Box Score I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland sophomore Frankie Lopez scored twice and sophomore goalkeeper Austin Guerrero made seven saves as the Pilots shutout the Saint Mary’s Gaels 3-0 in a West Coast Conference men’s soccer game on a Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. Junior Collen Warner also scored for the Pilots.
The win improves Portland’s record to 5-7-2 overall and 2-4-0 in the WCC. Saint Mary’s drops to 3-7-3 and 2-2-2.
Warner began the scoring with a long-range strike in the 14th minute. Senior Steven Hosseinmardi began the play by corralling a loose ball in the SMC 18-yard box. Hosseinmardi sent a short pass to senior Bryan Irwin, who one-touched a pass to Warner at the top of the box. Warner then buried a low line drive into the right side of the net from 20 yards out. Both Hosseinmardi and Irwin picked up an assist on the goal, which is Warner’s third of the fall.
Lopez gave Portland a 2-0 lead six minutes later when made a run up the left side of the field, making it all the way to the end line. The sophomore then somehow finished inside the right post from an impossible angle, left of the goal.
With the score still 2-0 in the second half, Warner and Lopez hooked up to give Portland a three-goal advantage. From just outside the box, Warner flicked a pass over a SMC defender right to a sprinting Lopez. Lopez then finished on volley inside the right post for his conference-leading ninth goal of the season.
Moments later, Guerrero made one of several impressive saves to preserve the UP shutout. Jason Coelho made his way around the Portland defense and into the 18-yard box. Coelho then cracked a shot from point-blank range that was knocked down and safely away by Guerrero.
It’s the second shutout this season for Guerrero. In SMC’s net, keeper Jason Badger finished with five stops.
The Gaels finished with a 15-11 edged in shots and a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Pilots next head back on the road for a WCC match at Gonzaga next weekend. The Pilots and Bulldogs are set to play at 2:00 p.m. on Friday in Spokane, Wash.
