Sophomore forward Alex Elliott scores Portland’s first two goals as the Pilots blank Marshall 6-0
SEATTLE, Wash. --- Sophomore forward Alex Elliott scored twice and senior goalkeeper Luis Robles recorded his first career assist as the Portland Pilots shutout the Marshall Thundering Herd 6-0 in the opening game of the Husky Fever Classic at the Husky Soccer Complex on Friday. Robles also made two saves.
The Pilots improve to 2-0-2 for the season, while Marshall drops to 3-3-1. The six scores are the most for a Portland men’s team since a 6-1 drubbing of Saint Mary’s in 2003. It’s the largest shutout for the Pilots since they blanked DePaul by the same margin in 2002.
Elliott tallied Portland’s first goal in the eighth minute when he stole it from Marshall keeper Greg Walker, beat him to the left and put it into the back of the net. A pass from a Marshall defender had deflected too far off of Walker and Elliott was there to take advantage.
It was Elliott again about eight minutes later. This time he was on the receiving end of a pass from sophomore midfielder Brayton Knapp. It’s the third goal of the season for Elliott and the first assist for Knapp, who would score Portland’s next goal. Knapp’s shot from ten yards out found the net, giving Portland a 3-nil lead. Freshman midfielder Collen Warner assisted on the play for his first career point as a Pilot.
The Pilots made it 4-0 before the half as junior midfielder Matthew Dallman scored on a penalty kick, his first goal this season.
Junior forward Christopher Sanders scored Portland’s fifth goal only 15 seconds into the second half. Portland ran a set play off the kick off and sent a long ball towards the right corner. Dallman gained possession, beat a defender and sent a cross into the box. Sanders was there to head it in. It’s the second score this fall for Sanders and the first assist for Dallman.
Up 5-0 in the 73rd minute, Robles punted the ball 75 yards up field. Sophomore forward Steven Hosseinmardi was there as the ball cleared the head of Marshall’s center back and took two bounces. As Walker came out of the goal, Hosseinmardi touched the ball beautifully over the keeper’s head and into the net.
For the game, the Pilots outshot the Thundering Herd 16-10. Both teams had four corner kicks.
Portland plays its second and final game of the Husky Fever Classic on Sunday against Northern Illinois. The Pilots and Huskies are slated to kick off at 11:00 a.m.
