Preseason Training Notes: Day 6 – March 27, 2007
TODAY AT TRAINING:
The Portland Timbers have begun Week 2 of preseason camp and the squad is finally coming together. Now with 16 of 17 signed players in camp, the group is starting to develop team chemistry and continuing to improve on their overall fitness.
NEW FACES:
Goalkeeper
Bayard Elfvin
joined his Timbers teammates in camp Tuesday; he finished his indoor season with the California Cougars of the Major Indoor Soccer League last weekend. With the Cougars, Elfvin played in seven games and recorded 71 saves. With a 7-22 record, the Cougars wrap up their season March 31.
In camp on trial this week is 2007 Timbers’ draft pick
Colin Rigby
. Drafted in the second round of the USL College Draft, Rigby, a forward, scored a career-high seven goals as a senior at Seattle Pacific University in 2006.
ON THE AGENDA:
The Timbers are in the middle of a long week of training, as head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
has six training days scheduled this week. Throughout the course of the week, Wilkinson will see a majority of his trialists in camp. Along with Rigby, there are several other new trialists in camp this week. Midfielder
Luke Kreamalmeyer
, last season’s leading scorer, is expected in camp Wednesday.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
The Timbers are set to play two preseason exhibition matches leading up to their 2007 season opener. On April 13, the Timbers battle the University of Portland Pilots at Merlo Field at 7 p.m. Then on April 15, the Timbers square off against USL First Division rival, the Vancouver Whitecaps in their final prep game at Alder Creek Middle School at 4 p.m. Click here for more information.
ABOUT THE MANAGER:
The upcoming season marks Wilkinson’s first as a head coach, but he has been a member of the Timbers organization since it joined United Soccer Leagues in 2001. The former defender is among the Timbers franchise leaders in both games and minutes played, currently ranked third with 124 games and 10,181 minutes in a Timbers kit. Last season, Wilkinson served as a player / assistant coach under Chris Agnello. Prior to joining the Timbers, Wilkinson played professionally overseas in Ireland, Portugal, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The New Zealand native was appointed head coach and general manager on September 26, 2006.
