PORTLAND
, Ore.
–
After the toughest month of the Timbers’ 2007 regular-season schedule, five players are up for August’s “Man of the Month” honors. The performances of defender
Justin Thompson
, midfielders
Andrew Gregor
and
Luke Kreamalmeyer
, goalkeeper
Josh Wicks
and forward
Matt Taylor
all contributed in the Timbers’ run to clinch a playoff spot.
The Timbers were 2-2-4 during the month of August and recorded shutouts in all three home matches. In August, the Timbers became just the third team in USL First Division since 2000 to record an unbeaten home record (8-0-6) in a season. Portland also was the first team in the league to clinch a berth in the 2007 USL First Division.
Fans can vote through the Fan Poll at
www.portlandtimbers.com
through Friday at 12 noon.
Wicks played in all eight games in August and recorded three shutouts and allowed just seven goals. He had two seven-plus save performances, including one against Miami on Saturday, to finish the month with 31 saves. Wicks was 2-2-4 in August with a 0.88 goals-against average.
Thompson, who earned USL First Division Team of the Week honors in Week 15, was a member of the backline who recorded three shutouts and allowed just seven goals in eight games during the month of August. He also made an impact on the offensive end of the field scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win on Aug. 23 against the Charleston Battery at PGE Park.
Kremalmeyer played in all eight matches in the month of August. He earned his second assist of the season on Aug. 4 against the Minnesota Thunder on the road. His corner kick to midfielder Lawrence Olum helped the Timbers rally back for a 1-1 draw. Kreamalmeyer has caused headaches for opposing teams with this quickness down the right flank this season.
Gregor, the Timbers leading scorer this season, tallied three points in a 2-1 road win against Miami FC on Saturday. His penalty kick put the Timbers up 1-0 in the first half and his assist to Scot Thompson on a corner kick sealed the victory for Portland. Gregor missed two matches in August due to a two-game, league imposed suspension for yellow card accumulation. He also leads the team in shots (57) and fouls (49) this season.
Taylor, who joined the team in late July, helped the Timbers clinch a playoff spot with a one goal, one assist performance against the Thunder in Minnesota on Aug. 16. After scoring his first league goal, Taylor set up forward Jaime Ambriz to help the Timbers record a 2-2 draw on the road. For his efforts, Taylor earned USL First Division Team of the Week honors for Week 18 – his first of the season.
