Box Score I
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PORTLAND, Ore. --- Santa Clara’s Mykell Bates scored on a header in the 81st minute and the Broncos would hold on for a 1-0 win over the Portland Pilots in the West Coast Conference regular season finale on Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. The Pilots finish the season tied for third place in the conference, and will wait to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Postseason.
The NCAA Tournament field of 48 will be unveiled live on the NCAA.com on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Portland has an 11-7-2 overall record and a 6-5-1 league mark, while the Broncos improve to 11-5-4 and to 7-4-1 in the WCC. SCU finishes second in the league standings, and Saint Mary’s claims the conference title and the automatic bid to the postseason.
The Broncos had several good opportunities in the first half, but Portland sophomore goalkeeper Justin Baarts made stellar save after stellar save to keep the game a scoreless tie.
The game was still 0-0 when the Broncos earned a corner kick in the 81st minute. Wesley Culver whipped a service towards the center of the box, where Bates finished with a powerful header to give Santa Clara the slim 1-nil lead.
Portland then had a couple of shots at an equalizer, including a tough, sliding shot from Michael Nielsen that was wide right. Colin Anderson drilled a shot high of the cross bar on a free kick, while a header from Ryan Kawulok on a corner kick was also high with just 13 seconds remaining.
Baarts finished with eight saves for the Pilots, who had 12 shots and four attempts on-goal. Santa Clara keeper Larry Jackson made four saves.
UP celebrated senior day on Sunday as Connor Barbaree, Kawulok and Nielsen were honored with a pre-game ceremony.
