March 28, 2012

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mark Sherrod and J.J. Greer have committed to play soccer this summer for the Portland Timbers U-23 team of the Premier Development League (PDL). Sherrod and Greer will be joining Creighton's Eric Miller and Andrew Ribiero and Gonzaga's Clark Phillips the club announced today.

The Portland Timbers U-23s is an amateur team affiliated with Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers. As a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference, the Timbers U-23s will play a 16-game regular-season schedule between May and July.

"We are really excited for J.J. and Mark to have this opportunity with Portland," said Head Coach Richie Grant. "Portland has a great team and coach, and J.J. and Mark will benefit greatly from the wonderful soccer culture Portland has to offer."

Sherrod recorded one of the best seasons in program history, breaking the record for goals scored in a season (19) and tying the record for points in a season (42). The sophomore led the nation in goals per game and was listed as one of the 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy, college soccer's player of the year award. A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Sherrod earned numerous accolades, including NSCAA All-America Third Team and College Soccer News Third Team All-American, CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team, Conference USA Player of the Year, C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team and C-USA All-Academic Team.

Greer, a local product of Christian Brothers High School, is a center back on the Tigers' defensive backline. He was named to the Conference USA All-Conference Second Team and NSCAA All-Midwest Second Team after helping Memphis post an 11-6-1 record last season. Greer was instrumental in helping the U of M post a 366:42-minute streak without allowing a goal, which included three-consecutive shutouts.

To follow Sherrod and Greer this summer or for more information on the Portland Timbers U-23 squad, please visit the team's website.

ABOUT PORTLAND TIMBERS U-23s
Founded Nov. 11, 2008, the Timbers U-23s is an amateur team affiliated with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and serves as a development platform for the club's first team. The team consists of standout players from collegiate and youth programs from Oregon, the Northwest and throughout the country and competes in United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League (PDL) - the top developmental men's league in North America. Since the founding of the Timbers U-23s, four Timbers U-23s players have signed with the first team, including midfielder Freddie Braun, goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, defender Ryan Kawulok and forward Brent Richards, who became the Timbers' first Homegrown Player in 2012. The Timbers U-23s assembled an historic campaign in 2010, posting a perfect 16-0-0 record during the regular season on their way to becoming the first undefeated champion in PDL history.