PORTLAND, Ore.
- The Portland Timbers have added the services of goalkeepers Josh Saunders and Sam Reynolds for the 2005 season, it was announced today.
“Having Josh back in goal for a third season is a big step in getting us where we want to be defensively, Timbers general manager Jim Taylor said. “He is a tremendous talent and we’re glad to have him between the posts. Sam has shown a lot of promise in training camp and we look forward to watching him develop as a player in this league.”
Saunders, who comes to the Timbers on loan after signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy, spent time in the MLS club’s training camp before joining the Timbers in late March.
Entering his third campaign with Portland, Saunders leads the Timbers’ all-time USL ledger in wins (26) and goals-against average (1.00), while tying for the top spot in shutouts with 12 clean sheets from 2003-04.
One of the top talents in the USL First Division, Saunders, 24, ran up a scoreless streak of 363 minutes last season from July 28-Aug. 5, collecting three consecutive shutouts in that span.
Reynolds, 23, joins the Timbers in his first professional season out of Cal State-Fullerton. A four-year letterman with the Titans, Reynolds started in 57 of 59 games played and posted a career 1.51 goals-against average, including 271 saves.
The Timbers begin their fifth season in the USL First Division this Saturday, April 23, at PGE Park, where they’ll play host to the Toronto Lynx at 7 p.m.
Timbers magnet schedules will be given out to the first 1,000 entrants, courtesy of PGE.
Season tickets, club seats, group packages, party suites, flex plans and mini-plans for the 2005 campaign are currently on sale. Timbers’ ticket plans start as low as $77.00 and are available by contacting the team’s ticket office at (503) 553-5555.
TRANSACTION:
Portland Timbers (USL First Division) signed goalkeepers Josh Saunders and Sam Reynolds.
