SEATTLE - Christine Sinclair had a goal and an assist as Portland defeated San Diego State 3-0 in the opening match of the Husky/Nike Invitational Friday night at Husky Soccer Field. The Pilots (3-0-0) recorded their third consecutive shutout to start the 2005 season, racking up a 24-4 edge in shots over the Aztecs (2-1-0).

Junior defender Kari Evans headed home the game-winner in the 33rd minute off of a corner kick taken by senior midfielder Lindsey Huie. Portland tallied 13 first-half shots to the Aztecs’ two, but managed just the one goal heading into the half.

Sinclair recorded her seventh goal of the young season in the 66th minute, creating space inside the box before unleashing a 10-yard liner past SDSU keeper Christi Yount. Sinclair was on the front end of the Pilots final goal, setting up sophomore Michele Scifo’s 17-yard strike with an assist.

UP junior goalkeeper Cori Alexander was forced to make just one save in earning her second shutout of the season. Yount stopped seven shots to limit the damage for the Aztecs.

"After an uneventful first half, we really started to open it up after the break," noted Pilots coach Garrett Smith. "Michele (Scifo) provided a big spark off the bench in the second half put the nail in the coffin with the late goal. It was a great defensive performance again tonight and I thought Kari Evans was the most solid player on the field. She did a great job of leading our back line to another shutout."

The Pilots have now out-shot opponents by a 64-9 margin through the first three games of 2005. The four shots by SDSU was the highest total for a UP opponent this season.

In the late game of the Husky/Nike Invitational, Pacific and Washington played to a 1-1 draw. The Pilots and Pacific will meet on Sunday at 11 a.m., while the host Huskies and SDSU cap the tournament at 1:30 p.m.

 San Diego State (2-1-0) vs. Portland (3-0-0)
 Date: Sep 02, 2005  Attendance: 342
 Weather: 70s, sunny

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 San Diego State.....  0  0 -  0
 Portland............  1  2 -  3
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  32:38 POR EVANS, Kari (1) (HUIE, Lindsey) - 12yd header off ck from left side
  2.  65:44 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (7) (unassisted) - 10yd liner after dribbling thru the box
  3.  86:35 POR SCIFO, Michele (1) (SINCLAIR, Christine) - 17yds lofted into upper right

 Shots: San Diego State 4, Portland 24
 Saves: San Diego State 7 (Christi Yount 7), Portland 1 (ALEXANDER,
 Cori 1)