Timbers U-23s earn 2-1 road win over North Sound

EDMONDS, Wash. – Forward Clark Phillips scored twice in the first half to help lead the Portland Timbers U-23s to a 2-1 road win over North Sound SeaWolves FC at Edmonds-Woodway High School on Saturday afternoon.

The Timbers U-23s, who defeated Sounders FC U-23 at home on Thursday, captured their second straight win to open the 2013 Premier Development League campaign. Phillips tallied his first two goals of the season in the 11th and 16th minutes to stake the Timbers U-23s to an early two-goal lead in their first road match of the season.

Phillips leads the team with two goals, forward Jaime Velasco recorded an assist in his first start and goalkeeper David Meves recorded four saves for the Timbers U-23s (2-0-0, 6pts), playing their third match in five days. Portland is tied with Victoria Highlanders FC for first place in the Northwest Division.

In the 11th minute, Phillips headed home a cross by Velasco to give the Timbers U-23s an early lead. He capped the team’s first brace of the season just five  minutes later, winning the ball after a North Sound defender slipped in his defensive third and Phillips was able to charge in on goal and beat SeaWolves FC goalkeeper Ryan Herman one-on-one.

North Sound (0-1-0, 0pts) pulled one back in the 68th minute on a volley from second-half sub David Durant at the top of the penalty area that deflected off a Timbers U-23s player on its way through and landed in the back of the net. Herman finished the match with six saves.

The Timbers U-23s resume play in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday as they play host to the Charleston Battery of USL PRO in the second round of the tournament at JELD-WEN Field at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Notes: Defenders J.J. Greer and Evyn Hewett and forward Jaime Velasco all made their first starts of the season … With a two-goal performance, forward Clark Phillips becomes the Timbers U-23s early season scoring leader … The Timbers U-23s improve to 5-0-0 all-time in the series against North Sound … The Timbers U-23s out-shot SeaWolves FC 13-8, including eight shots on goal … Starting for SeaWolves FC was defender Nick Hamer, who was a member of the Timbers U-23s in 2012 and is a current college teammate of Phillips at Gonzaga University.