Thorns add players through draft

Portland Thorns FC selected Kathryn Williamson, a defender from the Florida, with the eighth pick in Friday’s National Women’s Soccer League College Draft.

Thorns FC also drafted Central Florida forward Nicolette Radovcic (16th), North Carolina midfielder Amber Brooks (24th) and Pepperdine goalkeeper Roxanne Barker (32nd).

“They’re all very technical players and players that I can see jumping into a game right away,” Thorns FC coach Cindy Parlow Cone said. The coach said that Williamson was the player Portland wanted, and Parlow Cone was thrilled that she was available with the No. 8 pick.

The Chicago Red Stars selected UCLA forward Zakiya Bywaters with the first pick. Portland had the last selection in each of the four rounds.

The NWSL plans to begin play in the spring. Teams will start training next month.

The draft, which took about 80 minutes to complete at the Indianapolis Convention Center, was the second phase of roster building for the new eight-team league. Portland previously was allotted seven players — including U.S. women’s national team players Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Rachel Buehler, along with Canada’s Christine Sinclair — when the league distributed national team players from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Timbers under-23 schedule announced — The Portland Timbers under-23 team will play a game at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas at 7 p.m. on June 28. The team’s 14-match Premier Development League schedule was announced on Friday, and runs from May 16 to July 16.

The Timbers U-23s are an amateur team that serves as a branch of the Timbers developmental program. Five current Timbers, including Camas’ Brent Richards, previously played for the Timbers U-23s.

TIMBERS U-23 2013 SCHEDULE

All times PDT; Home games in bold.

May 16 Sounders FC U-23s, 11 a.m.

May 18 at North Sound SeaWolves FC, 1 p.m.

May 23 Whitecaps FC U-23, 11 a.m.

May 31 North Sound SeaWolves FC, 11 a.m.

June 1 at Kitsap Pumas, 7 p.m.

June 5 at Washington Crossfire, 7 p.m.

June 9 at Sounders FC U-23s, 2 p.m.

June 15 at Kitsap Pumas, 7 p.m.

June 21 Kitsap Pumas, 7 p.m.

June 28 Washington Crossfire, 7 p.m. at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas

June 30 Victoria Highlanders FC, 2 p.m.

July 12 at Whitecaps FC U-23, 7 p.m.

July 13 at Victoria Highlanders FC, 7 p.m.

July 16 Sounders FC U-23s, 7 p.m.