Box Score I M. Rapinoe Audio I R. Rapinoe Audio I Video I Photos

Portland’s senior class of Korie Nicholson, Megan Rapinoe and Rachael Rapinoe was recognized prior to kickoff as part of Senior Day in the team’s final regular season home match. The PA system going out before introductions was the only sour note on the afternoon, as the Pilots (16-1-0, 6-0-0 West Coast Conference) played loud enough for all to hear.

The victory sets up a winner-take-all match on Saturday as Portland travels to No. 16 San Diego with the WCC Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs on the line. The Toreros also sport a 6-0-0 conference record. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at Torero Stadium.

Perhaps the biggest highlight on Sunday came when the game was out of reach and senior captain Rachael Rapinoe checked in at the scorer’s table in the final two minutes. Despite suffering her second torn ACL in as many years’ three games into the season and not expecting to get on the pitch again this year, head coach Garrett Smith and Rapinoe decided that if the game was out of reach, she would enter in the closing seconds. She entered with exactly one minute left on the clock to a standing ovation from the Pilot faithful.

Her twin sister, Megan Rapinoe, put on a show in the midfield and tallied her fourth goal of the year on a beautiful cross from sophomore Jessica Tsao in the 18th minute. Megan Rapinoe also missed a majority of the last two seasons due to knee injuries and was nearly brought to tears when her sister joined her on the field.

Another storyline was Tsao, the Portland native who was celebrating her 20th birthday on Sunday. She assisted on three of the team’s four goals, matching her career total entering the game.

Sophomore striker and Canadian National Team player Sophie Schmidt, the reining WCC Player of the Week, continued her torrid scoring streak with two of the team’s four goals including her third consecutive game-winner. She now has 10 goals on the season and nine in her last eight games.

When it was all said and done, Portland recorded its 13th shutout of the season, holding the Broncos (4-12-3, 1-4-1) to just four shot attempts. Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Davis made one save to notch her 13th shutout of the year, moving her into a tie for third place on the UP single-season charts.

Had it not been for seven saves by backup goalkeeper Bianca Henninger in the second period, including a save on a penalty kick by Megan Rapinoe, the score would have been even more lopsided.

Portland’s three Under-20 National Team players – Michelle Enyeart, Keelin Winters and Elli Reed – each came on late in the second half to rest the Pilot starters. Enyeart tallied her sixth goal of the season in the 75th minute with a burst through the Broncos defense and stellar finish around Henninger. Portland will be without the U-20 trio come playoff time as they will be competing at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile.

Schmidt tallied the first goal in the 13th minute as freshman Michelle Olivier found Tsao in the box unmarked. Her short cross left an easy finish for Schmidt.

Rapinoe made it 2-0 in the 18th minute as Tsao sent a deep cross from the right side. Rapinoe darted in front of the goal mouth and the one-timed the ball out of the air and under the cross bar.

After Enyeart’s strike, Schmidt capped the scoring on another brilliant setup by Tsao. This time, the sophomore chased down a ball heading towards the endline on the right side, slid hard and punched a cross to Schmidt. Unmarked at the near post, she re-directed a header inside the far post.

Following next Saturday’s regular season finale, Portland and the rest of the college soccer world will eagerly await the NCAA playoff seedings. The tournament bracket will be announced on Monday, Nov. 10 live on ESPNews at 5 p.m. (PST).