SEATTLE - Defending M.A.C Hermann Trophy winner Christine Sinclair is making quite the case for another player of the year award. The senior striker scored both goals of Portland's 2-0 win against Pacific Sunday afternoon, increasing her season goal total to nine through the Pilots first four games. Portland (4-0-0) clinched the Husky/Nike Invitational title with the win, while recording its fourth shutout of the year. The Pilots swept the tournament honors as Sinclair and junior defender Kari Evans were named the Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players.

Pacific (2-1-1) managed five shot attempts in defeat, the highest total of the season for a Portland opponent.

The Pilots peppered the Tigers' goal in the first half with 15 shot attempts, forcing Pacific keeper Jaime Souza to make three saves. The final shot attempt of the period finally found the net as Sinclair took a pass from sophomore forward Natalie Budge and deposited it into the upper left corner in the 39th minute.

Sinclair added her ninth goal on a penalty kick in the 71st minute after getting taken down in the box.

"It was a good game today and we came away with exactly what we wanted," said Pilots coach Garrett Smith. "Pacific was organized defensively and their goalie (Souza) played very well. They didn't have very many lapses, but we took advantage the few times there were openings."

Souza made seven saves in the match for the Tigers, while UP junior keeper Cori Alexander stopped one shot in recording her third shutout of 2005. Portland out-shot Pacific 23-5 and put seven shots on goal to Pacific's one. Sinclair led the Pilots with seven shot attempts and four on goal. 

The Pilots return to Merlo Field next weekend as host of the Nike Portland Invitational. UP will face Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9 and West Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

NOTES: The Pilots have now exceeded 20 shots in all four matches this year, racking up a 87-14 edge in shot attempts over the opposition ... Sinclair has scored in each of the first four contests and has 80 career goals ... Alexander has 24 career shutouts and will move into fourth place on the career charts with one more ... Pilot goalkeepers have been forced to make just six saves on the year.