Timbers U-23 locals set for their homecoming against Sounders

? What: Sunday soccer doubleheader.

? Who / When: Portland Timbers U-23s against Seattle Sounders U-23s, PDL match at 2 p.m. Vancouver Victory FC vs. Seattle Stars FC, EPL Washington match at 5 p.m..

? Where: McKenzie Stadium.

? Cost: $8 for both games.

? Details: www.V2FC.com

Sunday will be a homecoming of sorts for a half dozen members of the Portland Timbers under-23 team.

Niko De Vera, Jake Kempf, Foster Langsdorf, Anthony Macchione, Collin Partee and Peter Prescott are Clark County natives on the Timbers team that will play the rival Seattle Sounders U-23s at 2 p.m. at McKenzie Stadium in Vancouver.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said De Vera. Playing Seattle is always special, he said, adding that he knows many of the Sounders from his youth academy days.

Portland (4-1-2, 14 points) is second in the Premier Development League Northwest Division. Seattle (3-1-1, 10 points) is in third place.

For most of the Clark County players, the under-23s program is a continuation of an association with the Timbers that began in the club’s youth academy. Playing for the PDL team gives the players a chance to develop their game against high-level competition, while also showcasing themselves for the Timbers coaching staff.

“I take it very seriously,” Macchione said. “Obviously, I want to be a Portland Timber. This is a chance to show Caleb Porter and the coaches what I can do.”

De Vera and Macchione, both Camas High graduates, are preparing for their second season at Akron University. They joined the U23s recently after spending nine days on a trip to Brazil with their Akron teammates. On the trip they played four friendly matches, attended a professional match, and played tourist.

The summer in the Premier Development League is a chance to improve aspects of their game. For Macchione, who scored three goals for Akron as a freshman forward, that means getting stronger in the air and holding possession as a target forward. At 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, he said he needs to develop his strength and ability to battle with physical defenders. Macchione has scored one goal in two appearances this season for the Timbers U-23s.

Langsdorf, a Mountain View graduate, played in 13 matches as a freshman at Stanford. He said he was frustrated that he did not see more of the field, and is using his summer with the U-23s to prepare to compete for playing time as a sophomore.

“The biggest lesson I learned (at Stanford) is you need to trust your coaches,” Langsdorf said. He scored one goal after shifting from midfielder to forward for the Cardinal. He is being used in attacking midfield for the U-23s, and said he enjoys being an equal on the under-23s after experiencing the team as a training player with the team while in high school.

On Friday Langsdorf scored two late goals to help the Timbers to a 4-0 win over the Puget Sound Gunners — including one assisted by a long ball from goalkeeper Partee.

De Vera, who saw limited action as a freshman at Akron, said that playing with a U-23 team in a league that features successful college players is a chance to work on skills specific to his left back position.

Partee, a Union High graduate, started at goalkeeper for Utah Valley’s first-year men’s soccer program. In 16 matches he allowed 13 goals and posted a 7-6-2 record for the Wolverines.

Partee has played six games this season for the Timbers U-23s, posting three shutouts, making 15 saves and allowing only three goals.

“I feel like I’m doing well,” Partee said. “And the best part is I’m really enjoying it.”

Playing for a first-year college program taught Partee to develop his “own swagger,” because goalkeepers must be vocal team leaders and confident players to succeed.

Each of the local players is looking forward to being back at McKenzie Stadium.

“I’m so excited,” Partee said. “To play the biggest rival in my old high school stadium. It doesn’t get much better than that.”