Five players up for April's "Man of the Month"

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have won three straight to start the 2008 USL First Division campaign and have an early lead in the league table with nine points. Aiding in the team’s 3-0-0 record are five players up for April’s “Man of the Month” honor. Vote now in the Timbers’ Fan Poll.

Nominated for the team’s April “Man of the Month” are forwards Chris Brown and Takayuki Suzuki, defenders Cameron Knowles and Scot Thompson and goalkeeper Ray Burse.

The poll closes Friday at 12 noon.

In the Timbers first three matches, Brown has recorded two goals and an assist, including the game-winner in a 1-0 win over the Puerto Rico Islanders at PGE Park on April 17. The nine-year veteran and Portland native captured USL First Division Team of the Week honors for Week 1 following his performance against Puerto Rico. Brown tallied his second goal against Minnesota on April 24 and an assist against Seattle to become the team’s leading scorer this month.

Named the Player of the Week in the USL First Division for Week 2, Suzuki recorded his first goal of the season and an assist in a 2-0 shut out win over the Seattle Sounders at PGE Park on April 26. His goal against Seattle came from 22 yards out along the top of the box and sailed under the crossbar into the top left corner. Suzuki, who has 55 international caps with the Japanese National Team, ranks among team leaders in shots on goal.

Picking up where last season’s defense left off, Knowles was a part of the Timbers backline that allowed just one goal in three games during the month of April. A 2007 All-League selection, Knowles nearly scored his first goal of the season against the Thunder, but his header from missed just wide.

Thompson earned his first USL First Division Team of the Week honors of the 2008 season after noteworthy appearances against Minnesota and Seattle last week. Like Knowles, Thompson was also a member of the backline that gave up just a single goal in three games at PGE Park in April.

One of four Timbers players named to the league’s Team of the Week for Week 2, Burse has earned three wins in his first three appearances with the Timbers this season, including two shutouts. During the month of April, Burse, who is on loan this season from Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas, has a 0.33 goals-against average, 11 saves, two shutouts and a 3-0-0 record to start the season.

The Timbers continue the 2008 season May 8 at PGE Park when they take on the Rochester Raging Rhinos at 7 p.m. Click here for ticket information.