PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers U-23s announced today four additions to their roster for the 2012 Premier Development League (PDL) season. Joining the Timbers U-23s for the upcoming PDL campaign are defenders Evyn Hewett and Reed Matte, midfielder John McFarlin and forward Cam Vickers.
Matte returns for his second season with the Timbers U-23s, while Vickers enters his fourth PDL season in 2012, having played three seasons with the Tacoma Tide. Hewett and McFarlin join the Timbers U-23s following successful freshman campaigns in the college ranks.
Hewett (La Palma, Calif.) played in 11 games (7 starts) and logged an assist as a true freshman in 2011 at San Diego State University. His assist contributed to a 3-1 win over Oregon State University. While attending Kennedy High School in La Palma, Calif., Hewett, 19, was a two-time Empire League MVP and was named first team All-California Interscholastic Federation as a senior in 2011. In 2010, he led his club team, So Cal Brigade, to the Region IV U-17 title.
Matte (Birmingham, Ala.) played in 14 games and logged an assist for the Timbers U-23s in 2011. Matte, 20, has played in 55 career matches at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, recording two goals and four assists over his first three seasons for the Blazers. As a junior in 2011, Matte was named to the All-Conference USA second team and helped UAB reach the C-USA title match and make an appearance in the NCAA tournament. In 2010 as a sophomore, he finished second on the team with four assists and was selected to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
McFarlin (Santa Rosa, Calif.) had an impressive freshman season with Loyola Marymount University in 2011. The midfielder was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team and was an All-WCC Honorable Mention after tallying a goal and three assists in 14 games for the Lions. A four-year letterman at Santa Rosa High School, McFarlin was named North Bay League and Redwood Empire League Player of the Year as a junior in 2010.
Vickers (Lake Tapps, Wash.) played three seasons with the PDL’s Tacoma Tide (2008, 2010-11). During his time with Tacoma, Vickers, 24, appeared in 45 games and recorded five goals and 12 assists. His assists totals ranked among Tide team leaders in each of the last two PDL seasons. Vickers had a standout collegiate career at Sonoma State University, compiling nine goals and 31 assists. He led the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in assists in back-to-back seasons from 2009-10, and was selected to the NSCAA All-West Region Third-Team both years. As a freshman in 2008, Vickers recorded the second-most assists (10) by a freshman in Sonoma State’s history.
The Timbers U-23s enter their fourth PDL campaign in 2012 and open the season Friday, May 11, when they play host to Fraser Valley Mariners FC at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
