"All the Marbles" in this case being a spot in the US Open Cup.
Prost Amerika is reporting that the front offices of the Timbers and Kitsap Pumas have agreed, with the blessing of the United Soccer Leagues, to allow their league match this Friday (June 3, 11am, JELD-WED Field, $5 general admission) to count as the tie-breaker for the deadlocked PDL NW Division qualifying group.
Further adding to the excitement, the Timbers have decided to broadcast the game via webstream, so all of you employed people, who can't get away from the office, can watch the game in your cubicles.
If you've never made it to a U23 game, here are a few players with whom to familiarize yourself:
First and foremost has got to be Brent Richards: Camas, Washington's favorite son, Bicycle Brent is a true talent in midfield, and one of a handful of players (along with standouts Tracy Hasson, Steven Evans, Roberto Farfan and keeper Garrett Staples) who have been with the U23 team since they began play in 2009. He has been a difference-maker since the very beginning, notching two assists in the team's second game, and two goals in the following match.
Richards finished 2009 with only four goals, but in 2010 he emerged as a bona fide star, leading the team with 16 goals. He scored twice in the national title game vs Thunder Bay Chiiiillllll (who were not very Chiiiiilllll) at PGE Park, en route to a 4-1 win, which capped off a perfect 20-0-0 season. The highlight of Brent's season wasn't the title game though; he scored four against the hapless Spokane Spiders one night in front of 247 people in Tigard, Oregon. He had a hat-trick by halftime, including what remains the single most amazing goal I've ever personally witnessed: a full overhead bicycle kick goal, taken from about 10 yards out, off a deflected cross.
Dazzling, stupendous, sublime, Brent Richards is for real. He already has one hat trick this season, but has only played in three of the team's first five games due to his scholastic commitments at the University of Washington, where he is just about to complete his junior year. Friday is the last day of regular classes at U-Dub before final exams, and I want all #RCTID Timbers fans to join me in urging Brent: SKIP CLASS! Would you rather kill time on the last day of classes, when nothing of substance happens anyway, or help the U23s qualify for the US Open Cup against their best and staunchest rival? The choice is clear Brent: Soccer Rules, School Drools!
(Edit to add: Our John Strong hinted on twitter this evening that Richards may indeed have gotten a note from his Mom and will play tomorrow. Fingers crossed!)
He's wee! He's ace! He flies through Time and Space! (Photo by Sarah Alley)
Another three-year standout with this team is former Oregon State Beaver, and Lake Oswego product Tracy Hasson. The winger may be short in stature, standing a mere 5'4", but he is pure energy and dynamism on the pitch, often winning head balls vs much taller players, and generally working his ass off, flying up the right side to deliver crosses into the box. Plus, if you include his hair, he's like 5'9".
Hasson has been a constant on the right side of the U23 midfield since they began play in 2009, and has been a big factor in their success. Up until this season, you always saw a certain lack of quality to go along with his indefatigable energy; he'd race 60 yards to beat a defender to a ball, then half the time he'd deliver a bad cross or boot it out for a goal kick. This season though, Tracy looks to have improved his game without sacrificing any of that manic energy that makes him such a joy to watch. Of the three games I've seen, he looks like overall the best player on the team; and that's saying something, considering he's on a squad with Brent Richards, Bim Ogunyemi and emerging star Miles Byass, all of whom have been superb.
Here's a nice Tracy Hasson highlight package video; at the 1:25 mark you can see what I mean about his surprising aerial prowess, as he opens the scoring in the title game with a looping header from 10 yards.
Other players to watch:
Paul "Bim" Ogunyemi - The Bim beneath my wings, the Real Bim Shady, the Notorious B.I.M., our left-sided midfielder was selected by FC Dallas in the superdraft. But Dallas is stupid, so they cut him, so his speed and strength continue to provide a great counterpunch to Hasson on the right.
Miles Byass - our new striker has a cannon for a leg and he's not afraid to use it; just ask the Tacoma keeper, who helplessly watched a Badass Byass strike sail into his net just a minute into the second half last Sunday in Clackamas.
Ryan Kawulok - the massive center back, who also stars for the University of Portland Pilots, was all-league last year, and his steady, calm play has helped the U23s to four shutouts in their first five games. Kawulok has also trained with the Colorado Rapids Soccer Academy, though I don't know if or how this affects his potential "homegrown" status with the Timbers (any help from the soccerheads out there? Bob? Tifo nerds?).
The Three Rickys - Messrs. Abrego, Dorrego and Carrillo are all currently coming off the bench for the U23s, but all have contributed much to the team. Forward Ricky Abrego scored the winner in the PDL Western Conference final last year, to beat tomorrow's opponent Kitsap and earn the U23s a date in the national final four. Ricky Dorrego and Ricardo Carrillo provide an active second-half oomph in the midfield, when lesser teams' players are flagging. At some point in tomorrow's game, say around the 75th minute, it's quite likely that if you yell "OOHHHHH RICKY RICKY!" you'll be cheering for 27 percent of the Timbers currently on the pitch.
Nick Palodichuk - In the three games I've seen this season, Palodichuk hasn't been the most eye-popping player on the pitch, but the central midfielder has drawn high praise for his stellar career at Camas HS and his heroics for the USA at the 2009 U-17 World Cup, and everyone in the know is predicting big things for him. Nick is a big kid and certainly fills up space in the middle of the park; here's hoping he can continue his growth with the Timbers U23. (Note: Palodichuk is an academy product of...*them*...but I don't know if this absolutely prevents him attaining homegrown status with the Timbers. For now he's ours and while that's the case he gets one hundred percent of my support.)
Former Timber and current radio color-man Ross "Short Shorts" Smith has put in some time in the back line as an over-age exemption (PDL teams are allowed three O23 players). Smith only played one season for the Timbers, but he's embraced the team and the town, and you have to see it as a boon to the organization that he's stuck around in his various capacities.
Oh and some guy named Scot has been playing center back and wearing the captain's armband, and looking great doing it. No fooling.
Kitsap Pumas have been the U23s best rival by far since both teams came into existence in 2009; even with a perfect season last year, the Timbers U23 were edged by Kitsap on goal-differential for the USOC spot. This year, thanks to some surprisingly sensible thinking by all parties, there will be no ambiguity: if it's tied after 90 minutes it will count as a draw for the league, but we'll get a penalty shootout to determine who goes on to face Chivas El Paso Patriots in the first round of the US Open Cup.
Come out and support the kiddos! Take an early lunch! Take two lunches! Tickets are only $5, and it should be a decent crowd (of little kids) at Jeld-Wen Field.
