PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland scored three first half goals and out-shot crosstown rival Portland State 20-2 in a 3-0 win Wednesday night at Merlo Field. Senior forward Christine Sinclair recorded her sixth multi-goal game of the season for the Pilots (12-0-0) with two strikes and raised her NCAA-leading goals scored total to 22. The Vikings fall to 3-7-1 with the loss.

“This was a perfect night in terms of execution,” said Associate Director of Soccer Garrett Smith, who has now led the Pilots to 50 victories in just his third year at the helm of the program. “We scored goals early and stayed patient even when Portland State kept lots of numbers in front of us. Getting three goals on ten first-half shots is very efficient and I was pleased with the way we controlled possession in the second half.”

Portland’s first goal of the game was a sequence that involved three players that redshirted last season while competing at the Under-19 FIFA World Championships for the United States. Freshman Megan Rapinoe nodded home the eventual game-winner in the 21st minute on a cross from sophomore defender Stephanie Lopez. The play started as sophomore midfielder Angie Woznuk played a ball wide to Lopez down the left sideline. Lopez sent the cross to the far post as an unmarked Rapinoe headed home the 10-yard finish. It was Rapinoe’s eighth goal of the season and fourth game-winner.

Sinclair made it 12 straight games this season with a goal as she struck in the 28th minute. Senior midfielder Lindsey Huie took a free kick from left of the penalty box and found Sinclair at the far post. Her pass sailed across the goal mouth to Sinclair who tapped in the five-yard finish from an acute angle inside the right post.

Sinclair recorded her 93rd career goal in the 34th minute as sophomore Natalie Budge made a stellar individual play to set up the goal. Budge used a stop-and-go on the right side and left a defender in the dust to get to the endline. After toeing the line for about 10 yards, she centered the ball to Sinclair who one-timed the ball top shelf. Sinclair now trails Tiffeny Milbrett’s Portland career goals scored record of 103 by just 10.

Sinclair nearly recorded her third hat trick of the year with a side-volley attempt in the 73rd minute on a cross from senior defender Kelsy Hollenbeck. Her bullet shot from 10 yards hit the left post and deflected all the way out of bounds down the left sideline.

Pilot goalie Cori Alexander made one save in recording her sixth clean sheet of the 2005 season. Niki Brooks stopped two shots between the pipes for the Vikings. Portland has now out-scored opponents by a 40-4 margin and holds a 278-51 edge in shot attempts.

Portland will return to Merlo Field and kick off its West Coast Conference schedule by hosting the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.

 Portland State (3-7-1) vs. Portland (12-0-0)

 Date: Oct 05, 2005  Attendance: 878

 Weather: Mostly Cloudy

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot

 -------------------------------

 Portland State......  0  0 -  0

 Portland............  3  0 -  3

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  20:21 POR RAPINOE, Megan (8) (LOPEZ, Stephanie) - 13 yds, cross from left

  2.  27:35 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (21) (HUIE, Lindsey) - 13 yds off free kick

  3.  33:38 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (22) (BUDGE, Natalie) - 10 yards, top shelf

 Shots: Portland State 2, Portland 20

 Saves: Portland State 2 (Niki Brooks 2), Portland 1 (ALEXANDER, Cori 1)