PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers today signed former Major League Soccer forward MattTaylor for the remainder of the 2007 season. The four-year pro has been cleared to play Thursday when the Timbers host the Atlanta Silverbacks at PGE Park.
Taylor, 25, began the 2007 season with Chivas USA of MLS playing 159 minutes in 11 matches and recording one goal. A first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Wizards in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, Taylor made an appearance in the MLS Cup final later that season with the Wizards. Taylor was selected by Chivas USA for the club's inaugural season in the 2005 MLS Expansion Draft. In just over three seasons in MLS, Taylor has logged more than 2,300 minutes in 60 matches and has recorded six goals and four assists.
Selected as the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2003, Taylor was a member of UCLA's 2002 NCAA championship squad with Timbers teammates Scot Thompson and Leonard Griffin. He was UCLA's leading scorer in both his junior and senior seasons and finished his collegiate career as the Bruins’ fifth all-time leader in game-winning goals (12). Taylor was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2003 and earned all-tournament honors at the NCAA College Cup in 2002, scoring a tournament-high five goals.
The Irvine, Calif., native was a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team pool. Taylor recorded one goal and an assist in three appearances with the U-20s.
Starting with the Atlanta Silverbacks on Thursday, the Timbers will host two matches this week at PGE Park. On Saturday, Portland will square off with England's Preston North End in The Oregonian Timbers vs. Preston North End Exhibition presented by Widmer. Preston North End features international talent including Irish National Team goalkeeper Wayne Henderson and Scotland National Team defender Graham Alexander. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets for both matches are available at the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (503) 224-4400.
