PORTLAND, Ore. –
The Portland Timbers U-23s begin their second season in the Premier Development League (PDL) on Saturday, May 15, as they play host to the Washington Crossfire at PGE Park, it was announced today as the team unveiled its 2010 regular-season schedule.
In 2010, the Timbers U-23s will play a balanced, 16-game schedule against Northwest Division opponents. The division features nine teams from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, including the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, Kitsap Pumas and Yakima Reds.
The Timbers’ development team will split their home schedule between PGE Park and other venues throughout the greater-Portland area.
Highlighting the Timbers U-23s home slate is the team’s first School Day on Tuesday, May 18, at PGE Park as they take on the Tacoma Tide at 11 a.m. The first four games of the season will also double as qualifying matches for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Timbers U-23s face the Whitecaps Residency in their regular-season home finale Sunday, July 11, at PGE Park; the match will take place following the 2010 FIFA World Cup final with kickoff set for 2 p.m.
Ticket information for the Timbers U-23s home schedule will be announced at a later date.
In 2010, the PDL playoffs will include two berths from each division for a total of 16 across the league. The divisional representatives will then square off in a conference tournament, with the top seed from each division playing the runner-up from the opposite division. The four conference champions will advance to a final four tournament hosted by one of the four participants.
ABOUT TIMBERS U-23s
An amateur team, the Timbers U-23s consists of standout players from collegiate and youth programs around Oregon and the Northwest, and serves as a development platform for the Timbers first team. In their inaugural season in 2009, the Timbers U-23s recorded an 11-3-2 record and reached the first round of the PDL playoffs.
