Timbers Development Update: Feb. 4, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams returned to match play over the weekend with a two-game road trip to California against the De Anza Force and Santa Cruz Breakers Academy. The Timbers U-18 Academy lost both matches, while the Timbers U-16 Academy earned a point with a draw against Santa Cruz. 

It was the first matches for both Timbers Academy teams after an extended break in their schedules during the month of January.

The Timbers U-18s (5-8-2, 17pts) fell 1-0 to the Force at De Anza College on Saturday in Cupertino, Calif. A goal by De Anza’s Jonathan Agostino in the fifth minute proved to be the game’s winning strike.

On Sunday, the Timbers U-18s assembled a two-goal rally in the second half, but fell 4-2 to Santa Cruz’s U-18 side. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, midfielder James Nosack (Ridgefield, Wash.) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 61st minute with his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Midfielder/forward Lucas Cawley (Centerville, Utah) then leveled the score at 2-2 in the 85th minute on his first goal of the season. It was a hat trick by standout Giovanni Godoy that led the way for the Breakers. 

The Timbers U-16s (4-6-5, 17pts) suffered a 1-0 loss to the division-leading U-16 squad for the Force on Saturday. Carlos Delgadillo tallied the game’s lone goal in the 16th minute. 

Against Santa Cruz on Sunday at Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif., the Timbers U-16s went down a goal in the first half once again, but were able to rally for a comeback 1-1 draw. Midfielder Jacob Kempf (Camas, Wash.) scored the equalizer in the 65th minute and his first goal of the campaign snapped the Timbers U-16s’ three-match goalless stretch. 

The Timbers Academy teams close out their respective February schedules on Saturday, Feb. 23 against the San Juan Soccer Club at Mather Soccer Complex in Mather, Calif. The U-18 teams kickoff at 11 a.m. and the U-16s sides meet at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific). The matches against San Juan will mark the ninth consecutive road matches for the two Timbers Academy teams. 

Timbers now enrolling youth players for Spring Break soccer camps
The Timbers are offering a special Spring Break youth soccer camp March 25-28 at JELD-WEN Field for players 5-13 years of age. It’s one of multiple camps currently being offered by the Timbers this spring. Click here for the complete list of youth soccer camps. 

The Timbers’ camp program is one of the most popular soccer camp programs in the Northwest.  Each camp offers a highly skilled coaching staff and a low coach-to-player ratio. Additionally, Timbers camps offer curriculum centered on age-appropriate exercises that will help develop a love for the game as well as teach the technical skills to become a better soccer player.  For more information, visit www.portlandtimbers.com/youth.