When the Sounders U23s come to town on Saturday, they will be the home team, and Olympia is certainly Sounders country. But one of the big points of playing this Cascadia rivalry game in Tumwater is to capitalize on the proximity to the Portland area and attract Timbers fans. So let’s take a look at that Portland Timbers U23 squad that will invade Tumwater Stadium’s somewhat neutral field.

Mark Sherrod Cam Vickers – Photo Credit: PortlandTimbers.com

The Sounders U23s will have their hands full with the Timbers U23s on Saturday night. The Timbers are 5-0 this season and lead the PDL’s Northwest Division in goals scored and have allowed just three goals in five games. The Timbers are coming off a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps U23s on Friday afternoon in front of a PDL record 8,174 fans (mostly kids) at Jeld-Wen Field.

The Timbers are led by forward Mark Sherrod. The redshirt junior from the University of Memphis has five goals and an assist in their first five games while Cam Vickers, who spent last season with the Tacoma Tide, has two goals and five assists. The Timbers can beat you in many different ways with seven other players registering goals and University of Washington keeper Spencer Richey has allowed just three goals.

The Timbers are coming off a fourth place finish in 2011, their worst record in their three full seasons in existence. In 2010 the Timbers went 20-0-0 and became the first unbeaten and untied team to win the PDL championship. The Timbers have been coached by Jim Rilatt since their inception and hold a 38-9-6 record all time.

The Timbers U23s’ potent attack faces the Sounders U23s Saturday night at Tumwater Stadium. Tickets for the junior level of the country’s most rabid rivalry are just $10 and can be purchased here or at the gates. First kick is scheduled for 6:00 PM.