Former Point Loma men’s soccer player Matt Rose signed a contract with the Portland Timbers T2 team on March 26, 2015. Rose was one of eight players signed by the T2 in advance of their season opener against Real Monarchs last Sunday.
Rose was a third team All-PacWest performer for Point Loma in his only season with the Sea Lions (2014) after transferring in from the University of North Carolina. He led PLNU with five goals and 13 points. He scored a goal in four straight matches during the Sea Lions’ seven-match unbeaten streak, and Rose finished among the conference leaders in both shots and shots on goal.
“We are very proud of Matt as he has signed his first professional contract with Timbers 2,” said Point Loma head coach Phil Wolf. “It shows our players here at Point Loma and to players at this level that if you are good enough there are opportunities at the professional level in this country. Hopefully, this is the first of many players at Point Loma who will make the jump to the next level.
“Matt has had a long, tough road from North Carolina to Point Loma and now to the Timbers,” Wolf continued. “If he can stay focused on the everyday tasks of playing and training at the professional level, we are confident that Matt has the ability to one day play in MLS.”
Rose, 23, made 11 appearances for the Timbers U-23s during the 2014 season, recording three assists. He also featured in the 2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game during AT&T MLS All-Star Week in Portland as the Timbers U-23s played the MLS Homegrown Team to a scoreless draw.
The Point Loma men’s soccer team is back on the training field in preparation for next year. They have played a number of scrimmages and are training nearly every morning at 6:30 a.m.