PORTLAND, Ore. –
The Portland Timbers announced today the club has acquired defender
Tim Karalexis
from the Charleston Battery in exchange for midfielder
Luke Kreamalmeyer
pending USSF approval. The deal with Charleston marks the Timbers’ first player trade since joining the USL First Division in 2001.
Last season with the Battery, Karalexis, a six-year veteran, started all 28 matches and logged 2,475 minutes.
“The trade for Tim is a positive move for the Timbers,” said
Gavin Wilkinson
, Timbers head coach and general manager. “While we have given up an attacking player, Tim guarantees us another quality defender at the back and has expressed an interest in playing for Portland. He possesses maturity and is an experienced player in this league.”
Karalexis, 27, joins the Timbers after three seasons in Charleston where he amassed 5,521 minutes in 66 matches and recorded four assists. Prior to joining the Battery in 2005, Karalexis began his professional career with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division, and was a first-team, all-league selection in 2003 and 2004. A native of Weymouth, Mass., Karalexis was a two-time All-American during his collegiate career at St. Anselm College.
In two seasons with Portland, Kreamalmeyer, 25, logged over 4,000 minutes in 50 matches, and recorded 21 points on nine goals and three assists. Kreamalmeyer joined the Timbers in 2006 following his rookie season with Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake in 2005.
Additionally, the Timbers announced today the release of defender
Kevin Meissner
. In 2007, Meissner, 24, logged 12 minutes in one match as a rookie.
With the acquisition of Karalexis, the Timbers now have two defenders among the eight players under contract for the 2008 season.
Timbers 2008 season tickets, starting as low as $142.50, are currently available along with a variety of ticket packages by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555.
Click here for more information on the different ticket options for the 2008 season.
