Box Score I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots scored three unanswered goals in front of a national television audience to defeat the Washington Huskies 3-1 in a non-conference men’s soccer game Friday night at Merlo Field. UP senior Leland Wright scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 53rd minute.
The Pilots even their record at 2-2-1, while the Huskies stumble to 2-3-0. The game, which was broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel, was part of a soccer triple header at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex.
After UW took an early 1-0 lead, the Pilots stepped up the pressure, eventually tallying the equalizer on an own-goal. The play began when UP sophomore midfielder Vlastimir Davidovic sent a free kick into the area from about 35 yards out. Then on an attempted clear by the Huskies, the ball bounced off a Washington defender before trickling into the net, evening the score at 1-1.
Still tied in the 53rd minute, the Pilots took the lead for good on Wright’s first goal of the season. Wright received a through-ball from junior Collen Warner, took a touch and buried a shot into the lower left corner. Warner was credited with his second assist of the fall.
Sophomore Frankie Lopez returned to his scoring ways in the 61st minute with an absolute strike from 22 yards. On a Portland corner, the UW clear found the chest of Lopez, who was unmarked just beyond the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Lopez then volleyed in a shot, perfectly placed into the top right corner to make it a 3-1 game. It’s the conference-leading fifth goal this season for Lopez.
Down a pair of goals, UW turned up the pressure, but each attempt was thwarted by Portland sophomore goalkeeper Austin Guerrero and the UP defense.
Portland finished with a 12-6 advantage in shots, while Washington had a 10-7 edge in corner kicks. Both Guerrero and UW’s Stephen Fung made two stops on the evening.
The Huskies began the scoring with a goal in the 13th minute. Brent Richards was the recipient of a perfectly placed long ball over the top of the Portland defense. Richards finished inside the left post with a low, hard shot.
UW nearly made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute when Raphael Cox ripped a shot towards an open UP net. But Portland senior defender Patrick Jurney happened to be in the right place, clearing the ball off the goal line.
The Pilots next travel to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Fever Classic next weekend. Portland faces New Mexico at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and Cal State Fullerton at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.