Box Score I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Freshman Danielle Foxhoven recorded her fourth multi-goal performance in the last five games as the No. 5 Portland Pilots defeated the No. 16 Florida Gators 2-0 before a crowd of 3,464 at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex on Friday. The Pilots extended their shutout streak to six matches with the win and have outscored opponents 27-0 over that span.
Foxhoven now has a team-leading 10 goals on the season, while junior goalkeeper Kelsey Davis recorded three saves in earning her sixth consecutive shutout.
The Pilots (7-1-0) improve to 2-1 against ranked opponents with the victory, while the Gators (4-2-1) dropped their first match against a ranked opponent with the defeat. Florida was coming off of weekend victories over No. 4 Florida State and No. 18 Illinois.
Portland went up 1-0 early with a 10th minute strike by Foxhoven on a perfect set-up by junior Michelle Enyeart. Enyeart took a pass from freshman Charney Burk on the right side and toe-poked the ball around a UF defender towards the right corner. She ran into the open space and turned into the penalty area before laying off a nice pass to Foxhoven who slotted her attempt inside the near post and by Gator goalkeeper Katie Fraine.
It marked the second game in a row that Enyeart and Foxhoven hooked up for the game-winner.
Portland continued the offensive assault throughout the half, racking up a 12-2 edge in shots, but could not add an insurance goal before the break.
It was more of the same in the second half as the Pilots controlled a majority of possession and most of the scoring opportunities. The exception was a stint early in the second period where a few Pilot miscues on defense created some opportunities for the Gators. A poor back-pass forced Davis to boot a ball off the back of Lindsay Thompson and the ricocheted ball nearly snuck in the left post. A few minutes later a poor clearance sprung Thanai Annis for a 1-v-1 with Davis, but the Thousand Oaks, Calif. native came up with a big save. Annis again had a sitter at the top of the box shortly thereafter after another miskick by the Pilot defense, but her shot sailed high.
After settling down, Portland again continued to control the run of play, leading up to the insurance goal in the 85th minute on a stellar assist by senior All-American Megan Rapinoe. After gathering a header by Sophie Schmidt at the top of the box, Rapinoe created space to her left and appeared ready to blast a 20-yard shot. Instead of unleashing a shot, Rapinoe surprised everyone by cutting a short pass across her body to an unmarked Foxhoven who again finished past Fraine. It was Rapinoe’s third assist of the season.
Rapinoe nearly started the scoring with a 35-yard blast in the eighth minute that clanged off the cross bar. She almost found the net again in the 16th minute when her left-footed blast was knocked down by Fraine. Teammate Sophie Schmidt sent the rebound just wide of the goal.
Portland gained a 21-6 edge in shots for the match, including an 8-3 margin in shots on goal. UP also had a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks. Fraine made six saves between the pipes for UF.
The Pilots will next travel east for a pair of road contests. Portland will first face Rutgers on Friday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific) and then take on perennial power Penn State on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 8 a.m. (Pacific).
