Richards scores his 10th as Portland downs Washington Crossfire 3:0 at Interbay

University of Washington Huskies forward Brent Richards scores his 10th goal for the Portland Timbers U23's on Wednesday night at Interbay Stadium against Washington Crossfire. (Dale Garvey)

Midfielder Michael Nielsen scored his first goal of the season and forward Brent Richards scored in his second consecutive match as the Portland Timbers U-23s extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 3-0 victory over the Washington Crossfire on Wednesday at Interbay Stadium.

Nielsen and Richards each scored in the first half to help the Timbers U-23s build a 2-0 lead at the break. Midfielder Tracy Hasson then delivered the third goal of the night in the 90th minute to seal the win and help Portland (12-0-0, 36pts) maintain first place in the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division.

Midfielder Freddie Braun and forward Brian Ramsey each recorded assists, while goalkeeper Jake Gleeson logged his league-leading seventh shutout of the season to aid in the Timbers U-23s' team-record 12th straight victory.

With the loss, the Crossfire (5-7-1, 16pts) had a five-game unbeaten streak come to an end.

The Timbers U-23s grabbed the lead in the 25th minute. From the right side, Nielsen slipped by his marker 20 yards out from goal. Once in range, he fired a hard shot past the goalkeeper and into the open space inside the far post.

Richards, who scored four goals against the Spokane Spiders on July 2, doubled the Timbers U-23s’ advantage in the 39th minute. Braun fed Richards the ball with space inside the offensive third. After splitting two Crossfire defenders, Richards drilled his 10th goal of the season into the top corner of the goal.

Camas, Washington native Richards will be a junior this fall with the University of Washington Huskies. He was named second team all Pac-10 in 2009 with five goals and three assists. Richards was voted 2008 Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Camas High School. Richards played club ball for FC Vancouver and Eastside United.

The Timbers U23's made it 3:0 in stoppage time of the second half on this strike from Tracy Hasson. (Dale Garvey)

The scoring was complete in second-half stoppage time, when Tracy Hasson found his first goal of the season. Ramsey set up the play with a long ball played in from the midfield line. Hasson then took on a defender and created space with a quick move inside. He pulled the trigger on a shot just inside the area which sailed into the back of the net.

The Timbers U-23s return home for their final two regular-season home matches, starting Friday against the Abbotsford Mariners at Gresham High School at 7 p.m. Portland then plays host to the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency in its regular-season home finale Sunday at PGE Park at 2 p.m.

Should Portland win both matches, which they are highly favored to do, the U23's would then clinch the 2010 Northwest Division PDL regular season title and a  playoff spot.

The Portland Timbers contributed to this match report.