PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers U-23s today announced their first commitments from five players for the upcoming 2012 Premier Development League (PDL) season. The first five players to join the Timbers U-23s roster this season are defenders J.J. Greer and Eric Miller, midfielder Andrew Ribeiro and forwards Clark Phillips and Mark Sherrod.
Miller and Ribeiro are college teammates at Creighton University, where the two helped lead the Bluejays to the NCAA College Cup semifinals in 2011. Both Greer and Sherrod, a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, join the Timbers U-23s from the University of Memphis. Phillips, a Portland native, recently finished his freshman season at Gonzaga University.
Sherrod (Knoxville, Tenn.) completed an impressive redshirt sophomore season at Memphis in 2011. Scoring 19 goals and totaling 42 points, the forward was named Conference USA’s Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, in addition to being a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and a finalist for the SoccerNewsNet College Boot, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate player. Sherrod, 21, led the nation in 2011 in goals per game (1.06) and was a NSCAA All-America third-team honoree.
Greer (Memphis, Tenn.) anchored Memphis’ backline as a junior in 2011, helping the Tigers record six shutouts – the most for a Memphis team since 2004. For his efforts, he was named to the C-USA All-Conference second team. A versatile player, Greer, 21, was selected to the C-USA All-Freshman team in 2009 after recording a goal and five assists as a forward during his first collegiate season. In total, Greer has played in 51 games and recorded three goals and eight assists in three seasons with Memphis.
Ribeiro (Green Bay, Wis.) started each of the 24 games he played in as a junior for Creighton last season, helping the Bluejays go deep into the NCAA tournament. He scored four goals during the 2011 season, all of which were game-winners, including the decisive goal in a win over UC Santa Barbara in the third round of the tournament. Ribeiro, 21, earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention following his junior campaign. A two-time Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-Region VII first-team selection, Ribeiro has compiled seven goals and two assists in 46 career collegiate matches.
Miller (Woodbury, Minn.) had an impressive freshman campaign with Creighton in 2011. He played in 24 games and recorded two assists while helping lead the Bluejays defense, which allowed only five goals during the season. After the season, Miller, 19, was named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman third team as well as the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team. Prior to his first collegiate season, he was called into training camp with the U.S. U-18 National Team in February 2011.
Phillips (Portland, Ore.) had a standout freshman season for Gonzaga in 2011, leading the Bulldogs in goals (4), assists (3) and points (15). For his efforts, he was named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and was selected to the conference’s All-Freshman Team and honorable mention list. Phillips, 19, played prep soccer at Tualatin High School, where he was a three-time Pacific Conference first-team selection and shares the school’s career mark in scoring with Timbers U-23s alum Jarad van Schaik. As a youth, Phillips played for local youth club Westside Timbers, one of three clubs affiliated with the newly-established adidas Timbers Alliance.
The Timbers U-23s open their fourth PDL campaign Friday, May 11, when they play host to the Fraser Valley Mariners at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
