Box Score I Postgame Audio I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland head coach Garrett Smith couldn’t have asked for much more Friday night as his Pilots ran away with a 4-0 win over 16th-ranked California in the 2009 home opener at Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. An announced crowd of 5,068, the third largest in school history, witnessed a dominating effort from the No. 3 ranked Pilots.
Portland scored in the third minute and put on a show throughout that rivaled the post-game fireworks display. In the process, senior Michelle Enyeart became the sixth player in school history to join the 30 goal/30 assist club. Needing two assists to join the exclusive group, Enyeart wasted little time by assisting on Portland’s first two goals. It marked the second straight game that the Hemet, Calif. native reached a historical milestone. She recorded her 100th career point in last week’s season opening victory at Oregon.
Sophomore forward Danielle Foxhoven was on the finishing end of both of Enyeart’s assists. The first came 2:20 into play as she took a pass with her back to the goal, spun, and then unleashed a rocket past Cal goalkeeper Gina Pelligrini. In the 20th minute, Enyeart had what looked like a sure goal knocked down by Pelligrini, but Foxhoven cleaned up the mess with an easy finish for a 2-0 lead.
Portland’s third goal came in the 28th minute off of a corner kick. Freshman Cloee Colohan headed the service across frame to an unmarked Sophie Schmidt. Her header ricocheted off the crossbar to sophomore defender Michelle Olivier who headed it home for her second career goal.
The Pilots’ final strike came from Schmidt in the 60th minute after she sprung Jessica Tsao into the penalty box with a nifty through ball. Tsao forced Pellegrini off her line to make the save, but Schmidt teed up the rebound and rifled her shot from 20 yards past a retreating defender and into the goal.
Schmidt has recorded a goal and an assist in each of the first two games of the 2009 season.
Portland gained a 14-5 edge in shots and 4-1 margin in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Kelsey Davis made one save in the first half, while redshirt sophomore Hailee DeYoung made two impressive saves during the second period to preserve the shutout.
All available players for the Pilots saw action, including freshman Elinor Priest who played her first collegiate minutes.
Portland will return to the pitch on Sunday by facing a third consecutive Pac-10 opponent. The Pilots will play at Washington with a 12 p.m. scheduled kickoff.
