Sapling Snapshot: Looking Forward and Back

The Timbers Academy just wrapped up the 2013-14 season, with the U-18s putting a mark in the (short) history book and the U-16s finishing out the year with a strong showing at the Academy Showcase. Here is a look back and a look forward at the academy and some of its members.

U-18s reach Academy Playoffs
For the first time in the Timbers’ short history in the United States Soccer Development Academy, one of the sides qualified for the playoffs. The Timbers U-18s snagged a wildcard spot and found themselves in one of the toughest groups in the playoffs.

Portland opened group play with a 2-1 loss to the seeded Chicago Fire, as Portland’s lone goal came from Foster Langsdorf in the 61^st minute.

The Saplings felt heartbreak on match day two against perennial powerhouse FC Dallas. Portland’s 1-0 defeat to FC Dallas came via an own goal in the 76^th minute.

In the final match of group play, the Saplings grabbed three points off the Charlotte Soccer Academy with a 3-1 victory. Portland toppled Charlotte SA on goals from Anthony Macchione, Reid Baez and Jesse Garcia-Aguilar.

The U-18s finished the year with a 14-11-5 mark, outscoring opponents 72-53 and earning a wild card draw after finishing fourth in the Northwest Division.

Macchione led Portland with 17 goals, good for sixth in the Western Conference. Anthony notched four multi-goal performances, including a hat trick in a 5-0 victory over San Juan Soccer Club.

Samuel Werner finished the year second on the side with seven goals, while Foster Langsdorf, Peter Prescott and Alejandro Segovia scored six each.

U-16s shine at Academy Showcase
After missing the playoffs, the U-16s finished the year 2-0-1 at the USSDA Academy Showcase.

The Saplings opened with a 2-0 win over Richmond Strikers, with one goal coming from Joe Corner and the other via an own goal. After a 1-1 draw with Colorado Rapids, Portland cruised to a 4-2 win over Virginia Rush (statistical information unavailable for last two matches).

Portland posted an 8-11-11 record overall and finished sixth in the Northwest Division.

Baez led with 10 goals, before pushing his way up to the U-18 roster by the end of the season. Nick Evans knocked in eight, while Davis Chimento scored six.

Little Cascadia Cup
The Saplings struggled in Cascadia play, with both sides only picking up a single point against the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Seattle Sounders. Seattle won the "Little Cascadia Cup" at both the U-16 and U-18 levels.

At both levels the Portland sides finished with a -5 goal differential in Cascadia action.

Note: The Whitecaps advanced to the quarterfinals of the U-16 Academy Playoffs, while the Sounders did the same at the U-18 level.

Vs. MLS
Neither Portland side impressed much against MLS sides, with the teams combining for a goal difference of -14.

Against MLS competition (not including a 5-1 victory over Orlando City SC), the U-18 side posted a 3-7-3 record and a -5 goal differential.

Portland’s first U-18 win over a MLS side in 2013-14 came at the Winter Showcase as Portland topped Sporting Kansas City 7-1, with Macchione and Segovia each doubling up.

The U-16s did not fare as well as the U-18s against MLS sides, finishing the year with a record of 1-6-5 and a goal differential of -9 against MLS academies.

Individual Rankings and College Bound

• Kaleb Augat, No. 16 Class of 2016 Rocky Mountains/Southwest (TopDrawer Soccer)
• Reid Baez, No. 96 National Class of 2015 (College Soccer News), No. 141 2015 (TDS), No. 6 Pacific Northwest 2015 (TDS), No. 44 Midfielder 2015 (TDS)
• Jose Benavides, No. 60 2016 (O When The Yanks), No. 147 2016 (TDS), No. 2 PNW 2016 (TDS), No. 67 MF (TDS)
• Niko De Vera, Akron
• Nick Evans, No. 5 PNW 2016 (TDS)
• Jesse Garcia-Aguilar, Akron
• Octavio Hermosillo, Clark College
• Jacob Kempf, No. 13 in PNW 2015 (TDS)
• Foster Langsdorf, Stanford
• Anthony Macchione, Akron, No. 96 2014 (OWTY)
• Peter Prescott, Creighton (Verbal, 2015), No. 149 2015 (TDS), No. 7 PNW 2015 (TDS), No. 35 Defender 2015 (TDS)
• Alejandro (Alex) Segovia, Oregon State
• Sam Werner, Stanford
• Adrian Villegas, No. 2 PNW 2018 (TDS)
• Joe Wheelwright, No. 107 Class of 2014 (College Soccer News)
• Ben White, Gonzaga

Looking Ahead
The Portland Timbers Academy is set to begin the 2014-15 season on September 20, at home against Pateadores (Costa Mesa, Calif.) followed by matches the next day against Strikers FC (Irvine, Calif.).

Expect the U-18s to be led by Peter Prescott, Jacob Kempf and Reid Baez.

Hard to forecast for the U-16s, but one should keep an eye on Adrian Villegas, as the 14 year old could move to a fulltime role with the U-16 after serving as a developmental part-time player for the side this last season. Villegas scored one goal for the U-16s in 2013-14 and is seen by TopDrawer Soccer as the No. 2 player in the Class of 2018 for the Pacific Northwest.