VICTORIA, B.C.
– Forward Brent Richards scored a pair of goals and midfielder Freddie Braun recorded a goal and an assist to guide the Portland Timbers U-23s over the Victoria Highlanders 4-1 on Saturday at Bear Mountain Stadium.
The Timbers U-23s, who had already clinched the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division title, extended their team-record winning streak to 15 games and are in position to become the first team in the league since 2000 to assemble an undefeated record. Portland plays rival the Kitsap Pumas in its regular-season finale Sunday in Bremerton, Wash.
Braun logged his team-high eighth assist of the season, Richards extended his league-leading goal tally to 14, defender Graham Dugoni notched his second assist and midfielder Matt Drake scored a goal to lead the Timbers U-23s (15-0-0, 45pts) to victory in the first of a two-game road trip to close out the regular season.
Goalkeeper Brandon Watson recorded several key stops, forward Jared Stephens scored his second goal of the campaign and midfielder James Merriman logged the assist to pace the Highlanders (7-4-3, 24pts) in their home finale. With the loss, Victoria was eliminated from playoff contention in the division.
The Timbers U-23s jumped out to a quick lead with Braun finding the back of the net for the fifth time this season in the third minute. Off of a set piece, Dugoni headed the ball back across the goal mouth to set up Braun for a header from close range.
Stephens leveled the score in the 26th minute, when Merriman’s pass set up the striker for a clear break on goal. Stephens put the ball past Timbers U-23s goalkeeper Jake Gleeson to knot the score at 1-1.
Richards broke the match open scoring his two goals on the night inside the final six minutes of the first half. After giving the Timbers U-23s a 2-1 lead in the 39th minute, he took a pass from Braun and buried his 14th goal of the season in the 45th minute to lift Portland to a 3-1 lead at the break.
Just past the hour mark, Drake added to the score line with this second goal of the season. The Timbers U-23s capitalized on their heavy offensive pressure in the second half and Drake found the bottom right corner of the goal in the 61st minute to cap the 4-1 victory.
The Timbers U-23s conclude their regular-season slate Sunday against Kitsap at 5 p.m. The PDL postseason begins July 30.
Notes:
Victoria’s goal was just the fifth goal scored on Gleeson this season, which is the fewest conceded by any goalkeeper in the league … Richards has scored in each of the Timbers U-23s’ last five games … Braun moves into a two-way tie for second in the league with eight assists … The Timbers U-23s became the first team in the PDL this season to eclipse 50 goals scored.
Starting Lineups:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Thompson, D Dugoni, D Granger, D Kawulok, M Braun, M Hasson, M Ogunyemi, M Drake, F Ramsey, F Richards
VIC: GK Watson, D Hughes, D Robertson, D Wragg, M Cunningham, M Dixon, M Kambere, M Merriman, F Gorman, F Pele, F Stephens
Scoring Summary:
POR: Braun (Dugoni), 3
VIC: Stephens (Merriman), 26
POR: Richards, 39
POR: Richards (Braun), 45
POR: Drake, 61
