The Portland Timbers will play in the MLS is Back Tournament Final on Tuesday, Aug. 11 versus Orlando City SC at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
ORLANDO, FLA. – Oakland men’s soccer standout and former two-time All-Summit League selection Steve Clark will be playing in the Major League Soccer (MLS) is Back Tournament Final by Wells Fargo after leading the Portland Timbers past the Philadelphia Union with a 2-1 victory in semi-final action (Aug. 5). The Timbers will take on Orlando City FC in the tournament final on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 8:30 p.m. live on ESPN from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The winner will receive a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
In the semi-final against the Union, Clark made seven saves while facing 15 total shots. Portland’s road to the final began by winning the Group F stage with a 3-2-0 record to advance to Round of 16. The Timbers opened tournament play with a 1-1 draw against Cincinnati FC before advancing on penalty kicks (4-2) in which Clark made a crucial save on Cincy’s second PK. Portland then rolled past New York City FC, 3-1, in quarterfinal action with Clark making two saves.
After two seasons with D.C. United (2017-18), Clark has spent the past three seasons at Portland with his best year coming in 2019 where he started in 24 matches posting a 13-6-5 record with 84 saves and six shutouts. This season, Clark has a 5-5 mark with a shutout and 12 saves.
A three-year starter for Columbus Crew SC from 2014-16, Clark started all but two regular season matches in his tenure making at least 110 saves in all three years, finishing second, second and fourth, respectively in the league for most saves. His technically sound goalkeeping was key in Columbus’ run to the 2015 MLS Cup Final where they finished runner-up to Portland. In 2014, he was named Crew SC’s Defender of the Year, earned the Kirk Urso Heart Award and was one of only five MLS players to play every minute in league competition.
During Clark’s tenure at Oakland, the Mason, Mich. native, was a two-time All-Summit League selection in his final two seasons with Oakland and led the Golden Grizzlies to its first NCAA Tournament win over Michigan State in 2007. As a senior, Clark ranked eighth in the country with a 0.54 goals-against average and was named to the All-Midwest Region First Team after posting a Summit League record-tying 11 shutouts. Clark also claimed Summit League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2008.
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