The Portland Timbers U-23 team defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in a crucial Northwest Division matchup Sunday in Premier Development League play at McKenzie Stadium.
The Timbers struck first on a wondrous long-range strike from forward Geoffrey Dee in the 28th minute.
But they held on to the lead thanks to stout defense and the occasional brilliance of goalkeeper Collin Partee.
Partee — a graduate of Union High School who plays collegiate soccer at Utah Valley — made six saves including two on one of the few dangerous attacks from the Sounders in the 72nd minute.
After diving to his right to save a shot from a wide open Sounders attacker, he quickly picked himself up to rush to the opposite goal post to swat the Seattle shot out of touch.
“Oh, crap — completely missed that guy on the backside” was what Partee said immediately went through his head. “I just figured, step up, and then my mind went blank. Instinct took over I guess.”
“It didn’t look like a goalkeeper move,” teammate Foster Langsdorf said. “You palmed it.”
But Partee was not the only local player to have a memorable day on the pitch.
Sunday’s game — on Father’s Day — had special significance for Langsdorf, who lost his father only a few weeks ago.
A loud cheer for Langsdorf let out when he entered the game in the 57th minute for fellow Clark County prep player Anthony Macchione.
Langsdorf had just come off a brace in Friday’s match against the Puget Sound Gunners. He didn’t score Sunday, but that didn’t matter.
“It meant a lot,” Langsdorf said about what it meant to play and get the win on Father’s Day. “It meant a lot to see a lot of my family here in support of me. I know he would have been rooting in the stands, I’m sure.”
According to Partee and Langsdorf, it was the first time that they have beaten the Sounders since being in the academy.
“And in the standings, just getting us one point closer to the lead and making the playoffs,” Partee said of the victory’s benefit.
“It’s great to beat Seattle anytime,” Langsdorf said.
With the win, the Timbers U-23’s are now four points above Seattle and only two points behind first place Kitsap.
TIMBERS U-23 1, SOUNDERS U-23 0
Portland Timbers U-23
Goals (assists): Geoffrey Dee (unassisted). Goalkeeper Saves: Collin Partee 6
Seattle Sounders U-23
Goalkeeper Saves: Paul Christensen 5.
