Timbers U-23s earn 4-1 win over North Sound

SHERWOOD, Ore. – Forward Erik Hurtado scored twice and assisted on a goal by midfielder Clark Phillips to help the Portland Timbers U-23s to a 4-1 win over North Sound SeaWolves FC on Sunday at Sherwood High School.

After opening the 2012 Premier Development League season with five consecutive wins, the Timbers U-23s (6-2-1, 19pts) have recovered from consecutive losses to collect points in the their last two games. The Timbers U-23s climb into a two-way tie for second place with the Washington Crossfire in the Northwest Division, three points back of the division-leading Kitsap Pumas.

Hurtado recorded his first assist of the season on Phillips’ opening goal in the 20th minute. Hurtado then scored the next two himself; the first on a chip over North Sound goalkeeper Claudio Lazar from inside the box in the 25th minute and the second a volleyed attempt at the far post from a Cameron Vickers cross in the 56th minute.

Timbers U-23s forward Mark Sherrod added Portland’s fourth in the 71st minute, after SeaWolves FC defender Kevin Cook had pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 68th minute.

SeaWolves FC (3-5-0, 9pts) will play their next four matches at home, which includes a second meeting with the Timbers U-23s on June 25.

The Timbers U-23s play host to Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in their next match on Friday, June 22, at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver, Wash.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Notes: Sunday’s match was the first of two regular-season meetings between Portland and North Sound in 2012 … The Timbers U-23s lead the all-time series with the SeaWolves 3-0-0 and have out-scored North Sound 11-2 … Midfielder Cam Vickers leads the PDL with seven assists in eight games this season … Forwards Clark Phillips and Erik Hurtado have scored in back-to-back games, each scoring in the team’s recent 2-2 road draw against Kitsap … Defender Reed Matte logged his first assist of the season.

Scoring Summary:
POR: Phillips (Hurtado), 20
POR: Hurtado, 25
POR: Hurtado (Vickers), 56
NS: Cook, 68
POR: Sherrod (Matte), 71

Misconduct Summary:
NS: Abdulwali (caution), 25

Lineups:
POR: GK Keegan Rogers, D Marc Tonkel, D Anthony Hobbs, D Evyn Hewett, D Reed Matte, M Steven Evans (Richard Carillo, 75), M Clark Phillips (Emery Welshman, 78), M Roberto Farfan (William Seymore, 64), M Cameron Vickers (Joey DeMare, 79), F Erik Hurtado, F Mark Sherrod

Subs not used: GK Justin Baarts

NS: GK Claudio Lazar, D Buba Jammeh (Zane Meehan, 89), D Gene Tibbetts (Nasyir Rodriguez, 34), Kevin Cook, D Ryan Blair (Devin Thomas, 67), Junpei Tsuji, M Marshall Kosaka, M Giancarlo Santoro (Derik Chaney, 83), M Brady Ballew (Joshua Hamilton, 83), F Quinton Beasley (Mark Conrad, 83), F Abdulwali Aman

Subs not used: GK Evan Gaul