Erin Misaki’s first-half goal Friday stood up as #2 Portland beat Loyola Marymount 1-0 in West Coast Conference women’s soccer. The Pilots (12-2-1/2-0-0), improved to 6-0-1 at home this season, while LMU dropped to 8-4-2 overall, 1-1-1 in WCC games. Since starting the season 0-2-0, the Pilots are 12-0-1.

Portland’s only goal came at 28:06 after Lindsey Huie’s centering cross inside the box was tapped home by Misaki for Misaki’s fifth goal of the year.

Portland outshot the Lions 20-2 in the contest, but failed to convert many chances as LMU was forced into a defensive alignment for a majority of the game. While LMU keeper Kelly Yukihiro made five saves, the Lions defense was responsible for twice clearing the ball off the goal line in the first half.

The Pilots sprayed shots from every conceivable angle, distance and direction, but were stymied in a roughly played contest. Portland owned a 12-2 shot advantage in the first half, and outshot the Lions 8-0 in the second half.

Portland keeper Lauren Arase was forced into just one routine save for her fifth shutout of the season, but took a pair of knocks to the head in a 10-second span late in the game. Arase punched away LMU’s only corner kick of the game in the 79th minute, but was leveled by an on-rushing Lions player. She quickly scrambled to her feet but was sent to the deck a second time in a collision on another high ball.

Portland hosts Pepperdine on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2:15 p.m.