PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers U-23s take their seven-game winning streak on the road this weekend as they face a two-game road trip, playing the Abbotsford Mariners on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. and then the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency on Sunday at 2 p.m.
On just their second road trip of the season, the Timbers U-23s play both the Mariners and the Whitecaps Residency for the first time in 2010.
The Timbers U-23s sit in first place in the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division (7-0-0, 21pts). Defender
Ryan Kawulok
recorded a hat trick to lead the Timbers U-23s to 6-0 win over the Yakima Reds in their last match June 12, and earn PDL Player of the Week honors. The win over Yakima extended the Timbers U-23s’ winning streak to a team-record seven games and helped maintain their top spot in the standings.
The Timbers U-23s’ defense has recorded six straight shutouts and has not allowed a goal in 561 consecutive minutes of play. Their one goal allowed this season is the fewest in the PDL.
Abbotsford (1-5-1, 4pts) and the Timbers U-23s meet for just the second time since Portland joined the PDL last season. Goals by
Jordan Crasilneck
and
Steven Evans
helped the Timbers U-23s defeat the Mariners 5-0 in the first matchup between the two sides on July 18, 2009, in Portland. The Timbers U-23s round out the season series with Abbotsford on July 9 in Oregon.
Facing games on back-to-back days, the Timbers U-23s close out the road trip against the Whitecaps Residency (0-3-2, 2pts). Portland posted wins in both contests against Vancouver last season, including a 2-0 road victory on a brace by Crasilneck. The two sides finish their regular-season series July 11 at PGE Park.
The Timbers U-23s continue their longest stretch of road games this season with an away fixture on Wednesday, June 30 against the Tacoma Tide before returning home Friday, July 2 to play host to the Spokane Spiders at Tigard High School in Tigard, Ore.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
