Timbers Loan 5 Players; Manning Signs with T2

Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, defenders Taylor Peay and Andy Thoma, midfielder Nick Besler, and midfielder/forward Schillo Tshuma have all been loaned to Portland Timbers 2 of the USL, the Portland Timbers announced today.

Gleeson, 24, has been a part of the Timbers system since 2010, when he backstopped the Timbers U23s to a perfect 16-0 season and the 2010 PDL Championship.  Signing with the Timbers prior to the 2011 MLS season, Gleeson made 4 starts (2-1-1) for the Timbers early in 2011, debuting against Toronto FC on March 26, after subbing on for Adin Brown at the half.  Gleeson has yet to make a first team appearance in MLS play since 2011, but has appeared for the Timbers in friendlies, reserve, U.S. Open Cup, and most recently in CONCACAF Champions League matches in 2014.  Loaned to Sacramento Republic for 2014, Gleeson made 17 starts to help lead them to their first USLPro Championship in their inaugural season.  He has also appeared at all levels of the New Zealand national team program, and is currently a member of the New Zealand senior squad, where he has made 8 appearances with his national side since debuting in June 2011 in a friendly against Australia.

Peay, 23, was drafted by the Timbers in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Washington.  Spending most of 2014 on loan to USLPro side Orange County Blues, where he made 14 appearances.  He made his first team debut on June 17 in the U.S. Open Cup match against Orlando City FC U23s, where he scored his first professional goal, started against Sporting Kansas City on June 24 in a U.S. Open Cup match, and appeared as a late game substitute against Alpha United in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Thoma, 21, was drafted by the Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.  Also out of the University of Washington, Thoma made 80 appearances for the Huskies, recording 7 goals and 1 assist at left back, and was named to the NSCAA third team All-America, second team All Pacific-12; and first team All-Far West region in 2014.

Besler, 21, was the Timbers first selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame.  The younger brother of SKC defender Matt Besler, he made 72 appearances and was a NSCAA All-American second team for 2014 and was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection in 2013 and 2014.

Tshuma, 22, was selected by the Timbers in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Maryland.  Spending the 2014 season on loan to both Arizona United and Orange County Blues, making a total of 19 appearances..  Beginning the season with Orange County, he made two appearances and was named a honorable mention for the USLPro Team of the Week (Week 3).  With Arizona, he made 17 appearances and recorded 1 assist.  He made his Timbers debut against Orlando City U23s on June 17 in the U.S. Open Cup, playing 10 minutes.

Additionally, the Timbers announced that defender Anthony Manning, 22, has signed a contract directly with T2.  Selected by the Timbers in the 2015 MLS Superdraft,, Manning was a four year player with the Billikens, making 74 appearances and was twice named the Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Atlantic 10 Conference team for 2013 and 2014, and was a three time NSCAA All-Region selection.

With these additions, T2 now has 20 players available for selection, as T2 plays their inaugural match against Real Monarchs this evening at Merlo Field at 6:00pm.

Portland Timbers Press Release

TIMBERS LOAN FIVE PLAYERS TO T2
Besler, Gleeson, Peay, Thoma, Tshuma loaned to USL club; Manning signed to T2

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have loaned midfielder Nick Besler, goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, defenders Taylor Peay and Andy Thoma and forward Schillo Tshuma to T2 of USL ahead of the club’s USL match against Real Monarchs SLC on Sunday at Merlo Field in Portland, it was announced today. Additionally, the Timbers announced that 2015 MLS SuperDraft selection Anthony Manning has signed with T2.

Besler, 21, was the No. 5 overall pick by the Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The former University of Notre Dame midfielder, who was signed to an MLS contract prior to the SuperDraft and added to the Timbers roster for the 2015 season, appeared in 72 matches (59 starts) for the Fighting Irish, tallying two goals and five assists while helping Notre Dame win the 2013 NCAA National Championship.

Gleeson, 24, spent the majority of the 2014 season on loan with USL side Sacramento Republic FC, helping guide the club to a USL championship in its inaugural season. A member of the Timbers since 2011, signing from the Timbers U-23s Premier Development League side, Gleeson also appeared in two CONCACAF Champions League matches for the Timbers in 2014.

Peay, 23, made 14 appearances on loan with USL side Orange County Blues in 2014, while also recording his first professional goal for the Timbers in a win over Orlando City U23s on June 17, 2014, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Thoma, 21, was a second-round (No. 24 overall) pick by the Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The Los Alamos, N.M., native, also signed to an MLS contract prior to this year’s SuperDraft and added to the Timbers roster for the 2015 season, appeared in 80 games (68 starts) over four seasons for the University of Washington, tallying seven assists and one goal.

Tshuma, 22, had loan stints with Orange County Blues and Arizona United SC during the 2014 USL season. A member of Generation adidas and the No. 17 overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Timbers, the Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, native made his Portland debut on June 17 in a win over Orlando City U23s in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Manning, 22, was selected by the Timbers in the third round (No. 52 overall) in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The Mesquite, Texas, native was a two-time Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, anchoring a Saint Louis University defense that led the league with 11 shutouts in 2014.