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PORTLAND PILOTS (5-6-1, 0-1-0 WCC) vs. SAN DIEGO TOREROS (6-7-0, 1-1-0 WCC)
Date: Friday, Oct.14, 2011
Kick-off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Portland, Ore.
Field: Merlo Field (4,982)
Radio: 800 AM
Live Video/Audio/Stats: PortlandPilots.com (free)
 
POR vs. USD
Overall Series: 14-2-2
Here: 6-1-1
There: 7-1-1
Neutral: 1-0-0
Last: POR 1, @USD 0 (Oct. 22, 2010)
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (5-6-1, 0-1-0 WCC) vs. SAINT MARY’S GAELS (9-3-2, 0-1-1 WCC)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011
Kick-off: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Portland, Ore.
Field: Merlo Field (4,982)
Live Video/Audio/Stats: PortlandPilots.com (free)
 
POR vs. SMC
Overall Series: 21-5-1
Here: 9-2-0
There: 10-3-1
Neutral: 1-0-0
Last: POR 1, @SMC 1 (2ot) - Nov. 6, 2010
 
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots return home this weekend for a pair of West Coast Conference games against the San Diego Toreros and the Saint Mary’s Gaels at Merlo Field.
• On Friday night, the Pilots will host the Toreros for a 7 p.m. tilt, while Sunday’s game against the Gaels is set for 1 p.m.
• Friday night’s game against USD will be broadcast live on True Talk 800 AM, while PortlandPilots.com will offer free video and audio for both matches.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Portland opened the WCC slate with a 2-1 set-back in overtime to BYU last Thursday on a cold and rainy night in Provo, Utah; the game was broadcast live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel.
• After a scoreless first half, both teams found the back of the net after the break, with UP’s Micaela Capelle notching the equalizer in the 51st minute.
• The Cougars scored the game-winner four minutes into the first overtime.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS
• Last Thursday’s loss to BYU snapped a 28-match conference unbeaten streak for the Pilots.
• Earlier this season, Portland lost three straight games for the first time since 1999.
• The Pilots went 19-1-2 last season and won their fourth straight WCC title with a 6-0-1 league record.
• Portland was chosen to repeat as league champions, receiving six first place votes and 61 points overall in a vote of the WCC head coaches.
• Reigning WCC Coach of the Year and UP head coach Garrett Smith has been named the league’s top coach five times.
 
QUITE A RUN
• The four-time reigning WCC champion Pilots have won six of the last seven league titles.
• Prior to last Thursday’s set-back at BYU, the Pilots hadn’t lost to a conference foe since 2006 when Santa Clara topped Portland 3-2 in Santa Clara, Calif.; the Pilots are 29-1-2 in the WCC since that loss to SCU.
• Portland’s two ties during that time came last season at Saint Mary’s (1-1) and in 2006 at LMU (1-1).
 
NATIONAL EXPOSURE
• The Pilots are set to appear on national television three times this year.
• Fox Soccer Channel aired Portland’s game at home against Stanford on Sept. 15 and the WCC opener at BYU last Thursday.
• ESPNU will broadcast UP’s match with long-time conference rival Santa Clara at Merlo Field on Oct. 21.
 
HARPER’S PLAYGROUND
• The Pilots are holding a season-long silent auction allowing fans a chance to bid on special warm-up jerseys; all proceeds will go to Harper’s Playground, which is a fund-raising effort to bring an inclusive playground to Arbor Lodge Park in North Portland.
• Each jersey features a player’s number, and the team will wear them before every home game.
• Fans can make bids on the jerseys at the fan information booth near the main entrance to Merlo Field during home games, and the winners will be announced following the Gonzaga game, on Saturday, Nov. 5.
• Bids can also be made by emailing UP Director of Soccer Operations Whitney Stipetich at stipetic@up.edu.
• Harper is a local six-year-old girl who was born with Emanuel Syndrome; Harper’s Playground hopes to build community by providing the inclusive playground where children and adults of all abilities can play together.
 
THE HEADLINER
• Senior Danielle Foxhoven, who ranks fourth all-time at UP with 54 career goals, has scored a team-high five goals this season.
• In career goals, Foxhoven sits behind only Christine Sinclair (110), Tiffeny Milbrett (103) and Shannon MacMillan (87).
• Foxhoven also ranks third in career shots on goal per game (1.68) and total shots on goal (129), is fifth in goals per game (0.69) and in total points (131), is seventh in total shots (225) and is eighth in points per game (1.68) and game-winners (14).
• Foxhoven received several preseason honors; she’s been named to the MAC Herman Trophy watch list, she’s a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, is a Soccer American Preseason All-American and landed on the All-WCC Preseason Team.
 
STEP UP TO THE MIC
• Sophomore forward Micaela Capelle had quite the debut as a freshman, tying for the team high in both goals (8) and assists (5) last fall.
• Capelle was named to the 2010 All-WCC Freshman Team, earned All-WCC Honorable Mention and landed on the Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie First Team.
• Capelle has a team-high four assists this season and she scored her first goal of the fall last Thursday at BYU.
 
THE SISTERS McCLUSKIE
• Portland’s defensive backfield features two McCluskies, as Lorielle has joined her sister Kassi on the UP roster this season.
• Lorielle, a freshman, has seen her playing time increase recently as she’s filled in for Kassi, a senior who is nursing a bad back.
 
THE SIX-HANDED KEEPER
• UP has three decorated goalkeepers on the roster, including last year’s starters senior Hailee DeYoung and sophomore Erin Dees.
• In 13 games last season, Dees posted six shutouts and a goals against average of 0.43, which is tied for eighth best all-time on Portland’s single season charts.
• DeYoung had four shutouts and a GAA of 0.64 in 11 appearances; she is eighth all-time with 94 career saves and is ninth with a career GAA of 0.77 and 11 shutouts.
• Joining the mix this year is redshirt-freshman Nichole Downing, who has started twice this fall.
 
NOT AN EASY ROAD
• The Pilots have one of the most challenging schedules in the country as they’re scheduled to play a whopping 10 teams that are currently ranked in the four major polls, or receiving votes.
• Portland has already played top-ranked Stanford and then-No. 4 Florida State.
 
HOME SWEET MERLO
• The Pilots once again led the nation in attendance in 2010, making it the sixth straight year to do so.
• Portland averaged 3,549 fans per game last fall for a total of 46,143; that’s almost 20,000 more fans than the next closest school (Texas A&M).
• UP was the first NCAA DI soccer team to ever crack the 40,000-fan plateau during a season; it happened during the historic 2005 run when UP totaled 40,841 fans.
• The Pilots also hold the all-time single season mark of 47,082, which occurred in 2008.
 
LIVE ON THE AM DIAL
• KPDQ 800 AM will once again be the Pilots’ home on the radio as the True Talk Station and UP enter another year as broadcast partners; eight games are scheduled to be broadcast live this fall.
 
EVEN MORE EXPOSURE
• And don’t forget to visit the brand new facebook page for UP women’s soccer, which can be found at facebook.com/UPWomensSoccer.
• Taking on blogging duties this season for the Pilots is sophomore goalkeeper Erin Dees; be sure to visit PortlandPilots.com/DeesBlog all season long to get an in-depth look at the UP soccer program.