Timbers Academy teams wrap up inaugural U.S. Soccer Development Academy season

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams wrapped up their inaugural season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy over the weekend against the Seattle Sounders FC Academy. Both the Timbers U-18 and U-16 teams were handed defeats in their final matches of the 2012-13 campaign.

The Timbers U-18 Academy finished the season with a record of 10-12-6 (36pts), following a 3-0 loss to the Sounders FC U-18 Academy at the adidas Timbers Training Center on Saturday. The Timbers U-18s placed sixth in the Northwest Division for their age group. Forward Christian Desir (Portland, Ore.) and midfielder James Nosack (Ridgefield, Wash.) each finished the season with a team-best 11 goals.

The Timbers U-16 Academy suffered a 2-0 loss to the Sounders FC U-16 Academy on Saturday; it was just the team’s second loss over the final 14 matches. The Timbers U-16s finished the campaign with a record of 12-8-8 (44pts) and in fourth place in the Northwest Division for their age group, and just missed qualifying for a wildcard position in the postseason. Midfielders Jacob Kempf (Camas, Wash.) and Alex Segovia (Beaverton, Ore.) led the team in scoring with eight and six goals, respectively, as the Timbers U-16s scored 51 goals on the season (28 games), which was the third-highest goals total in the division.

The Timbers Academy will field a team of players born in 1995-96 in the upcoming Development Academy showcase at the complex surrounding FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas, from June 24-28.

Timbers U-18 Academy players see action with Timbers Reserves over the weekend
The Portland Timbers Reserves played VSI Tampa Bay FC to a 4-4 draw over the weekend in Plant City, Fla., and, as part of the club’s vertically integrated development system, Timbers U-18 Academy players Christian Desir and Anthony Machionne (Camas, Wash.) each saw playing time.

The Timbers Reserves scored three goals in the second half to overcome a three-goal halftime deficit. Both Desir and Machionne entered the match as second-half substitutes to help the Timbers Reserves preserve a point on the road. Additionally, Timbers U-16 Academy players Joe Wheelwright (Pleasant View, Utah) and Nico De Vera (Washougal, Wash.) were among the available subs.

In total, Machionne has logged 92 minutes and Desir has played 41 minutes for the Timbers Reserves during the 2013 MLS Reserve League season.

Teams from 10 clubs participate in 28th-Annual Friendship Cup over Memorial Day weekend
The Portland Timbers played host to the 28th-Annual Friendship Cup over Memorial Day weekend at the Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation Department’s Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex in Beaverton, Ore.

Both boys and girls teams from 10 different clubs participated in the tournament, including the pre-academy teams for MLS sides the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Timbers.

2013 Friendship Cup Bracket Winners: