Portland Timbers U-23s News Release -- www.portlandtimbers.com
Monday, June 25, 2012
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s face a second match in four days as they visit North Sound SeaWolves FC at Edmonds Woodway High School in Edmonds, Wash., on Monday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Monday’s contest opens a stretch of three consecutive road games for the Timbers U-23s. Following the match against North Sound, the team faces a two-game road trip to British Columbia to take on the Fraser Valley Mariners on Friday night and Victoria Highlanders on Saturday night.
In a tightly contested division race, the Timbers U-23s (6-3-1, 19pts) currently sit in fourth place in the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division. Portland trails the first-place Kitsap Pumas by just four points with a game in hand. The top four teams from the division advance to the PDL postseason.
The Timbers U-23s look to rebound from a 4-3 loss to Seattle Sounders FC U-23 on June 22. Second-half goals from forward Erik Hurtado and midfielder Cam Vickers helped the Timbers U-23s rally back on two occasions to tie the match. But Sounders FC U-23 midfielder Fernando Monge struck the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to hand Portland its first home loss of the regular season.
The Timbers U-23s face the SeaWolves (4-6-0, 12pts) for a second time in three games, with the two sides meeting previously on June 17 at Sherwood High School in Sherwood, Ore. Hurtado recorded a brace and assisted on a goal by Clark Phillips to lead the Timbers U-23s to a 4-1 victory against the SeaWolves. Portland is 3-0-0 all-time against North Sound and holds an 11-2 advantage in scoring in the all-time series.
The SeaWolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Victoria on June 22. Midfielder Marshall Kosaka scored the decisive goal for North Sound in the 65th minute. The SeaWolves play host to the Timbers U-23s as part of a 10-game schedule during the month of June.