PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots will host the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team in an exhibition soccer match on Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at Merlo Field.
Tickets will go on sale March 18 at 11 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or over the phone at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available in person at the Pilot Box Office Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ticket prices range from $7-12 for adults and $5-12 for youths. Group packages of 10 or more are available at $5 per ticket (General Admission only). Admission is free for all UP students.
The U.S. U-23 WNT head coach Bill Irwin, a familiar face for Pilot soccer fans as Portland’s Director of Soccer and men’s head coach, brings the squad to Merlo Field in preparation for a Europe tour later this year. The U-23s schedule looks a little different this year with the cancellation of the Nordic Cup, the top competition in the world for this age group. Irwin led the U.S. to its second consecutive Nordic Cup title in 2008 and its 10th in the last 12 years.
Irwin’s roster recently included current Portland Pilots sophomore Jessica Tsao and junior Kelsey Davis who suited up for victories against Norway, 1-0, and England, 3-0, in La Manga, Spain in early February. Other Pilots in the U-23 player pool are Kendra Chandhoke, Michelle Enyeart, Danielle Foxhoven, Elli Reed and Keelin Winters.
The U-23s is the main source of future full National Team players as the majority of the current WNT player pool has been funneled through the U-20/U-23 program.
This is the first year that the U.S. U-23 roster features a majority of professional players with 11 of the 18 having been drafted by clubs in the new WPS.
The Pilots advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the fifth straight season last year and finished with a 20-2-0 record, despite missing three starters in the playoffs due to national team duty.
