Timbers U23s begin with Open Cup match

The Portland Timbers under-23 team opens its season today with a first-round match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Jeld-Wen Field. The Timbers U-23s then begin their Premier Development League schedule on Thursday at home in the first of two league games this week.

At 7:30 p.m. today, the Timbers U-23s host the Sacramento Gold of the National Premier Soccer League in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. The team then hosts Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in its league opener at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Tickets cost $10 and are available at the Jeld-Wen Field box office or at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Portland caps its first week of the season on the road, traveling to play North Sound SeaWolves FC at 1 p.m. Saturday at Edmonds Woodway High School in Edmonds.

• Palodichuk returns — Former Camas High School standout Nick Palodichuk will play for the Timbers U-23s again this summer. Palodichuk played with the Timbers U-23s in 2011. The midfielder is entering his junior season at Duke University in the fall. He was one of 14 current college players whose addition to the Timbers U-23s roster was announced on Monday.