Part two of the Season Ending Saplings at School, features (in my opinion) the Top Five Timbers Academy Grads to keep an eye on in the 2017 Spring Season, PDL Season and into the '17 Fall Season, a Best XI of Timbers Academy Grads at the Division I level and a quick listing of the awards some grads picked up this season.

So without any other filler...

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Foster Langsdorf, Vancouver, Wash. (Jr., F, Stanford)
2. Terrell Lowe, Hillsboro, Ore. (Fr., M, Virginia)
3. Peter Prescott, Vancouver, Wash. (So., D, Creighton)
4. Gio Magana-Rivera, Hood River, Ore. (Fr., M, Portland)
5. Eric Diaz, Woodburn, Ore. (Fr., D, Oregon State)

Notes: I watched Stanford more than any other team that a Timbers Academy grad plays for, so got to see a lot of Langsdorf… Langsdorf’s honors will be listed below, but he’s a strong and feisty forward who doesn’t take many plays (if any) off and tends to be in the right place at the right time more often than not… he had plenty of good goals on his own, but he also came up with some spectacular headed goals late in the season, where he happened to be in the right spot and was able to direct his header into the net – this was the case on two of his three postseason goals… As mentioned, Langsdorf is relatively feisty and can get under the skin of other teams with his go-go-go mentality – this did lead to four yellow cards on the season, but that's not too big of a concern… And because it’s awesome – Langsdorf finished the season with 15 goals, eighth most in a season by a Cardinal and more than Jordan Morris ever scored in a season, which ain’t half bad.

Lowe earned a bit of recognition for his work in the Virginia midfield as a freshman and is an obvious player to keep your eye on.

Prescott is probably my personal top player to keep an eye on next season… Peter played every minute of the season for Creighton as a sophomore centerback… Prescott and the Blue Jays held opponents to 0.87 goals per game and 10.0 shots per game… Prescott was a captain for the Timbers throughout his time with the academy program.

Magana-Rivera and Diaz both had solid freshman seasons… Magana-Rivera got plenty of time for a new coach at Portland as the Pilots earned a spot in the NCAA tourney, while Diaz played well for OSU in a tough Pac-12

Bonus Player to be Hopeful For: Samuel Buzzas, Bend, Ore. (Fr., D, Xavier)… Buzzas was a 6-4 true-freshman at Xavier this last season… I’m assuming he redshirted this last season, and my hope is that was spent learning from the more experienced centerbacks on the roster and spending time in the weight room preparing for battle in a strong BIG EAST Conference.

BEST XI

GK – Collin Partee (Jr., Loyola Marymount, Camas, Wash.)

D – Eric Diaz (Fr., Oregon State, Woodburn, Ore.)

D – Peter Precott (So., Creighton)

D – Niko de Vera (Jr., Akron, Camas, Wash.)

D – Ben White (Jr., Gonzaga, Tigard, Ore.)

M – Sam Werner (RSo., Stanford, Bozeman, Mont.)

M – Jesse Garcia (Jr., Oregon State, Portland, Ore.)

M – Gio Magana-Rivera (Fr., Portland)

M – Terrell Lowe (Fr., Virginia)

F – Foster Langsdorf (Jr., Stanford)

F – Bennett Lehner (Fr., Dayton, Camas, Wash.)

Notes: This was not easy to put together, which would be a great problem to have if the reason was because there were so many worthy players to list, but it’s not a lot of fun to put together a Best XI when so much of the list plays primarily as a reserve.

Juniors: Partee has been solid in goal for three years at Utah Valley (two seasons) and LMU (one season)… de Vera continued to build on a slow start to his career at Akron, but tallied his first collegiate goal this season… White’s played all over the pitch for the Bulldogs in his three seasons in Spokane and does seem to make the most of his time on the pitch… It would be great to see Garcia’s assist numbers improve next season as Timmy Mueller is going to be looking for plenty of goals in hopes of impressing some pro squads… Langsdorf - See Five to Watch

Sophomores: Prescott – See Five to Watch… Werner has been a great utility guy for the Cardinal the last two seasons... I’ve said it before, but his goal against Louisville in the tournament was special… Werner like Langsdorf has no quit in him, which is great to see from a guy playing manly off the bench... already mentioned a bit above, but Werner is the PERFECT 12th or 13th man on a college roster.

Freshmen: Diaz, Magana-Rivera, Lowe – See Five to Watch… Lehner picked up a couple of goals in his freshman season, and got a decent amount of playing time as well with the Flyers.

HONOREES

Foster Langsdorf (Stanford)

• Top Drawer Soccer Best XI Third Team
• Second Team NSCAA All-American
• Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention
• NSCAA All-Far West Region
• Co-Pac-12 Player of the Year
• First Team All-Pac-12
• Pac-12 Player of the Week

Terrell Lowe (Virginia)

• Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI Second Team
• ACC All-Freshman Team

Gio Magana-Rivera (Portland)

• WCC All-Freshman Team

Ben White (Gonzaga)

• All-WCC Honorable Mention