PORTLAND, Ore. – On a three-match winning streak to open the 2013 Premier Development League season, the Portland Timbers U-23s play host to North Sound SeaWolves FC on Friday as part of a Providence Health & Fitness Day at JELD-WEN Field at 11 a.m. (Pacific) in the first of two matches this week.
Friday’s Providence Health & Fitness Day features a host of hands-on activities and a pregame assembly. Tickets are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com.
The Timbers U-23s face matches on back-to-back days this week as they visit the Kitsap Pumas on Saturday at Gordon Park Field in Bremerton, Wash., at 7 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday’s match kicks off a stretch of four straight road matches for the Timbers U-23s, including two matchups against Kitsap.
The Timbers U-23s (3-0-0, 9pts) enter their two matches this week in second place in the PDL’s Northwest Division. The team captured its third straight win to open the season on May 23, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 2-0 at JELD-WEN Field. Midfielder Eric Miller and forward Reinaldo Brenes provided the goals and goalkeeper David Meves recorded his second shutout of the season.
Portland and North Sound wrap up the season series between the two teams Friday. The two sides met two weeks ago, with the Timbers U-23s earning a 2-1 win over SeaWolves FC on May 18 at Edmonds-Woodway High School on a first-half brace by forward Clark Phillips. The Timbers U-23s are 5-0-0 in the all-time series against North Sound.
The Timbers U-23s make the first of two visits to Gordon Park Field this season on Saturday to play the Pumas. Portland earned a 2-1-1 record against Kitsap over the four meetings between the two teams during the 2012 campaign, including a 2-1 win in the divisional playoff on July 15, 2012. The Timbers U-23s will visit the Pumas again June 15 before playing host to the division rival June 21. Portland holds a 5-3-3 record in the all-time series against Kitsap.
SeaWolves FC (0-2-1, 1pt) visit Portland for the lone time during the regular season. The team recently earned a 2-2 draw against division-leaders Victoria Highlanders FC on the road on May 25, but sustained a 5-1 loss the following day to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23. North Sound, led by four different players all with one goal scored on the campaign, sits in sixth place in the division.
The Pumas (1-2-2, 5pts) are in fourth place in the Northwest Division. Kitsap captured a comeback 3-3 draw against Sounders FC U23 in its last match on May 24, scoring two goals in a three minute span, including a late equalizer by midfielder Neil Shaffer in the 89th minute, to earn a point on the road. Midfielder Shane Malcolm scored twice against Sounders FC U23 and Thursday was named to the PDL Team of the Week.
Timbers U-23s add midfielder Victor Souto to 2013 roster
The Timbers U-23s today announced that midfielder Victor Souto has been added to the roster for the 2013 season. Souto is an incoming freshman at the University of Akron. The native of São Paulo, Brazil, spent 10 years in the youth academy of Brazilian club Corinthians and captained his team to a youth national championship in 2009.
Eric Miller named to PDL Team of the Week, opens Toulon Tournament with U.S. U-20 National Team
Timbers U-23s midfielder/defender Eric Miller today was named to the PDL Team of the Week for the fourth week of the season. Miller earned his second consecutive PDL Team of the Week selection for his game-winning goal and overall play in a 2-0 victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 on May 23 at JELD-WEN Field.
Miller is currently in camp with the U.S. U-20 National Team for the Toulon Tournament in Toulon, France. He started and played all 90 minutes in each of the team’s first two matches of the tournament against France on May 28 and Thursday against Colombia. The U.S. U-20s next face Congo DR on Saturday at Stade du Ray in Nice, France, at 6:30 a.m. (Pacific); the match will be televised on beIN SPORT.
