PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers U-23s take their unbeaten record on the road this week to face the Seattle Wolves on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Tacoma Tide Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Their set of road games completes their four-game U.S. Open Cup qualification round.
The Timbers U-23s (2-0-1) currently sit in a three-way tie for first place in the Premier Development League Northwest Division with the Kitsap Pumas and Seattle at seven points. Their 14 goals scored through the first three games of the season ranks second in the PDL in team goals.
The Timbers U-23s are second in the Northwest Division’s U.S. Open Cup qualification standings with six points, and trail the Kitsap Pumas by one point. The Timbers U-23s’ six points came from their victories over Spokane Spiders and Yakima Reds last weekend.
Forwards
Brent Richards
and
Warren Ukah
combined for five goals and three assists to lead the Timbers U-23s in back-to-back wins over Spokane and Yakima on May 15 and May 16, respectively, and extend the team's unbeaten streak to three games to start the season.
The Timbers U-23s meet both the Wolves and Tide for the first time this season.
Following their set of road matches this week, the Timbers U-23s return home to play host to the Cascade Surge on Saturday, May 30, at 3:30 p.m. at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver, Wash. Tickets will be available at the door for $10.
ABOUT SEATTLE WOLVES
The Wolves (2-1-1, 7pts) are coming off of a 4-2 win over the Spiders on May 16, at home. Forward
Ely Allen
, who played last season with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, recorded a goal and an assist to lead Seattle to their first win in three games. Wolves striker
Casey Cunningham
paces the team with three goals on the season. Their match against the Timbers U-23s continues a stretch of four consecutive home matches.
ABOUT TACOMA TIDE
After a 0-0-2 start, the Tide captured their first win of the 2009 season on May 17, with a 4-3 result over the Cascade Surge at home. Tacoma (1-0-2, 5pts) is led by player/head coach and former Portland Timbers forward
Greg Howes
. Their roster also features former Real Salt Lake midfielder and 2005 MLS SuperDraft No.1 draft pick
Nik Besagno
. The Tide has not lost a match on their home field, Curtis High School Stadium, since the 2006 season.
