timbers U-23s goalkeeper to record an offensive point with his assist against Mariners FC … The Timbers U-23s have won back-to-back road matches to improve their road record to 3-2-1 in 2012 … Forward Mark Sherrod had a three-game scoring streak come to an end Friday against Fraser Valley ... Portland held Fraser Valley to just two shots - an opponent season low ... The two teams ahead of the Timbers U-23s in the division standings entering the weekend – Washington Crossfire and Kitsap Pumas – played Friday night in Bremerton, Wash., with the Pumas earning a 2-1 win to take the lead in the Northwest Division at 26 points (8-3-2).
Scoring Summary
POR: Evans (penalty kick), 52
POR: Welshman (Richey), 83
Lineups:
POR: GK Spencer Richey, D Evyn Hewett, D Anthony Hobbs, D Chris Harms, D Reed Matte (Roberto Farfan, 52), M Will Seymore, M Andrew Ribeiro (Nick Hamer, 70), M Cam Vickers (Joey De Mare, 76), M Steven Evans, F Clark Phillips (Emery Welshman, 46), F Mark Sherrod (Ricardo Carrillo, 86)
Subs unused: GK Justin Baarts, GK Keegan Rogers
FVM: GK Mark Village, D Colton O'Neill, D Koby Byrne, D Nolan Moore, D Spencer MacKinnon, M Geoff Kosub (Peter Bow, 55), M Omar Adlani (Alex Martinez, 78), M Justin Isidro, M Adrian Kekec, F Craig Robinson, F Daniel Moledijk
Subs unused: Amaraj Lally, Andy Phillips
