PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s today announced the addition of five more players to their roster for the upcoming 2015 Premier Development League (PDL) season. Timbers Academy alumni Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (University of Akron), Anthony Macchione (University of Akron) and Ben White (Gonzaga University) join the Timbers U-23s following their freshman season in college, while defender Dennis Castillo (Virginia Commonwealth) returns for a second year and goalkeeper Eric Dick (Butler University) also joins the team.
The Timbers U-23s begin their seventh season in the PDL on Thursday, May 14, against Lane United FC in a Providence Health & Fitness Day match at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (Pacific). Tickets for Thursday’s match against Lane United FC, which start at $7, can be purchased online here as well as at the Providence Park box office. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 15 or more; contact the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@timbers.com for additional information.
Castillo (San José, Costa Rica) has scored seven goals in 59 career matches across three seasons at Virginia Commonwealth University. A Costa Rica youth international at the U-18 and U-20 levels, Castillo was part of a VCU defensive unit that ranked 11th nationally in goals-against average (0.65) in 2014. Joining the Timbers U-23s last season, Castillo appeared in 10 matches, recording two goals and one assist during the 2014 PDL season.
Dick (Carmel, Ind.) featured in 13 matches at Butler University in 2014, recording a 0.81 goal-against average in his redshirt-freshman campaign. A two-time BIG EAST Conference Goalkeeper of the Week recipient, Dick finished fourth in the conference with a .804 save percentage and posted five shutouts for the Bulldogs.
Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.) appeared in 20 games (13 starts) as a midfielder, logging one goal and one assist during his freshman season at the University of Akron in 2014. The Portland native was named the 2013-14 Timbers Academy Player of the Year after playing in 23 games (20 starts) for the Timbers U-18s during the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, scoring four goals and helping the side reach the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs for the first time. Garcia-Aguilar also appeared in five matches, logging 254 minutes, for the Timbers Reserves during the 2013 MLS Reserve League campaign, and made an appearance for the Timbers first team during a friendly against Mexican club Monarcas Morelia on July 3, 2013.
Macchione (Camas, Wash.) joins the Timbers U-23s following his freshman season at the University of Akron in 2014. The former Timbers Academy forward featured in 18 matches for the Zips, recording three goals, including the game-winning goal to help Akron clinch to their 11th Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship title. With the Timbers U-18s, Macchione helped lead the side to their appearance in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in 2013, scoring 17 goals in 24 games. Macchione made 47 appearances for the Timbers U-18s from 2012-14 and also played 10 games for the Timbers Reserves during the 2013 MLS Reserve League season.
White (Tigard, Ore.) joins the Timbers U-23s after starting 17 games as a freshman defender at Gonzaga University, finishing second on the team in minutes played (1,450). A Timbers Academy member from 2012-14, White recorded 26 appearances (24 starts) during the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, scoring five goals and helping lead the Timbers U-18s to their inaugural berth in the Development Academy Playoffs. White logged two goals and eight assists for the Timbers U-16s during the 2012-13 season.
