PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers had an exciting month of June going 3-1-1 in USL First Division matches, played two U.S. Open Cup matches and defeated AC Milan Primavera, AC Milan’s U-21 team, on penalties in front of the fourth largest crowd in modern franchise history.
Among those contributing to the team’s performance are four players – goalkeeper
Josh Wicks
, defender
Cameron Knowles
, midfielder
Tom Poltl
, forward
David Hague,
and the
Timbers backline
who are up for June’s Man of the Month.
Wicks assembled a 3-1-1 record in June and recorded three shutouts to bring his season total to six. Picking up his first career assist against California on June 28, Wicks currently is among league leaders in goals-against average (0.66), wins (6) and shutouts (6). Wicks has conceeded just three goals all month.
Knowles has anchored a backline which continues to lead the league in fewest goals allowed. He has played each minute of the 2007 season and was selected to the USL First Division Team of the Week in Week 8.
Poltl has started all but one league game in June and missed the match against Miami with a strained hip he suffered against California on June 28. Poltl played in five matches in June including the U.S. Open Cup match in Seattle. Known for his defensive role, Poltl took his first shot of the season against Seattle.
Hague, a rookie from Grand Canyon University, tallied his first professional goal and assist in June. His goal came in the 89th minute against California on June 28 to help Portland pick up its first league win since June 8. Hague was awarded his assist against Montreal on June 21.
The Timbers backline is one of the top units in the league having allowed just seven goals in 11 matches. Together they have helped Wicks match a modern franchise record with six shutouts already this season. The Timbers starting backline consists of Leonard Griffin, Scot Thompson, Cameron Knowles and Justin Thompson.
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