USL MATCH PREVIEW | T2 to face Whitecaps FC at Providence Park Friday

PORTLAND, Ore. – After playing their fourth road match in their last five games, T2 return home to play their second home game at Providence Park this season, facing Cascadia-rival Whitecaps FC 2 on "OYSA Night" on Friday, May 20; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

The match on Friday marks the second of four regular-season meetings scheduled between T2 and Whitecaps FC 2 in 2016, as both teams are set to meet again Sunday, June 19, and Sunday, Sept. 18, at UBC Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C. In their first matchup of the season, T2 sustained a 3-1 loss at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland on April 2. During the 2015 USL campaign, the teams split the regular-season series, with T2 and Vancouver winning their respective home games. T2 recorded a combined seven goals in a pair of wins in Portland, defeating Vancouver 4-2 on July 19 and 3-1 on Aug. 19.

After earning three wins and a draw over their last six games, T2 (3-5-1, 10pts) enter this weekend’s home contest looking to bounce back after falling 1-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Switchbacks Stadium on May 13. Portland created several scoring opportunities in the second half and nearly leveled the score in the 75th minute when forward Ben Polk’s left-footed effort in the box skipped just wide of the post. Eight minutes later, midfielder Seth Casiple lofted his corner kick service to the far post toward the streaking run of  defender Michael Gallagher, who redirected his header wide of the post in the 83rd minute. Gallagher, who logged 90 minutes against Colorado Springs, was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 8.

Whitecaps FC 2 (5-0-2, 17pts) come into Friday’s match as the only undefeated side in USL, most recently defeating LA Galaxy II 4-3 on May 15. Forward Kyle Greig, who found the back of the net twice against Galaxy II, ranks tied for second in USL with seven goals on the season. Forward Daniel Haber has recorded three goals and an assist in 2016.

Single-game tickets for T2 matches are available at the Providence Park box office, online at www.timbers2.com, and on game day at the venue box office. Additionally, Friday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.

Next week, T2 will play their third consecutive home match at Providence Park, facing Seattle Sounders 2 on Thursday, May 26; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).