Timbers U-23s face Fraser Valley, Victoria on two-game road trip

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s hit the road for a pair of Premier Development League (PDL) matches this weekend in British Columbia, starting Friday against Fraser Valley Mariners FC at Bateman Park at 6 p.m. (Pacific). The team then faces Victoria Highlanders FC at Royal Athletic Park on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. (Pacific).

The Timbers U-23s (7-3-1, 22pts) opened the week with a 3-1 road win over the North Sound SeaWolves on Monday to remain in the playoff hunt in a tightly contested PDL Northwest Division. Currently in third place, the Timbers U-23s are just three points behind the division-leading Washington Crossfire.

The win over North Sound was the Timbers U-23s’ second road win of the season and the team’s second victory in its last three games.

The Timbers U-23s continue a three-game road stretch Friday as they close out the season-series against Mariners FC (0-11-1, 1pt). The Timbers U-23s defeated Mariners FC 3-0 in their opening match of the season as forward Mark Sherrod recorded a brace. Portland leads the all-time series against Fraser Valley with a record of 4-2-0. Mariners FC are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 on June 20.

Playing on back-to-back nights, the Timbers U-23s face a Victoria (3-6-3, 12pts) team playing a third game in eight days Saturday. Earlier this season, the Timbers U-23s beat Highlanders FC 4-1 at home on May 19. Sherrod recorded the fourth hat trick in team history in the victory. Portland owns a 4-1-2 record in the all-time series against Victoria, including a 2-0-1 mark on the road. On June 24, Victoria shut out the Kitsap Pumas 3-0 as midfielder Jordan Hughes scored two goals.

The two road matches this weekend will conclude the Timbers U-23s’ stretch of four games in eight days and will be two of the team’s final three road contests of the 2012 regular season, presented by Billups Worldwide.