PORTLAND, Ore. - Senior striker Christine Sinclair continued her torrid scoring pace with two goals and an assist as the No. 2 Portland Pilots defeated the No. 21 Arizona Wildcats, 3-0, Friday evening in front of 3,657 fans at Merlo Field and the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. The Pilots surrendered a season-high nine shots and were forced to make four saves, but eased to victory behind three first-half goals.

Portland improves to 9-0 on the season, one win away from tying the school’s best mark of 10 straight wins to open the 1992 season. Arizona falls to 4-2-2, with both losses coming against West Coast Conference opponents - Portland and Pepperdine.

Sinclair’s assault on the UP career record books continued as she has scored at least one goal in every game this year and is leading the nation with 18 goals. She moved into sole possession of second place with 89 career goals after entering the game tied with Shannon MacMillan (1992-95). Sinclair is now 14 goals shy of tying Tiffeny Milbrett (1990-92, 94) for No. 1 in UP history. The Burnaby, B.C. native also joined MacMillan and Milbrett as the only players with over 200 career points. Sinclair now has 204 total points and her 26 career assists are tied for ninth all-time.

The Pilots started the scoring Friday in the 19th minute as Sinclair played a give-and-go with sophomore midfielder Angie Woznuk. She took the return pass and sent a 25-yard shot from the left to the upper right of the goal mouth. In the 27th minute, Woznuk played a ball to senior midfielder Lindsey Huie in the attacking zone. Huie led Sinclair perfectly and the defending M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner slotted a shot past Arizona keeper McCall Smith for a 2-0 lead.

Sinclair assisted on freshman Megan Rapinoe’s sixth goal of the year in the 32nd minute. Rapinoe took the pass and drilled a 20-yard bullet top shelf.

Portland out-shot Arizona 20-9 and held an 11-4 edge in shots on goal. McCall stopped eight shots for the Wildcats, while Cori Alexander and Ruth Gilliam combined to give the Pilots their sixth shutout of the season.

"Arizona played well tonight," said Woznuk, who now has four assists on the season. "They came out early and had their chances, but once we put the first goal away the momentum shifted into our favor. You could see that they kind of lost their focus after that goal and we took advantage."

Portland will get a week-long break before heading to Seattle, Wash. for a 7 p.m. match against the Washington Huskies on Friday, Sept. 30.

 Arizona (4-2-2) vs. Portland (9-0-0)
 Date: Sep 23, 2005  Attendance: 3657
 Weather: Clear, cool

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 Arizona.............  0  0 -  0
 Portland............  3  0 -  3
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  18:42 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (17) (WOZNUK, Angie) - 25yds from left to top right
  2.  26:06 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (18) (HUIE, Lindsey;WOZNUK, Angie) - thru ball slotted past oncoming GK
  3.  31:55 POR RAPINOE, Megan (6) (SINCLAIR, Christine) - bullet from 20 out

 Shots: Arizona 9, Portland 20
 Saves: Arizona 8 (McCall Smith 8), Portland 4 (ALEXANDER, Cori 3; GILLIAM, Ruth 1)