PORTLAND, Ore.
– United Soccer Leagues today announced that Portland Timbers U-23s defender
Ryan Kawulok
was named the Premier Development League’s Player of the Week, following his three-goal performance against the Yakima Reds on June 12.
Kawulok, 20, recorded just the second hat trick in team history to guide the Timbers U-23s to a 6-0 win over Yakima at Kiggins Bowl last weekend; he scored his first three goals of the season. He also aided in the team’s sixth consecutive shutout, which extended its run of minutes played without allowing a goal to 561.
“Ryan has been consistent for us defensively all season,” said
Jim Rilatt
, head coach of the Timbers U-23s. “This really was his first opportunity to express himself in and around goal, as he primarily defends our opponent’s best scorers. He brings a physical presence to the game that has really helped us get out to the start that we are on this season.”
A native of Fort Collins, Colo., Kawulok becomes the second Timbers U-23s player named to the PDL’s Team of the Week in 2010. Goalkeeper
Jake Gleeson
received Team of the Week honors on May 26.
Kawulok is one of 14 current collegiate players on the Timbers U-23s roster. He recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Portland, where he led the Pilots to the third round of the NCAA tournament and was an All-West Coast Conference second-team selection in 2009.
The Timbers U-23s face a two-game road trip this weekend to British Columbia. Portland takes on the Abbotsford Mariners on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. and then meets the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Sunday at 2 p.m.
