The Portland men’s soccer team concludes its regular season home schedule with a pair of West Coast Conference matches against San Diego and Loyola Marymount. The Pilots face San Diego (5-6-3, 2-3-2 WCC) at Merlo Field on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Portland then takes on the only remaining unbeaten WCC team when they play LMU (8-4-3, 6-0-1 WCC) on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. The match will be senior night for Portland defenders Paul Robinson and Brian Cotlove. Robinson has been a three-year starter, while Cotlove is a junior in eligibility, but is scheduled to graduate after fall semester. Earlier this year, Portland played San Diego to a 0-0 draw, while losing 2-0 to Loyola Marymount on the road.
ABOUT PORTLAND: The Pilots (8-5-1, 3-3-1 WCC) picked up two much-needed wins against Northwest rival Gonzaga last weekend to even their conference record and move into sole possession of fourth place in the WCC. Portland won 2-0 on Friday at Merlo Field as junior midfielder Heath Pearce tallied the game-winner, while redshirt freshman midfielder Matthew Dallman tallied a goal and an assist. Junior defender Josh Brown and junior forward Patrick Mooney also registered assists for the Pilots. Sophomore keeper Luis Robles made eight saves in recording the shutout. On Sunday, the Pilots repeated the result with another 2-0 victory as junior midfielder Sean Babcock and Dallman recorded goals. Robles was forced to make just two saves for his sixth shutout of the season. The road victory was the first of the year for Portland, who is now 1-2-1 in road contests.
Junior striker Alejandro Salazar, the reigning WCC Player of the Year, leads Portland with four goals and three assists. Dallman’s big weekend against the Bulldogs gives him four goals and an assist, while junior midfielder Miguel Guante has three goals and four assists after shifting forward most of this season from his usual right-back position. Sophomore keeper Luis Robles has played every minute this season between the pipes, posting a 0.97 goals-against average, with 60 saves and six shutouts. Senior captain Paul Robinson is a three-year starter and anchors the Pilot backline.
Director of soccer Bill Irwin returns eight starters and 12 letterwinners from Portland’s 2003 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Portland finished with a 10-9-1 overall mark and tied for third in the West Coast Conference with a 3-2-1 record. Salazar, a College Soccer News Preseason first team All-American, was named the 2003 WCC Player of the Year after leading the conference in points with 10 goals and an assist. Irwin is in his second season in a head coaching capacity and has a 18-14-2 overall record.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO: The Toreros (5-6-3, 2-3-2 WCC) were dealt a pair of losses by Loyola Marymount last weekend as they allowed seven goals in the two contests. After falling behind 4-0 on Friday, USD salvages two second-half goals by Michael Caso and Andrew Ehrich. On Sunday, USD carried a 2-1 lead into the final third of regulation as Caso and Jan Prochazka netted strikes, but the Toreros relinquished their lead in the 3-2 loss. Ryan Guy leads USD with 12 points (3g, 6a), while Caso and Ehrich are the leading goal-scorers with four apiece. Lance Friesz has started all 14 matches between the sticks with a 1.10 goals-against average and five shutouts. Head coach Seamus McFadden enters his 26th season guiding the Torero soccer fortunes. Last season he directed USD to a 12-4-4 record, a final national ranking of 19th, and a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Portland and San Diego battled to a 0-0 draw at Torero Stadium earlier this season.
ABOUT NO. 22 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT: The Lions (8-4-3, 6-0-1 WCC) are 7-1-1 in their last nine outings and have climbed into the national top 25 after three consecutive West Coast Conference wins. LMU remains the only unbeaten team in WCC play with six wins and a tie against last-place Saint Mary’s. The Lions garnered national recognition after whipping then-No. 2 Santa Clara 4-0 on Oct. 17. They came back last weekend to defeat San Diego in a home and home series, winning 4-2 at USD then coming back for a 3-2 win against the Toreros on their home turf. On Friday, Bobby Burling and Diego Barrera each scored two first half goals to lead the Lions. On Sunday, LMU battled from a 2-1 deficit and scored the game-winner on Armando Melendez’s header in the 81st minute. Melendez leads the Lions with 16 points (5g, 6a), while Barrera and Rhynard each have four goals and three assists. Goalie Robert Flores has played in 10 games, recording three shutouts while posting a 1.43 goals-against average. Head coach Paul Krumpe enters his seventh season as a head coach in the collegiate ranks and has guided the Lions to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. His 2003 squad finished the season at 12-7-1, earning a top-16 seed in the NCAA College Cup and a first-round bye. LMU dealt UP a 2-0 loss in Los Angeles earlier this season.
SENIOR NIGHT: Pilot senior defender Paul Robinson will play his final two regular season home matches this weekend as Portland finishes the year with four road games. Robinson, a three-year starting central defender, made the trek to Portland from Nottinghamshire, England and has been a team captain the last two seasons. He has four career goals, including one in this year’s season-opening win over Sacramento State. Robinson was an honorable mention all-WCC performer last season and was a WCC all-academic pick in 2002.
Redshirt junior defender Brian Cotlove will also be honored as a senior along with Robinson. Cotlove is in his fourth year with the Pilots and is scheduled to graduate after fall semester with a degree in political science. After injuries prevented him from making a big impact his first three years, Cotlove has found his stride in 2004 starting all 14 matches as an outside back. He has helped the Pilots to a 0.97 goals-against average and six shutouts. Cotlove may return for his fourth year of eligibility, but will be honored with longtime teammate and friend Paul Robinson prior to Sunday’s match with LMU.
DOING HIS PART: Redshirt freshman midfielder Matthew Dallman scored two goals and added an assist last weekend in Portland’s two wins over Gonzaga. The Hood River, Ore. native has started the last six contests for the Pilots after providing a big early season spark off the bench. His four goals are tied for the team lead along with junior forward Alejandro Salazar.
SCORING SLIDE SUBSIDES: With four goals against the Bulldogs last weekend, the Pilots more than doubled their amount of goals scored in their first five West Coast Conference matches. Portland has now outscored WCC opponents 7-6, while holding a 21-14 edge against all opponents.
SALAZAR, PEARCE REACH MILESTONES: Juniors Alejandro Salazar and Heath Pearce have both reached statistical milestones. Salazar tallied his 50th career point after his game-winning goal against Saint Mary’s on Oct. 15, while Pearce’s assist against the Gaels was the 10th of his career. Salazar’s 50 points are tops on the Pilots active roster and 19th on UP’s career charts, while Pearce leads all current Pilots with his 10 assists.
UP SUCCESS AT HOME AND VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: Portland has had much success at Merlo Field and against ranked opposition this season. The Pilots are 5-2-0 on their home pitch and 3-1-0 against ranked teams. A 2-1 win over No. 10 Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at Merlo Field was the latest Pilot win against ranked opposition. In addition to the UW victory, the Pilots defeated then-24th ranked UAB on the opening weekend as host of the Nike Portland Invitational and No. 30 Akron on Sept. 24 in Seattle.
CAUTION CRAZY: After being issued three yellow cards on Sunday at Gonzaga, Portland is tied for first in the WCC with 25 yellow cards along with Santa Clara and San Francisco. The Pilots lead the conference in ejections with four red cards. Ironically, the Pilots are dead last in fouls with 187.
WCC STATISTICAL LEADERS: Junior forward Alejandro Salazar is tied for fifth in points (11), tied for third in goals (4) and tied for 10th in assists (3). Miguel Guante is tied for sixth with four assists and tied for eighth with 10 points. Matthew Dallman is tied for third in goals (4) and tied for 10th in points (9). Chris Sanders is second in shots on goal (20) and third in shots (39). Heath Pearce joins Guante in sixth place with four assists and is also fourth with 36 shot attempts. Sophomore keeper Luis Robles is second in saves (60) and tied for first in shutouts (6). Portland leads the league in average home attendance at 1,500 fans per game.
SALAZAR, SANDERS CONTINUE TO STRIKE: Alejandro Salazar and Christopher Sanders have both reached milestone numbers for career goals scored. Salazar tallied his 20th career goal when he knocked home the game-winner in overtime against the College of Charleston on Sept. 12. Sanders, a sophomore from Federal Way, Wash., netted his 10th career goal in a Sept. 10 match against South Carolina. Salazar and Sanders are the two top active scorers on the Pilot roster with 50 and 25 points, respectively.
MOVE TO THE MIDFIELD: Miguel Guante, along with fellow junior Heath Pearce, have been shifted from their usual outside back defender positions into the midfield this season. Both have been career starters for the Pilot defense, but encouraged and embraced the role change with Portland’s need for more experienced midfielders. The duo lead Portland with four assists each, while Guante has chipped in three goals. Pearce also was named the South Carolina Classic’s Defensive MVP and tallied his first goal of the season against Gonzaga last Friday.
ROBLES CLIMBING KEEPER CHARTS: Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Luis Robles has recorded six clean sheets this season to crack Portland’s top 10 list for career shutouts. Robles’ 11 shutouts place him ninth all-time, while his 1.08 goals-against average is seventh-best on the career charts. Pilot great Kasey Keller (1988-91) tops both lists with 43 shutouts and a 0.64 GAA.
MERLO GETS LIT: The Clive Charles Soccer Complex at the University of Portland officially celebrated the first major renovation with the construction of six lighting structures, permitting night games to be played at Harry A. Merlo Field for the 2004 season and beyond. Merlo Field, considered one of the finest collegiate soccer facilities in the nation, will host a combined 10 night events between the men’s and women’s soccer teams this fall. Portland’s win over Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 15 was the first of five men’s night contents at Merlo Field in 2004.
SALAZAR SOAKING UP HONORS: Junior Alejandro Salazar has been named to the 25-player M.A.C. Hermann Trophy preseason watch list, in addition to garnering College Soccer News Preseason first team All-America honors. A list of 15 semifinalists will be announced in November, with three finalists selected in early December. The winner will be announced at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 7, 2005. Salazar, a Portland native, was the 2003 WCC Player of the Year after claiming conference freshman of the year honors in 2002.
STIFF COMPETITION: There are six opponents on Portland’s schedule that participated in the 2003 NCAA Playoffs. WCC foes Santa Clara, San Diego and Loyola Marymount earned spots in the tournament, with Santa Clara advancing to the College Cup. Among Portland’s non-conference opponents, Washington, Akron and California made the tournament field. The Pilots have already beaten three ranked opponents: UAB, Washington and Akron, with two more ranked team on the schedule (No. 8 California and No. 12 Santa Clara).
NEW WCC SCHEDULING FORMAT: The West Coast Conference has adopted a double round robin format during conference play, which will allow each school to play the other twice. In past seasons, schools have played each other once during conference play with the home site alternating each season. The conference portion of the season will now move from six games to 12. This format will provide a better gauge for each team’s strengths, while giving each squad a home match against every other WCC opponent.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE: With a 4-3-0 record on the Merlo Field pitch in 2003, Portland made it 26-of-27 years with a winning home record. The only time the Pilots finished under .500 at home was in 1998, when they finished 3-4-1, yet still finished with a quality 10-5-3 overall mark. The 2004 squad has continued the winning ways with a 5-2-0 mark at home this season, improving the team’s all-time Merlo Field record to 95-26-7. The Pilots will play their final two home matches of the season this weekend.
PILOTS KNOW HOW TO HOST: Portland opened the 2004 season by claiming its ninth Nike Invitational title in the tournament’s 15th year at Merlo Field. The Pilots defeated Sacramento State (4-0) and UAB (1-0), while also sweeping the individual tournament honors as junior midfielder Miguel Guante and freshman defender Michael Gavin claimed the Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive awards.
SIMPSON SIGNS WITH MILLWALL: Midfielder Josh Simpson signed a two-year professional contract with the Millwall Football Club of the English League Championship (former English First Division) on Aug. 5, foregoing his senior season with the Pilots. The Victoria, B.C. native impressed Millwall while training with the Canadian World Cup Team. He scored a goal against Hearts of Scotland, then performed well enough against Millwall to warrant the contract offer. When not being called upon for World Cup qualifying matches with Canada, Simpson has been a regular member of the Millwall rotation.
SOCCER COACHING STAFF: Director of soccer Bill Irwin begins his second season at the helm of the Pilot soccer program. Irwin was named the director of soccer for both the men’s and women’s programs last season following the passing of legendary Pilot head coach Clive Charles, whom Irwin served 17 seasons under as an assistant. Last year, Irwin guided the men’s team to an at-large NCAA berth and finished with a 10-9-1 overall record. Associate director of soccer Garrett Smith has been with Portland in a coaching capacity since the 1992 season. Smith handles the daily operations of the women’s team, while assisting Irwin with the men’s program. Assistant coaches Rob Baarts, Dan Schell and Lauren Orlandos enter their first season on the Portland combined staff, while Wynne McIntosh begins her third year with the Pilots.
COMING UP NEXT: The Pilots begin their four-game road trip to close out the regular season in the Bay Area as they take on California on Friday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. Portland then meets Santa Clara on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.
PILOTS ON THE INTERNET: The University of Portland men’s soccer team will have live stats via the internet for all home games throughout the 2004 season. Check out the Pilots at: http://www.portlandpilots.com/livestats/msoccer/xlive.htm.
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are available for all 2004 Portland men’s soccer games and can be obtained through either the Pilot Ticket Office (503-943-7525), or TicketsWest (503-224-TIXX). General admission tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved stadium chair seating is $10, while reserved bench back seating is $8 for adults and $6 for students. Other ticket options are also available, including youth team and group packages.
