Union open March 12 at Portland

The Union will open the 2012 Major League Soccer season on Monday, March 12 at Portland against the second-year Timbers. Game time is 9:30 p.m. ET.

The game will be televised on ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes.

Earlier it was announced that the Union's home opener would be Sunday, March 18 against a yet-to-be determined opponent.

MLS releases its schedule a little at a time. It would benefit the league if it released the entire schedule at once.

At least one positve is that MLS is releasing the information a little earlier this year.

The Union will have high expectations after earning a playoff berth in their second season. After a first-round bye, the Union lost 3-1 in the two-game aggregate goal series with the Houston Dynamo.