PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers U-23s will begin their playoff run Saturday against the Hollywood United Hitmen in the Western Conference semifinals held in Bremerton, Wash., it was announced today as United Soccer Leagues unveiled postseason details for the Premier Development League.
The Northwest Division-champion Timbers U-23s face the Hitmen as part of the Western Conference finals, featuring the top two clubs from the Northwest and Southwest Divisions, held at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. Rounding out the four-team conference tournament are the defending PDL-champion Ventura County Fusion and the tournament-host Kitsap Pumas.
The conference playoff format pits the No. 1 seed from each of the conference’s two divisions against the No. 2 seed from the other division. The PDL postseason is single elimination.
The race for the Western Conference title and a trip to the PDL finals begins Saturday with the doubleheader at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. The Timbers U-23s face the No. 2-seeded Hitmen from the Southwest Division at 1:30 p.m., before the Pumas take on the Fusion, the Southwest Division’s No. 1 seed, at 5 p.m.
The winners from the conference semifinal matchups will square off in the Western Conference championship match Sunday at 5 p.m.
Tickets, priced at $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 4-12, are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling the Pumas at (360) 377-6008. Kids under the age of four are free.
The four conference winners will meet in the PDL finals on Aug. 6-8 at a site to be determined.
By clinching the division title on July 11, the Timbers U-23s advanced to the postseason for the second straight season. The Timbers U-23s finished the regular season with a record of 16-0-0, posting the first perfect season – without a loss or draw – in the PDL since 1998. Portland reached the playoffs in their inaugural PDL season in 2009, facing the Seattle Wolves in the first round.
Western Conference Playoff Schedule:
Saturday, July 31
Timbers U-23s vs. Hollywood United Hitmen, 1:30 p.m.
Kitsap Pumas vs. Ventura County Fusion, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 1
Semifinal winners meet in Western Conference championship match, 5 p.m.
