Timbers U-23s open second half of season Saturday in Kitsap

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers U-23s open the second half of their 2013 Premier Development League season and wrap up a stretch of four straight road matches on Saturday as they visit the Kitsap Pumas at Gordon Field at 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Entering the weekend, the Timbers U-23s (5-1-1, 16pts) sit in first place in the PDL’s Northwest Division, and own a three-point lead over both Victoria Highlanders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23, who are tied for second place.

The Timbers U-23s face Kitsap on the road for the second time in two weeks. The two teams played to a scoreless draw on June 1, which opened Portland’s recent run of away matches. Since then, the Timbers U-23s have split a pair of matches, falling to the Washington Crossfire on June 5 and defeating Sounders FC U-23 on June 9.

The Timbers U-23s captured a 1-0 road win over Sounders FC U-23 in their last match on June 9. Second-half substitute Zack Foxhoven scored the game’s lone goal in the 83rd minute and goalkeeper David Meves and the defense earned their fifth shutout of the season to aid in the victory.

Defensively, the Timbers U-23s have allowed just two goals in seven regular-season matches. The team’s two goals against is tied with the Fresno Fuego for the fewest in the Western Conference.

Portland and Kitsap (1-2-4, 7pts) square off in the second of three regular-season meetings in 2013. The Timbers U-23s held the Pumas to just three shots in the first meeting on June 1 to record the shutout in a 0-0 draw. The Timbers U-23s are 5-3-4 in the all-time series against the Pumas. The two sides wrap up their season series June 21 at Alder Creek Middle School in Milwaukie, Ore.

The Pumas enter the matchup against the Timbers U-23s on a four-match unbeaten streak, having earned four straight draws. The Pumas played Whitecaps FC U-23 to a 2-2 draw behind two goals from midfielder Kasra Kiarash in their last match on June 8. Midfielder Nuno Gourgel has recorded a PDL-best seven assists this season to lead the Pumas in scoring.

Kickoff time chanced for Timbers U-23s home match June 30
The Timbers U-23s announced today that the kickoff time for their home mach on Sunday, June 30, against Victoria at Hare Field in Hillsboro, Ore., has been changed to 12 noon (Pacific). Tickets for the match will be available for purchase at the gate.