The Seattle Sounders host the Portland Timbers this Wednesday August 1 at 7 pm at Qwest field in a clash between the top two teams in USL First Division.

Seattle is 2-0-1 overall against their Pacific Northwest rival Portland this season, including a 2-1 victory in the U.S. Open Cup that knocked the Timbers out of the tournament.

Seattle is riding an eight-game unbeaten streak overall and has lost only once in their last 13 games with a stellar record of 10-1-2. The Sounders defense carried the team early in the streak with five shutouts, but the offense has stepped up over the past four games with 10 goals.

Forward Roger Levesque has been Seattle’s offensive sparkplug with three goals and five assists in the last four matches. Levesque, Sebastien Le Toux and Greg Howes are all tied for the team-lead in goals with five and a total of six different players have contributed at least one goal in league play.

Standout goalkeeper Chris Eylander anchors the Seattle backline and ranks first in saves and second in wins and shutouts among USL First Division goalkeepers. The Sounders defense has been especially stout at home, giving up only five goals in seven home games.

Portland has surged into first-place in USL First Division with a 10-game league unbeaten streak. The Timbers are led by a defense that has only allowed 11 goals in 18 matches and will be looking to capture their first regular season title since 2004.

Former Sounder Andrew Gregor joined the Portland Timbers this season and has quickly emerged as the one of the Timbers top players. The University of Portland alum ranks second in points, third in goals, and fourth in assists among USL First Division players.

Goalkeeper Josh Wicks is another off-season addition that has played a key role in the Timbers turnaround this season after the club missed the playoffs in 2006. Wicks, a former Vancouver Whitecap, seized the starting spot early in the season and currently leads USL First Division in wins, shutouts, and goals against average.

The Sounders are 14-10-3 all-time against the Timbers in regular season play. The Sounders had a 2-1-1 record against Portland in 2006, including two wins in July which helped Seattle capture the 2006 Cascadia Cup.

Following the Portland match, Seattle continues a four-game homestand with a regular season match against Puerto Rico on August 4th and a huge U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match-up against the Colorado Rapids on August 7th.