T2 sign 6 players with two familiar faces

Two names familiar to Portland fans, Brent Richards and Steven Evans are joined by players from Australia, USA, Jamaica and Argentina as the new club starts to assemble a squad.

T2 Press Release

T2 SIGN SIX PLAYERS FOR INAUGURAL USL SEASON
Argentine forward Biglieri, Timbers U-23s standout Belmar, Jamaican youth international Clarke, defender Delbridge, former MLS Timbers Evans, Richards sign with T2 for 2015 USL season

PORTLAND, Ore. – T2 have signed Argentine forward Santiago Biglieri, Timbers U-23s standout Kharlton Belmar, Jamaican youth international defender Rennico Clarke, defender Harrison Delbridge, and former MLS Timbers midfielder Steven Evans and forward Brent Richards, it was announced today. Biglieri and Clarke will be added to the T2 roster pending the receipt of their International Transfer Certificates (ITC). Per league and club policy, terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“As we announce signings in the lead up to our first season, you will see the roster be comprised of a mix of players that possess many different qualities and come from varied backgrounds,” said general manager Gavin Wilkinson. “There will be players that are familiar with wearing the Timbers crest, some experienced professionals who will be good role models for the group, as well as young players that we can spend valuable time developing for the ultimate purpose of reaching the first team.”

Biglieri, 29, joins T2 after making 18 league appearances for Uruguayan side Súd America during the 2013-14 Primera División season. Beginning his professional career in Argentina with Lanús, Biglieri logged 14 goals in 99 career league appearances for the club from 2003-2012 and gained extensive experience in both the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores tournaments, making more than 10 career appearances in each of the two South American regional cup competitions. A native of Posadas, Argentina, Biglieri played in 34 matches on loan with Ecuadorian side Emelec in 2010, before moving to Rosario Central in Argentina for the second half of the 2010-11 Primera B Nacional season. Joining Rosario Central on a permanent transfer ahead of the 2011-12 season, Biglieri tallied five goals in 29 appearances to help the club reach the promotion playoffs. He spent the 2012-13 Primera B season with Argentina’s Instituto, appearing in 19 games.

A second-round pick (No. 34 overall) by the Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Belmar, 22, finished his senior season as co-leading goal scorer at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2014, recording four goals in 19 matches. During his four-year career with the Rams, Belmar logged 18 goals and five assists in 76 appearances. A member of the Timbers U-23s Premier Development League (PDL) team in 2014, the Virginia Beach, Va., native finished the PDL season with eight goals and one assist in 14 games, earning a spot on the PDL All-Western Conference list. Belmar also was named the Timbers U-23s Player of the Year as well as garnering All-Atlantic 10 recognition for the second straight season with VCU.

Clarke, 19, is a Jamaican youth international who has recently earned appearances with the Jamaica U-20 National Team at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championships. A defender, Clarke, logged minutes in three of Jamaica’s five group-stage matches at the CONCACAF U-20 Championships, playing against Panama, the United States and Aruba. In November 2014, Clarke appeared in three matches for Jamaica’s U-21 side at the 22nd-annual Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico. Playing with Harbour View FC in Jamaica’s Red Stripe Premier League, Clarke made seven league appearances, scoring one goal during the 2014-15 season. Clarke also made two appearances in the 2014 JFF Champions Cup for Harbour View FC, scoring a goal in a penalty-kick loss in the semifinals against Reno FC.

Delbridge, 22, appeared in 22 matches (19 starts) for 2014 USL champion Sacramento Republic FC last season, netting one goal and logging 1,742 minutes played. Born in Sydney, Australia, Delbridge made 56 appearances for Appalachian State University from 2010-13, scoring eight goals as a defender. Prior to joining Republic FC, Delbridge played in seven matches for the Ventura County Fusion during the 2013 USL Premier Development League (PDL) season, helping the Fusion to a second-place finish in the Southwest Division.

Evans, 23, joins T2 following two seasons with the MLS Timbers after signing as a Homegrown Player with the club prior to the 2013 season. A former University of Portland standout and Portland native, Evans played four seasons with the Timbers U-23s Premier Development League (PDL) squad, helping the team win a 2010 PDL title. In 2013, Evans ranked second on the Timbers Reserves with 1,035 minutes played across 14 matches. Last year, Evans appeared in 11 matches, scoring one goal, on loan with USL PRO side Sacramento Republic FC – helping the first-year club win the USL PRO championship. During AT&T MLS All-Star Week in Portland, Evans donned the captain’s armband for the MLS Homegrown side against the Timbers U-23s on Aug. 4 at Providence Park.

Richards, 24, was the MLS Timbers’ first Homegrown Player signing on Jan. 4, 2012, and made six appearances (2 starts) during his rookie season in 2012. A Camas, Wash., native, Richards was named the Timbers’ 2012 Young Player of the Year, but sustained a left knee injury during 2013 preseason training camp and missed the season. In total, he played in nine matches with the first team across all competitions and was the second-leading scorer for the Timbers Reserves with four goals in 2012.

Kicking off a 28-game regular-season schedule, T2 will play host to fellow USL expansion side Real Monarchs SLC in the team’s inaugural home opener of the 2015 USL season at Merlo Field on Sunday, March 29, at 6 p.m. (Pacific).

The T2 signings in brief