PORTLAND, Ore. -
United Soccer Leagues announced today that Portland Timbers goalkeeper
Josh Wicks, defender Cameron Knowles and midfielder Andrew Gregor were named to the USL First Division All-League first team. Additionally, defender Scot Thompson received All-League second team honors.
Portland, along with the Montreal Impact, had the highest number of players selected to the all-league teams in 2007. The Timbers' four all-league selections are the most the team has had in any season since they joined the USL First Division in 2001.
Knowles, in his first season with the Timbers, finished the regular season as the league leader in minutes played (2,580). He also became just the ninth player in Timbers modern-franchise history to play in all 28 matches in the regular season. Knowles tallied two goals and an assist in 2007. This is his first USL First Division all-league selection.
Wicks, the 2007 USL First Division goals-against champion, finished the regular season as the league leader in several goalkeeping categories including minutes played (2,385), games played (27), shutouts (14) and goals-against average (0.60). He was also selected as the USL First Division Player of the Week in Week 11. Wicks also recorded two assists this season.
Gregor earned his fourth USL First Division All-League first-team selection in 2007 to become one of just 19 players in USL First Division history since 1986 to earn all-league honors four times in their career. The Timbers leading scorer finished the regular season third in the league in points with 21 (8g, 5a). A five-time USL First Division Team of the Week selection in 2007, Gregor was also named the league's Player of the Week in Week 4.
Thompson, named to the all-league second team, recorded two goals, an assist and logged nearly 2,500 minutes in 27 matches in 2007. He was selected to the Team of the Week in Weeks 6 and 13. Thompson, along with Knowles and Wicks, was a part of the Timbers defense that led the league in fewest goals allowed (18) and shutouts (15). Thompson has earned all-league honors in two of the last three seasons.
The Timbers face the Atlanta Silverbacks in the two-game, total-goal semifinal round of the 2007 USL First Division playoffs. Portland will host the Silverbacks on Sunday at PGE Park at 5 p.m. Sunday's match, presented by OHSU, will be featured live on Fox Soccer Channel.
Playoff tickets, starting at $12, are available at the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (503) 224-4400.
