Despite numerous chances by both teams, Pilots and Timbers tie in exhibition matchup
By Jeff Trousdale
The Portland Pilots fan club lost to the Portland Timbers Army by a decibel level of 160 to 10 last Friday night at Merlo Field. In related news, the Pilots men's soccer team played the Timbers to a scoreless tie, also on Friday night at Merlo Field.
Junior goalkeeper Austin Guerrero made eight saves against the professionals from across town, helping the Pilots overcome their inability to get shots on goal. UP finished with one for the night.
"Coming out against the Timbers is always great," Guerrero said. "The energy was high, the Timbers army was crazy behind us ... they're an amazing crowd."
The two teams played evenly for the first 19 minutes, and the first real excitement in the game came when Tom Poltl received a yellow card for a nasty slide tackle on Pilot's junior forward Collen Warner.
"You take it in the back of your mind that they're gonna come with a different intensity," Warner said. "It's nothing you wouldn't expect, the Timbers are a physical team."
The Pilots appeared to retaliate just two minute later, when sophomore Jarad VanSchaik also made a nasty tackle against a Timbers player, earning him a yellow card as well.
The match was physical throughout its entirety. Assistant Coach Rob Baarts, acting as head coach while Bill Irwin was away on National Team duties, acknowledged that many of the Timbers players were fighting for their spots on the team, which may have led to the increased intensity of the play.
"I thought our performance was great," Baarts said. "We're playing against a mature group of guys who are fighting for their jobs,"
The 31st minute put the Pilots back on their heels, when Timbers forward George Josten rocketed a low shot from the left corner that was blocked by Guerrero on the diving save. Guerrero made another brilliant save only moments later when Timbers midfielder Jason McLaughlin sent a header towards the right side of the goal off a corner kick.
Sophomore Frankie Lopez gave the Pilots a chance in the 39th minute, when he blazed up the left sideline on a breakaway, but shot the ball from an awkward angle straight into the arms of goalkeeper Steve Cronin.
The end of the first half nearly had a heartbreaker for UP, when McLaughlin crossed the ball from the right side to midfielder Josh Cameron, who went for the header but bounced it into the ground and over the goal.
The second half was more of the same; a back and forth battle between two physical teams. The Timbers came out firing again, but they couldn't connect or they were thwarted by the effors of Guerrero. Former Portland area high school star Alex Nimo, on loan to the Timbers, had one good scoring opportunity early in the half but missed out on the goal when he shanked the ball off his foot.
Frustrations boiled over again in the 75th minute when Warner received a yellow card after he had some words with the referee.
Baarts said that Warner brought the right kind of intensity for the entire game.
"He was playing for the win and not just the tie, he wasn't backing down," Baarts said.
The Timbers nearly scored again when Kyle Schmidt knocked a header towards goal in the extra time, but Guerrero again came up with the big save. The Pilots had the final chance at the game winner with two corner kicks by Warner, but the ball was deflected out of bounds both times and the two teams went home with the tie.
Despite not getting the win, Baarts, Guerrero and Warner were all satisfied with the result.
"We pushed forward and we had confidence," Baarts said. "We gave ourselves opportunities to win and that's all I can ask for."
