Steven Evans is the Future?

RipCityPilot wrote:I just had this thought... Could Evans go to the MLS after this year and not finish at UP?

DaTruRochin wrote:Yeah... But if he gets a Gen. Adidas slot (Which starts a player at a $250K salary, plus puts money away so they can finish their college education whenever they want.) it might be one of those offers too good to refuse.

Portland Pilots junior midfielder Steven Evans signed professionally with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer as the club’s second Homegrown Player. Evans has one year of eligibility remaining at the University of Portland, but the Portland native will forgo his senior season to join his hometown club.

“Growing up in Portland, my dream was always to first go to UP, and to then play for the Timbers,” said Evans on Tuesday. “This has been my dream and my goal, so I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited than I am right now.”

As a junior last fall, Evans was named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team for the second consecutive season. He finished second in the conference in goals (14) and points (31), while ranking eighth and 16th in those two categories nationally. Evans also had three assists last fall and a team-high three game-winners, and he became the first UP men’s soccer player to register a hat trick in nine years.

The Central Catholic High School graduate was named the league’s freshman of the year in 2010, while also garnering Freshman All-American honors.

“The coaches at Portland really pushed me and taught me a lot to help me become the player I am now,” Evans said. “We always had a great team and we always had good competition at practices, which also helped develop me on the field.”

In 53 career games for the Pilots, Evans totaled 24 goals, 12 assists and six game-winners.

“I also wanted to thank everybody at the University of Portland,” said Evans. “It is sad leaving a year early, but I’m really excited about what’s to come.”

Evans played four seasons with the Timbers’ development team from 2009-12, helping guide the Timbers U-23s to the 2010 Premier Development League championship and three playoff appearances.
A member of the inaugural Timbers U-23s team in 2009, Evans ranks among the team’s all-time leaders in games played (42) and goals (8.

Evans joins forward Brent Richards, a native of Camas, Wash., as the Timbers’ two Homegrown Players. He also becomes the fifth player from the Timbers U-23s to sign with the first team.