Timbers Development Update: Oct. 22, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams returned to action this weekend, taking on Real Salt Lake-AZ Academy at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz., on Saturday. The Timbers U-18 Academy had their unbeaten streak ended in a 1-0 loss, while the Timbers U-16 Academy extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a 1-1 draw.

The Timbers U-18 Academy (1-3-2, 5pts) entered their match against Real Salt Lake-AZ on a three-game unbeaten streak. In a closely contested match, Real Salt Lake-AZ claimed all three points on Benjamin Lopez’s game-winning goal in the 86th minute. Timbers U-18 midfielder Foster Langsdorf (Vancouver, Wash.), forward James Nosack (Ridgefield, Wash.) and goalkeeper Collin Partee (Camas, Wash.) turned in notable performances in the loss. 

In a matchup of unbeaten teams, the Timbers U-16 Academy (2-0-4, 10pts) played Real Salt Lake-AZ to a 1-1 draw, stretching their season-opening unbeaten run. The Timbers U-16s received standout play from defender Elijah Kilmer (Bend, Ore.) and midfielder Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Hillsboro, Ore.) tallied his team-leading third goal of the season in the 37th minute. However, the Southwest Division-leading Real Salt Lake-AZ U-16s leveled in the 57th minute when midfielder Brooks Lennon delivered the equalizer, scoring his second goal in three games.

The Timbers Academy teams next play host to Crossfire Premier, from Redmond, Wash., on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the adidas Timbers Training Center. The U-18s kick off at 1 p.m. (Pacific) and the U-16s kick off at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers U-16s’ Rubin scores again, helps U.S. U-17 National Team to win over Uruguay
Timbers U-16 Academy forward Rubio Rubin scored in a second straight match for the U.S. U-17 National Team on Sunday, helping the side to a 3-1 win over Uruguay in a friendly in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Rubin, who has scored in three of his last six appearances with the U.S. U-17s, was selected to a 20-man roster to compete in the Four-Nations Cup in Buenos Aires this week. The match against Uruguay was one of two friendlies bookending the tournament.

The tournament kicks off Tuesday, as the U.S. U-17 National Team faces Chile at 3 p.m. (Pacific) in Santa Fe, Argentina. The USA’s final match of the brief, two-game tournament is scheduled for Thursday, against either Panama or Argentina, depending on the results of the team’s previous match.

The U.S. U-17 National Team’s tour in Argentina wraps up Saturday with friendly against Paraguay in Buenos Aires at 7 a.m. (Pacific).

Timbers U-23s’ Miller helps U.S. U-20 National Team close Marbella Cup with a win
Timbers U-23s defender/midfielder Eric Miller started and played the full 90 for the U.S. U-20 National Team in a 3-2 win over Azerbaijan on Oct. 16, in the final match of the Marbella Cup in Spain. The U.S. U-20 National Team finished the tournament with back-to-back wins and a 2-1-0 record overall.

The start was Miller’s first of the tournament, after coming on as a substitute in each of the first two matches against Canada and Scotland. He has played in seven of the U.S. U-20 National Team’s nine games in 2012.

Playing his sophomore season at Creighton University this fall, Miller rejoins his collegiate teammates for the final two matches of the regular season. The Bluejays, ranked No. 22, are 11-3-2 on the season, including an unbeaten 3-0-1 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. Creighton next plays Missouri State on Saturday.