Patrick Jurney |
Sophomore Patrick Jurney’s first-half goal is the difference as Portland picks up its second straight win over a ranked opponent
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Sophomore Patrick Jurney and senior Christopher Sanders each scored in the first half as the Portland Pilots defeated the 23rd-ranked Washington Huskies 2-1 in a non-conference men’s soccer game at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon. Derek Crismier scored in the second half for the Huskies.
It’s the first career goal and game-winning goal for Jurney, a defender, and the seventh score this season for Sanders, a forward.
The win is the second straight over a ranked opponent for the Pilots, who improve to 8-7-2 overall this season. Portland defeated the 16th-ranked San Francisco Dons 2-1 on Friday.
Washington falls to 11-6-1.
Portland netted its first score in the 27th minute. Junior midfielder Matthew Dallman found Sanders with a long pass to the middle of the 18-yard box. Sanders fed sophomore forward Steven Hosseinmardi with a short pass to his left. Hosseinmardi passed it right back to Sanders, who punched it into the right corner of the net. Hosseinmardi was credited with the assist, his second this season.
The Pilots took a 2-0 lead about five minutes later on the score by Jurney. Dallman served up a perfect ball on a corner kick from the left corner. The pass found Jurney, who went inside the far post with a header. Dallman picked up the assist, giving him a team-high six this fall.
UP nearly took a two-goal lead on the play that resulted in Dallman’s corner kick. Sanders had beaten UW goalkeeper Rylan Hawkins to a pass in the center of the box. Sanders took a touch to his right and ripped a shot towards the open net from 10 yards out. Washington defender Matt Fischer made a spectacular save, deflecting the ball out of bounds with his foot.
The Huskies stepped up the pressure in the second half and finally found the back of the net in the 72nd minute. Crismier headed in a shot off of a corner kick from Raphael Cox.
The UP defense, along with senior goalkeeper Luis Robles, held on the rest of the way to preserve the win.
Robles, the lone senior on Portland’s roster, was making his final regular season appearance at Merlo Field. He went the distance in goal and made fives saves. Robles, a four-year starter on The Bluff, now has 334 career saves, five shy of a Portland career record. Joe Garaventa (1977, 1979-81) is UP’s all-time saves leader with 338.
Hawkins made four stops on the day for the Huskies.
Washington outshot the Pilots 14-11 and held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Pilots conclude the regular season with a pair of conference games on the road next weekend. Portland, who is 4-6-0 in the West Coast Conference, travels to Santa Clara to face the Broncos at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The Pilots then play the Saint Mary’s Gaels on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Moraga, Calif.
