BREMERTON, Wash.
– With a 1-0 win over the Kitsap Pumas on Saturday at Bremerton Memorial Stadium, the Portland Timbers U-23s joined the history books, becoming the first team in the Premier Development League (PDL) since 1998 to finish the regular season with a perfect 16-0-0 record.
Forward Brian Ramsey provided the game’s lone goal and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson secured his eighth shutout of the season to lift the visiting Timbers U-23s to a hard-fought result and help the team finish the regular season with its 16th straight win. The last PDL team to post a perfect record – without a loss or draw – was the Jackson Chargers during the 1998 season.
Gleeson logged several saves to earn his league-leading 13th win, Ramsey tallied his seventh goal of the season and midfielder Bim Ogunyemi logged an assist for the Northwest Division-champion Timbers U-23s (16-0-0, 48pts) in their regular-season finale.
Midfielder Cameron Hepple provided a handful of dangerous scoring chances and defender Mark Lee cleared a pair of shots of the goal line for the Pumas, who entered the contest looking to claim the division’s second and final playoff spot. Kitsap (10-2-2, 32pts) was dealt its second loss of the season, both coming at the hand of the Timbers U-23s.
The Pumas looked to open the scoring early as forward Tye Perdido forced Gleeson into action in the opening moments of the match. The two sides would trade scoring opportunities until Ramsey punched through the eventual game-winner in the 22nd minute.
Ogunyemi served a centering pass into the box from the left side as Ramsey came slashing through the area. On a diving effort, Ramsey connected with the ball and headed it past Pumas goalkeeper Dustyn Brim for the go-ahead strike.
Kitsap had its chances to equalize before the first half expired. Near the half-hour mark, the Pumas had a buildup which caused a flurry in the box. The Timbers U-23s were able to clear the ball from danger as Portland midfielder Tracy Hasson sent the ball to midfield. Hepple also had a pair of breakaway chances denied on aggressive plays by Gleeson inside the box.
The Timbers continued to pressure for a second goal in the second half as the two rivals continued to battle. In the 60th minute, Hasson put his third shot of the night on frame from the top right corner of the box, forcing Brim to make a save.
Moments later, a counter attack led by forward Ricky Abrego set up the Timbers U-23s for a pair of shots from just inside the box that were goal bound. After the initial shot snuck past Brim, Lee cleared it off the line and then turned away the follow up shot to preserve the one-goal margin.
Hepple brought the crowd to its fee late in the match with a knuckling shot just beyond the reach of Gleeson that sailed just inches over the crossbar.
By clinching the division title on July 11, the Timbers U-23s advance to the postseason for a second straight campaign. The Western Conference playoffs begin Friday, July 30; additional playoff details will be announced in the coming days.
Notes:
Portland swept the Pumas in the two-game, regular-season series between the clubs, holding them scoreless in both matchups … The Timbers U-23s did not get shutout during the regular season and have scored a league-high 53 goals on the campaign.
Timbers U-23s Starters:
GK Gleeson, D Dugoni, D Granger, D Thompson, D Kawulok, M Hasson, M Braun, M Drake, M Ogunyemi, F Ramsey, F Abrego
Scoring Summary:
POR: Ramsey (Ogunyemi), 22
