Timbers Development update: Dec. 17, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams split their matches against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency over the weekend at South Surrey Athletic Park in Surrey, B.C. The Timbers U-18 Academy claimed a 6-3 victory, while the Timbers U-16 Academy was dealt a 2-0 loss.

Featuring hat tricks – the firsts in team history – from midfielder James Nosack (Ridgefield, Wash.) and forward Timur Zhividze (Vancouver, Wash.), the Timbers U-18 Academy rallied from two goals down to defeat the Whitecaps FC Residency U-18s in Vancouver’s first home match of the season.

Whitecaps FC Residency scored twice in the first 20 minutes, but the Timbers U-18s were able to pull one back just before halftime on Zhividze’s first goal of the season. Portland took control of the match in the second half, scoring a team-high five goals in the half and finding the back of the net in the 51st, 55th, 63rd, 86th and 89th minutes.

With their second straight win, the Timbers U-18s improve to 5-6-2 (17pts) on the season and sit in fourth place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Northwest Division. With his hat trick, Nosack has a team-best seven goals, while Zhividze scored his first three goals on the season.

The Timbers U-16 Academy suffered the loss despite solid play on the road. Whitecaps FC Residency U-16s forward Terran Campbell provided a brace for the home side, scoring around the 20-minute mark and adding the insurance goal shortly after halftime. The Timbers U-16s (4-5-4, 16pts) are in fifth place in the Northwest Division.

The Timbers Academy teams have an extended break in match play through the holidays and the month of January before returning to action Feb. 2 on the road against the De Anza Force at De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif.