Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Saint Mary’s Gaels registered a second-half goal en route to a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference men’s soccer game on Friday night at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. SMC’s Trevor Newquist scored the game-winner in the 75th minute.
Newquist’s score came on a header off of a free kick from Dylan Leslie. Leslie sent in a perfect ball from near midfield towards the right post. Newquist was then able to knock one into the side netting to hand the Gaels a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 until the Pilots nearly equalized during a frantic final two minutes of the game. With just 1:24 left to play, a loose ball ended up at the feet of sophomore Michael Nielsen, who cracked a shot towards the SMC goal. The ball was knocked down and remained free in the middle of the 18-yard box.
Senior Collen Warner then unleashed a well-driven shot that again was blocked by a Gaels’ defender and finally cleared out of bounds, ending the threat.
The loss drops Portland’s record to 8-4-3 overall and to 3-3-2 in the WCC. Saint Mary’s improves to 10-2-3 and to 6-1-1 in the conference.
The Pilots controlled the pace of play after the break, outshooting the Gaels 8-2 in the second half and 11-7 for the game. UP also held a slight 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Portland junior goalkeeper Austin Guerrero totaled two stops on the night, with both coming in the first half in similar fashion. Both were well-driven shots from distance that forced Guerrero to make identical leaping one-handed saves.
SMC keeper Doug Herrick made one stop.
The Pilots next welcome the Santa Clara Broncos to town for a 2:00 p.m. match on Sunday at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. The Broncos defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 1-0 in overtime on Friday afternoon.