Jan. 18, 2011
SEATTLE - Washington defender Taylor Mueller was drafted in the Third Round (38th pick) of the 2011 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft by the Portland Timbers. He was one of four players drafted by the team. "It's pretty crazy," Mueller said about being drafted. "It's what I've been working towards, a shot to be able to play with the guys in the professional leagues. It's unreal right now and for it to be one of the northwest clubs is amazing to have the opportunity for my family to watch me. It's awesome to go to Portland which is a great soccer city." Mueller joins the list of several former Huskies drafted to play for the Timbers. Bernd Strom (1989), Bryn Ritchie (2001), Aaron Heinzen (2002) and Troy Ready (2003) all previously played for the Timbers while Kevin Forrest (2007) is still currently playing for the team. Currently, four former Huskies are playing in the MLS - Mike Chabala (Houston Dynamo), Raphael Cox (Tacoma Tide), Ty Harden (Toronto FC), and George John (FC Dallas). Kevin Forrest, Danny Waltman (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), and Ely Allen (NSC Minnesota Stars) are also former Huskies currently playing in the professional ranks. "Taylor has worked extremely hard to get the opportunity to prove himself at the next level," said interim head coach Brandon Prideaux. "He should be commended for his perservence and dedication to bettering himself and to the UW men's soccer program as well." Mueller, a Sammamish, Wash., native, made an impact in the Husky defense from the second he stepped on the field as a freshman during the 2007 season, being named to the all-tournament team at New Mexico's Nike/Crescent Financial Solutions Invitational that year. During his sophomore year, he received Second-Team All-Pac-10 honors and led the team to three shutouts. He was named Third-Team NSCAA All-Far West Region and Second-Team All-Pac-10 during his junior year. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the first time in his career following his outstanding performance against Stanford and Cal on Oct. 8 and 10, 2010. During the game against Stanford, he and his fellow defenders held the Cardinal to just seven shots in 110 minutes, one shy of a season-low for Stanford. He led the Husky defense to six shutouts, which ranked second in the conference. Under his leadership, the team also allowed just 10 conference goals, the fewest in the Pac-10. During his senior year, he was named one of two team captains and UW's Defensive MVP. He also received Second-Team NSCAA All-Far West Region and Second-Team All-Pac-10 honors. He was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week on Sept. 28 for helping UW post shutouts versus Seattle and UC Davis. He was also named Husky Fever Classic Defensive MVP and ranked 16th on TopDrawerSoccer.com's list of top 20 Pac-10 players. The Portland Timbers began in the spring of 1975 as an expansion club in the original North American Soccer League (NASL) and joined the United Soccer Leagues (USL) in 2001. In the past 10 seasons, the team has advanced to the playoffs seven times and captured the USL First Division Commissioner's Cup as the regular-season champion in 2004 and 2009. Also in 2009, the Timbers played 24 games without a loss, a record in the USL and one of the longest unbeaten streaks in U.S. soccer history. One interesting and beloved tradition the Timbers still practice today started in their early days as a soccer club, the cutting of the "log slab." After each of the Timbers' goals scored at home, a round is cut from the victory log behind the north goal. As the Timbers elevate to Major League Soccer in 2011, Mueller joins a great team with rich history and a promising future. |
