Timbers Development Update: April 23, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams went unbeaten over the weekend, with the U-18 and U-16 Academy teams each playing to draws against both the Santa Cruz Breakers Academy and De Anza Force at the adidas Timbers Training Center.

With two draws, the Timbers U-18 Academy is unbeaten in their last three matches, while the Timbers U-16 Academy extended its season-long unbeaten run to 10 games.

The Timbers U-18s played the Santa Cruz Breakers Academy to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, with goalkeeper Collin Partee (Camas, Wash.) recording the team’s second shutout in four games.

On Sunday, the Timbers U-18s earned a 1-1 draw against the Force. Portland struck first on forward Spencer Kleweno’s (Portland, Ore.) first goal of the season, but De Anza was able to equalize on a penalty-kick goal. Midfielder Sam Werner (Bozeman, Mont.) had quality look in the closing moments of the match miss just wide.

The Timbers U-18s are 9-10-5 (32pts) on the season and are within reach of a wildcard playoff position in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs.

A two-goal performance from Reid Baez helped guide the Timbers U-16s to a 2-2 draw against the Breakers Academy on Saturday. Baez tallied seven minutes apart in the 60th and 67th minutes, respectively, during a 14-minute stretch in which all four of the game’s goals were scored. Baez now has four goals on the season and sits among the team’s leading goal-scorers.

The Timbers U-16s recorded a 2-2 draw against De Anza on Sunday. Portland built a two-goal lead on goals from Alex Segovia (Beaverton, Ore.) in the eighth minute and defender Niko De Vera (Washougal, Wash.) in the 46th minute. The first-place Force climbed back into the match, scoring in the 57th minute and found the equalizer from David Levitsky in the 77th minute. Portland’s Segovia has scored three goals over the last three games and leads the team with eight on the campaign.

The Timbers U-16s are 10-6-7 (37pts) and hold onto a wildcard playoff berth in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy with their two results over the weekend.

The Timbers Academy teams have just four regular-season matches remaining on their 2012-13 schedule, and will visit the Washington Crossfire Premier on Saturday at Redmond High School in Redmond, Wash. The U-18 sides kickoff at 2 p.m., while the U-16 teams square off at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Three Timbers Academy players see time in victory for Timbers Reserves on April 15
Timbers U-18 Academy forwards Christian Desir (Portland, Ore.) and Anthony Machionne (Camas, Wash.) and midfielder James Nosack (Ridgefield, Wash.) all saw time in a recent 2-1 victory for the Portland Timbers Reserves over the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves on April 15 at JELD-WEN Field. Desir made his second appearance for the Timbers Reserves this season, playing 27 minutes, while Machionne and Nosack each played their first minutes for the Timbers Reserves in the 2013 MLS Reserve League season.

Additionally, De Vera, from the Timbers U-16s, and Timbers U-18 midfielder/forward Lucas Cawley (Centerville, Utah) were both on the match day roster in the win over the Earthquakes Reserves.