PortlandTimbers

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The Portland Tribune, Jun 24, 2005, Updated Oct 30, 2009

The slumping Portland Timbers announced a shocker, releasing popular defenders Shawn Saunders (the brother of goalie Josh Saunders) and Aaron Heinzen. “No comment, and Shawn has no comment,” Josh says. Heinzen says he thinks the moves were made simply with the quality of play in mind, not for financial reasons or because there was any conflict between players and coaches. “I guess they weren’t pleased with how I was doing,” says Heinzen, who got the word from GM Jim Taylor and coach Bobby Howe on Tuesday. É The Timbers lost 5-0 at home to Rochester on Saturday and are 1-3-1 in their last five matches. “I don’t think the defense has been very good. Obviously, there’s been a lot of problems,” Heinzen says. “It comes down to communication and working together properly.” É The cuts left Portland with only three pure defenders (Gavin Wilkinson, Scot Thompson and Lee Morrison) on an 18-man roster. “I’m sure they’re going to bringing in some more defenders,” Heinzen says. É Portland’s next two games are against two of the top teams in the First Division Ñ Montreal (7 p.m. Thursday) and Vancouver (7 p.m. July 2). Both games are at PGE Park. Then come key games at Seattle on July 8, at Vancouver on July 9 and home against Vancouver on July 14. The July 8 game has moved from Qwest Field to Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. É Heinzen hopes to catch on with another team in the league. But first he’s going to see a doctor. “I’ve been having a headache for a month now, since I got hit in the head with a ball in a game,” he says. “I’ve had some dizziness, and everything has felt foggy. Maybe I have a concussion. I’m going to get it checked out.”

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