Timbers face Pilots in preseason exhibition Friday

PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers take on the University of Portland Pilots in a preseason exhibition match Friday at the University of Portland’s Clive Charles Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.




Tickets, priced at $10 for adults and $7 for youths 18 years of age and younger, are available through the UP box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. All tickets are general admission.




Friday’s contest is the Timbers’ third preseason exhibition in the last three weeks. The Timbers battled Major League Soccer clubs in their first two preseason exhibitions, facing the San Jose Earthquakes March 14 on the road and the New York Red Bulls last week. The match against the Pilots wraps up the Timbers’ third week of preseason training camp.




During the week, the Timbers had two final players report for preseason training camp – defender
David Hayes
and forward
Mandjou Keita
. With Hayes and Kieta arriving in town, all 22 signed roster players are now in camp.




The Pilots are led by 2008 all-conference selections
Frankie Lopez
,
Collen Warner
and goalkeeper
Austin Guerrero
. Last season, Warner’s eight assists paced the West Coast Conference and Lopez tallied a team-high 12 goals. Guerrero recorded 91 saves during the 2008 season to lead the conference in that category for the second consecutive season.




The Timbers open the 2009 USL First Division season April 25 on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The team makes its PGE Park debut on April 30 when it plays host to the Carolina RailHawks at 7 p.m. Season tickets as well as convenient and affordable ticket packages are still available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555. Fans who purchase 2009 Timbers season-ticket packages will receive priority status for season-seat selection when the Timbers begin MLS play in 2011.