Timbers U-23s pair earn Team of the Week honors

PORTLAND, Ore. – United Soccer Leagues announced today that Portland Timbers U-23s forwards Brent Richards and Miles Byass were named honorable mention on the Premier Development League’s Team of the Week for Week 7.

Richards led the Timbers U-23s attack during a three-game road stretch June 8-12 against the Tacoma Tide, Abbotsford Mariners and Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, recording a combined 11 shots in the three road fixtures.

Byass scored two goals in a 4-1 road win over Tacoma on June 8, pushing his account to six goals on the season. Richards and Byass are the top two leading scorers for the Timbers U-23s this season.

For both Richards and Byass the honorable-mention nod marks their second PDL Team of the Week honors in 2011. Richards was named the PDL Player of the Week in Week 3 after recording a hat trick in a 6-0 road win over Washington Crossfire on May 15. Byass was an honorable mention on the PDL Team of the Week in Week 5.

The Timbers U-23s finish their three-match, regular-season series against the Tide on Saturday at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver, Wash., at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 and are available at the gate on match day; proceeds from ticket sales benefit host youth soccer club Vancouver United.