Timbers back at work as camp opens

The Portland Timbers open training camp for the 2014 season Saturday at Jeld-Wen Field.

Beginning their fourth season in Major League Soccer, the Timbers will train in Portland through Wednesday then go to Tucson, Ariz., for two weeks. They will play their first preseason game on Feb. 1 in Tucson against Sporting Kansas City.

The Timbers return the bulk of their roster from the 2013 team that finished with the best record in the Western Conference.

The Timbers return to Portland in mid-February and will host the Rose City Invitational series of preseason matches on Feb. 23, Feb. 26 and March 1 at Jeld-Wen Field.

The Timbers open their MLS schedule at home on March 8 against Philadelphia.

Notes

• Timbers fullback Michael Harrington is one of seven defenders still in camp with the United States national team. The team has been training in Brazil, and will train next week in Los Angeles ahead of a Feb. 1 friendly match against Korea Republic.

• The Timbers announced an agreement with EXOS, an athletic performance company, to provide fitness coaching and development for the team.

• Portland Thorns FC defender Rachel Van Hollebeke — formerly Rachel Buehler — will use her married name for the first time with the U.S. Women’s National Team during a three-game stretch of international friendly matches against Canada on Jan. 31 and Russia on Feb. 8 and Feb. 12. She was married in 2012.

• The Thorns will conduct tryouts on Feb. 25-26 in Downingtown, Pa., and March 5-6 in Beaverton.