T2 will return home to open a four-game homestand on Friday against Tacoma Defiance, before concluding the 2019 regular-season schedule with consecutive road matches. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), Friday’s match against Tacoma will feature a live stream on ESPN+.
2019 season at a glance
T2 (9-11-8, 35pts) sits in 13th place in the Western Conference standings, and rank seventh in the league in goals scored (50). Portland is coming off a road loss against Real Monarchs SLC at Zions Bank Stadium on Sept. 14. Timbers Academy Product Gio Calixtro scored his fourth goal of the season in 13 games started in the loss to Real Monarchs. Dairon Asprilla and Foster Langsdorf lead the scoring column with seven goals apiece, while Ryan Sierakowski ranks third on the club with six goals scored. Brayan Hurtado and Todd Wharton rank tied for fourth (5). Eryk Williamson leads the team and ranks tied for fourth in the league with seven assists.
Timbers Academy on display
Three Timbers Academy products appeared in the loss against Real Monarchs SLC on Sept, 14. Carlos Anguiano made his 16th start for T2, while Gio Calixtro logged his 21st appearance of the season. Caleb Kiner logged his sixth league appearance (4 starts) in 2019.
T2 2019 Team Leaders
Goals: Dairon Asprilla, Foster Langsdorf (7)
Assists: Eryk Williamson (7)
Chances Created: Todd Wharton (34)
Shutouts: Aljaz Ivacic, Jake Leeker (1)
Saves: Jake Leeker (44)
Scouting Tacoma Defiance
Tacoma Defiance (5-18-5, 20pts) enter Friday’s match following a 4-1 home loss against Real Monarchs SLC on Sept. 17 at Cheney Stadium; their fifth loss in six matches dating back to Aug. 17. The Defiance are winless in 14 away matches in 2019, posting a 0-11-3 record and being outscored 4-43 in those matches thus far. Tacoma has allowed more overall goals than any other team in the league (72). Behind a Dairon Asprilla brace and goals from Foster Langsdorf and Brayan Hurtado, T2 defeated Tacoma 4-1 in their first matchup of the season on May 12 at Cheney Stadium. 24-year-old forward Justin Dhillon leads the team with nine goals in 20 appearances in 2019, while 20-year-old goalkeeper Trey Muse currently leads the team in saves (56) and clean sheets (2) in 16 league appearances.
Tacoma Defiance head coach: Chris Little
Tacoma Defiance Team Leaders
Goals: Justin Dhillon (9)
Assists: Nicholas Hinds, Shandon Hopeau (3)
Chances Created: Shandon Hopeau (20)
Shutouts: Trey Muse (2)
