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Forest Grove, Ore. - Midfielder Neil Dombrowski scored his first goal of the preseason to lead the Timbers to a 1-0 win over Gonzaga University before 913 fans on Sunday at Lincoln Park Stadium in Forest Grove, Ore.

 

The match against Gonzaga was Portland's second of three preseason matches scheduled before the Timbers start the USL First Division season April 17 at PGE Park.

 

Dombrowski broke the scoreless stalemate in the 65th minute on a pass by second-half substitute Chris Brown. As the Timbers maintained possession in Gonzaga's offensive third, Brown slipped short pass to Dombrowski along the right post about 12 yards out. In space, Dombrowski sent a low drive inside the far post past Gonzaga goalkeeper Andrew Hickman.

 

Midfielder Lawrence Olum had chances to give the Timbers the lead in the first half, but his shots were just off target. Early in the match, Olum collected a pass near midfield and worked the ball to the top of the box, but his shot from 18 yards out missed wide of the right post. Then, in the 25th minute, Timbers midfielder Kiki Lara served a cross from deep down the left side to Olum at the near post. Olum's header was denied by Hickman, deflecting the shot off the crossbar to keep the scored locked at 0-0 heading into halftime.

 

Entering in the second half, Timbers forward Takayuki Suzuki threatened with a blast in the 55th minute from the top of the box at the upper right corner of the frame; but Hickman was able to tip the ball over the crossbar to keep the Timbers off the board. Hickman recorded eight saves in the match.

 

The Timbers nearly found their first goal of the day in the 60th minute on a great run by Brown inside the penalty area. Lara delivered a crisp pass to Suzuki at the top of the box along the left post, as Brown started his run from the side of the box. A sly pass by Suzuki hit Brown in stride for a one-on-one opportunity with Hickman. His shot from eight yards out was stopped by Hickman as Brown's feet got tangled up with a Gonzaga defender.

 

In the closing minutes of the game, both Timbers defender Scot Thompson and goalkeeper Jordan James denied breakaway opportunities by Gonzaga forwards Tye Perdido and Nick Love. In the 80th minute, Thompson denied Love a scoring chance stripping the ball from behind as Love came within 20 yards of the goal line.

 

Portland wraps up their three-game preseason slate April 11 against the University of Portland at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. The Timbers open the 2008 campaign against the Puerto Rico Islanders at PGE Park on April 17.

 

Notes: After signing last Tuesday, defender Justin Thompson entered the game late in the second half to see his first action of the 2008 season ... The Timbers are now 1-1-0 in preseason matches ... in the 78th minute, pea-sized hail began to fall and covered the field for nearly 15 minutes ... Lara was issued the only caution of the match in the 12th minute … Lincoln Park Stadium is one of three athletic facilities at the new Lincoln Park Athletic Complex and serves as the home venue for Pacific University’s men’s and women’s soccer programs.

 

POR: GK James, D Adzemian (S. Thompson, 45), D Knowles (Karalexis, 45), D Bolkan (J. Thompson, 84), D Guante, M Olum, M Dombrowski (Ready, 79), M Lara (Taylor, 79), M Higgins, F Hughes (Brown, 45), F Bagley (Suzuki, 45)

 

GU: GK Hickman, D Muravez, D Barclay, D Heinrichs, D Connor, M Harrison, M Garre, M Baranski, M Mullaney, F Funkhouser (Love, 77), F Perdido (Schilperoort, 45)

 

POR: Dombrowski (Brown), 65