Timbers haul in season-ending accolades

PORTLAND, Ore.
- As the Portland Timbers near their first-round playoff series with the rival Seattle Sounders on Friday, several players have been singled out for their recent and season-long accomplishments on the pitch in 2005, as announced by the United Soccer Leagues Tuesday.




Timbers forward Dan Antoniuk got the nod as the USL First Division’s Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season after striking for four goals in wins over Atlanta and Richmond at PGE Park, including a hat trick against the Silverbacks on Sept. 8.




Antoniuk, 24, finished the 2005 campaign fourth among the league’s scoring leaders with 28 points (13g, 2a), his highest output in three seasons with the Timbers.




Also Tuesday, midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was officially recognized as the league’s assist leader, compiling 12 on the year. The fourth-year Timber earned the distinction for the second consecutive season after dishing 10 assists in 2004.




Alcaraz-Cuellar, 28, holds the Timbers’ all-time USL assist record with 39 since joining the club in 2002 and has increased his assist total each season.




Finally, midfielder Edwin Miranda, 24, was included on the USL First Division’s Team of the Week after the second-year Timber hit for two goals and an assist in wins over Atlanta and Richmond, while defender Scot Thompson, 24, garnered the same honor for scoring the game-winner against Richmond on Saturday.




Tickets are currently on sale at area Ticketmaster outlets and at the PGE Park box office for Game 1 of the Timbers’ first-round playoff series with the Seattle Sounders on Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. (Pacific).




Groups of 15 or greater are encouraged to contact the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 for discounted seats.