Portland Timbers U-23s defender Dennis Castillo named PDL Defender of the Year

The USL Premier Development League named Portland Timbers U-23s defender Dennis Castillo as the 2015 PDL Defender of the Year.

Castillo was one of three nominees for the award, along with Sounders FC U-23 defender Jonathan Campbell and FC Miami City Champions defender Hugo Leroux.

This year’s PDL Defender of the Year Award was selected through a vote of team management.

Castillo, who only missed one regular season match, led a Timbers U-23s back line which allowed the second fewest goals in the Northwest Division. In eleven appearances for the U-23s, Castillo scored one goal and one assist, both occurring in the team’s May 19 win over the Washington Crossfire.

The Timbers U-23s posted one of the strongest defensive records in the PDL during the 2015 season, registering seven clean sheets in a campaign that led the team to postseason play.

Castillo now heads into his senior year at Virginia Commonwealth University having previously received All-Atlantic 10 Second Team and All-Rookie Squad. Thanks to Castillo’s defensive presence, VCU was ranked 11th nationally in goals against average.