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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

January 26, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers' second preseason training camp as a Major League Soccer club got underway this week at JELD-WEN Field, with coaches and players taking the field for their first training sessions of 2012.

Under head coach John Spencer, the Timbers opened the 2012 preseason with 32 total players in camp, including seven non-roster players, for the first week of seven weeks of preseason.

Portland will spend its first two weeks of preseason in the Rose City before departing for a 12-day training camp in Carson, Calif., on Feb. 5. The Timbers then return to Portland for the balance of preseason, including playing host to a preseason tournament at JELD-WEN Field, ahead their 2012 MLS season opener March 12 at JELD-WEN Field.

Timbers Weekly Schedule: Jan. 27-29

Friday, Jan. 27 - Training at JELD-WEN Field; open to media

Saturday, Jan. 28 - Training at JELD-WEN Field; open to media

Sunday, Jan. 29 - Day off

Preseason Notes: Trying to make their mark

The Timbers' current preseason roster includes seven non-roster players, who have their sights on securing one of the remaining spots on the team's 2012 roster. Current non-roster players in camp are second-round SuperDraft pick Brendan King; Supplemental Draft selections Ryan Kawulok, Miguel Ibarra and Doug Herrick; midfielder Franck Songo'o and goalkeeper Joe Bendik.

Currently scheduled to join the Timbers during their preseason camp in Southern California is 2012 Supplemental Draft selection Logan McDaniel.

Preseason Notes: A new face to the group

Participating in his first training sessions with the Timbers is new goalkeeper coach Mike Toshack, who joined Spencer's staff over the offseason from Toronto FC. Toshack and Spencer worked together previously for two seasons on the coaching staff of Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear for two seasons (2007-08).

Preseason Notes: Timbers players with milestones in reach

As Timbers players prepare themselves for the upcoming MLS campaign, several are within reach of career milestones. Most notably, midfielder Jack Jewsbury is nearing 200 MLS career starts, while goalkeeper Troy Perkins is just 480 minutes from surpassing 12,000 minutes played in MLS.

With 173 starts under his belt over the past nine seasons in MLS, Jewsbury is 27 starts away from reaching the 200-start benchmark. There are several others who are within reach of certain games-played milestones, midfielders Eric Alexander (46 games) and Sal Zizzo (40 games) are approaching 50 career games, while defender Eric Brunner (71 games) is nearing 100 career games played in the league.

It could be a season of milestones for Perkins in 2012. In addition to having the 12,000 minutes mark in reach, the goalkeeper is two wins away from his 50th-career MLS win and is just two matches shy of reaching 130 games played.

From a team perspective, the Timbers have 17 consecutive sellouts for regular-season matches at JELD-WEN Field, reaching capacity for every league game during the club's 2011 inaugural MLS season.

Timbers announce additional preseason games for 2012

Last week, the Timbers announced four additional games to their preseason match schedule, bringing their total number of preseason games in 2012 to seven. The Timbers will play four MLS opponents while they are in Southern California and kick off their preseason match schedule against the defending-MLS champion LA Galaxy on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Heading into their inaugural MLS campaign, the Timbers assembled an impressive preseason record (2-0-6), which included a 439-minute stretch without allowing a goal. In 2012, Portland will face a handful of the same opponents from its 2011 preseason, including the Galaxy, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes and new MLS side, the Montreal Impact. The Timbers 2012 preseason match schedule is below:

Timbers 2012 Preseason Match Schedule (subject to change)

Tuesday, Feb. 7 - Timbers vs. LA Galaxy in Carson, Calif.; 10:30 a.m. (Pacific)

Friday, Feb. 10 - Timbers vs. Montreal Impact in Carson, Calif.; 10:30 a.m. (Pacific)

Sunday, Feb. 12 - Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo in Carson, Calif.; 10:30 a.m. (Pacific)

Wednesday, Feb. 15 - Timbers vs. Chicago Fire in Carson, Calif.; 11 a.m. (Pacific)

Monday, Feb. 27 - Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes at JELD-WEN Field (tournament); 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Thursday, March 1 - Timbers vs. Chivas USA at JELD-WEN Field (tournament); 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Sunday, March 4 - Timbers vs. AIK (Sweden) at JELD-WEN Field (tournament); 5 p.m. (Pacific)

In the Community: Upcoming Timbers appearances

Fans have the opportunity to meet some of their favorite players this week, with a scheduled meet-and-greet event on Saturday in the Portland metro area.

Goalkeeper Troy Perkins and midfielder Sal Zizzo will be on hand with Volkswagen at the Portland Auto Show at the Oregon Convention Center on Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m., meeting with fans and signing autographs.

Timbers' replica third kits now on sale at adidas Timbers Team Store

Replicas of the Timbers' retro-inspired third jersey are now on sale at the adidas Timbers Team Store at JELD-WEN Field and online at shop.portlandtimbers.com.

Authentic third kits remain available as part of limited-edition gift sets that include an authentic third jersey and a unique Timbers scarf, which is made of 100 percent recycled cotton. The set also includes a collectible gift box featuring a photo collage of historic Timbers images.

The adidas Timbers Team Store is located at JELD-WEN Field and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Club announces two changes to 2012 TV schedule

The Timbers have announced two changes to their television schedule for the upcoming 2012 MLS season.

The club's match on June 30 at the Colorado Rapids at 6 p.m. (Pacific) will now air live on KPDX. The Sept. 29 match against D.C. United at JELD-WEN Field will now be broadcast on KPTV; kickoff remains the same at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers, Timbers U-23s set for 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

U.S. Soccer recently announced several changes to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. Among the strategic changes, which will be implemented beginning in 2012, the 99th edition of the tournament, there will be an expanded, 64-team field. That field will include both the Timbers and the club's development team, the Portland Timbers U-23s.

The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will include all Division I, II and III professional U.S. clubs in the tournament proper for the first time, including the Timbers. Click here for other tournament details.

Included in the tournament field will be 16 Premier Development League Clubs, including the Timbers U-23s. The Timbers U-23s qualified for their first U.S. Open Cup tournament by finishing as the second-highest placing U.S. club in the PDL's Northwest Division in 2011.

Tune in to "˜Talk Timbers,' presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, on 750 AM The Game

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs each week on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, Talk Timbers will feature interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will provide team news and the latest information from around MLS as the 2012 season approaches.

The next four Talk Timbers shows are: Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com .

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 26, 2012


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