Academy Update: Timbers U-16s extend unbeaten streak to four consecutive matches, U-18s fall in hard-fought match over the weekend

The Portland Timbers U-16 Academy team extended their unbeaten streak to four consecutive matches with a 3-2 win over Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC U-16s on Nov. 1 at the adidas Timbers Training Center in Beaverton, Ore. Earlier in the day, the Timbers U-18s couldn’t overcome a Sounders FC U-18 goal in the second half of a hard-fought, 1-0 loss.

Meeting for the first time this year in regular-season play, the Timbers U-16s (3-2-2, 11pts) grabbed an early lead as Adrian Villegas (Hood River, Ore.) opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Earning a 3-0-1 record in their last four matches, the Timbers U-16s took a two-goal lead as Lewis Coates (Portland, Ore.), tallied a goal in the 55th minute. Seattle pulled a goal back, but Samuel Buzzas (Bend, Ore.) gave Portland another two-goal cushion with a goal in the 67th minute. Over the last four matches, the Timbers U-16s have outscored their opponents 11-3, including a 6-3 advantage at home.

Despite holding a 9-4 advantage in shots and the majority of possession, the Timbers U-18s (1-5-1, 4pts) lost 1-0 to Sounders FC U-18s in a hard-fought match. Seattle’s Victor Mansaray tallied the decisive goal in the 56th minute.

The Timbers Academy teams will hit the road for their next two matches, facing off against the De Anza Force on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Cupertino, Calif., and Santa Cruz Breakers Academy on Sunday, Nov. 9 in Santa Cruz, Calif. The U-18s are set to kick off at 10 a.m. (Pacific) on Nov. 8 and 11 a.m. (Pacific) on Nov. 9, while the U-16s will begin play at 12:30 p.m. (Pacific) and 1 p.m. (Pacific), respectively.