PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers U-23s open their fourth Premier Development League (PDL) season on Friday, May 11, as they play host to the Fraser Valley Mariners at JELD-WEN Field, it was announced today as United Soccer Leagues unveiled the 2012 PDL regular-season schedule.
The Timbers U-23s, the development team for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, will play a 16-game, regular-season schedule against Northwest Division opponents. In addition, the Timbers U-23s will compete in their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament in 2012, set to enter in the first round as one of 16 automatic qualifiers from the PDL based upon 2011 regular-season standings. Details regarding the Timbers U-23s’ participation in the U.S. Open Cup will be announced at a later date.
Highlighting the Timbers U-23s’ home schedule are the team’s third-annual Health & Fitness School Days, presented by Providence Health & Services, at JELD-WEN Field. The Timbers U-23s will play host to the Kitsap Pumas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in special day games on Thursday, May 24 and Friday, June 1, respectively. Featuring a host of activities, including a pre-game assembly, the school-day matches kick off at 11 a.m.
Led by head coach Jim Rilatt, who enters his fourth season at the helm, the Timbers U-23s will split their 2012 home schedule between JELD-WEN Field and other venues throughout the greater-Portland area.
In addition to playing each division opponent once at home and once on the road, Portland will take on both Kitsap and Washington Crossfire a third time throughout the season. The Timbers U-23s wrap up their 2012 regular season Wednesday, July 11 on the road against Washington.
2012 Timbers U-23s Regular Season Home Schedule
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Home</strong> |
<strong>Away</strong> |
<strong>Venue/Result</strong> |
Fri., May 11<br>
7:00 pm PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Fraser Valley Mariners |
JELD-WEN Field |
<p class="rtecenter">Tues, May 15<br>
TBD</p> |
Timbers U-23s |
U.S. Open Cup Match |
<p>TBD</p> |
Sat., May 19<br>
7:00 pm PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Victoria Highlanders |
Alder Creek Middle School |
Thurs., May 24<br>
11:00 am PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Kitsap Pumas |
JELD-WEN Field |
Fri., June 1<br>
11:00 am PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 |
JELD-WEN Field |
Sun., June 17<br>
5:00 pm PT |
Timbers U-23s |
North Sound SeaWolves |
Sherwood High School Main |
Fri., June 22<br>
7:30 pm PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Sounders FC U-23s |
Kiggins Bowl |
Fri., July 6<br>
7:00 pm PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Washington Crossfire |
Doc Harris High School |
Sun., July 8<br>
6:00 pm PT |
Timbers U-23s |
Kitsap Pumas |
Hare Field Hillsboro High School |
ABOUT PORTLAND TIMBERS U-23s
Founded Nov. 11, 2008, the Timbers U-23s is an amateur team affiliated with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and serves as a development platform for the club’s first team. The team consists of standout players from collegiate and youth programs from Oregon, the Northwest and throughout the country. Since its founding, three Timbers U-23s players have signed with the first team, including midfielder Freddie Braun, goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and forward Brent Richards, who became the Timbers’ first Homegrown Player in 2012. The Timbers U-23s assembled an historic campaign in 2010, posting a perfect 16-0-0 record during the regular season on their way to becoming the first undefeated champion in PDL history.
