May 8, 2008
STANFORD, Calif. - Scott Bolkan, a former defensive standout for the Stanford men's soccer team, will begin his pro career with the USL's First Division Portland Timbers. Bolkan will join a crew of five other defenders that look to improve on the Timbers' second place finish in last year's regular season.
While at Stanford, Bolkan played 66 career matches, including 53 consecutive games. He was a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic first-team selection (2005-07) and earned All-Pac-10 honors as a sophomore, junior and senior, including a first-team selection as a senior in 2007. He tallied five career goals as a defender, including three in his senior campaign.
The USL First Division is the second division of soccer in the United States league pyramid behind Major League Soccer. It is managed by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was known as the A-League until 2004, having formed from teams from the original A-League. The Timbers have made the playoffs five times in their seven years of existence and have made it as far as the semi-finals.