Box Score  I  Video Highlights

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Michelle Cruz scored the game-winner, Amanda Frisbie added an insurance goal and Erin Dees made four saves as the Portland Pilots won their fourth game in a row with a 2-0 shutout of the Loyola Marymount Lions on a wet Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. The Pilots improve to 10-4-3 overall and strengthen their hold on second place in the West Coast Conference with a 4-1-1 league record.
 
LMU falls to 9-7-2 and to 3-4-0 in the WCC.
 
Cruz, who scored twice during Portland’s 3-1 win over No. 18 Pepperdine on Friday night, opened the scoring with her third goal of the season in the third minute. Emily Sippel sent in a pass from the left endline, which found an unmarked Cruz in the center of the box. The junior midfielder took a touch before calmly finishing inside the right post with a low shot.
 
Portland would eventually take the 1-nil lead into the halftime locker room thanks to some stingy defense and a big-time save by Dees in a one-v-one situation. In the 21st minute, LMU’s Jocely Blankenship had gained possession inside the 18-yard box with no one in front of her other than Dees. The junior goalkeeper denied the shot to preserve Portland’s one-goal lead.
 
The Pilots increased their pressure on the LMU frame in the second half and attempted 12 shots after the break.
 
Frisbie notched her conference-leading 11th goal of the year when she broke free from the LMU backline and ran onto a ball sent forward by Rebekah Kurle. LMU goalkeeper Brittany Jagger was able to get a touch on Frisbie’s initial shot, but the Portland forward easily put the rebound away for a 2-ni lead.
 
Frisbie led the Portland attack with eight shots against the Lions, six of which were on-target.
 
The Lions attempted only three shots in the second half, while Portland claimed an 18-9 overall advantage. The Pilots also registered an 8-4 edge in shots on-goal and earned 10 corner kicks to LMU’s three.
 
Dees records her fourth shutout of the season and it’s the seventh registered by the Pilots.
 
2012 Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Women’s National Team member Megan Rapinoe attended Sunday’s game, and the UP alum was honored with a halftime ceremony.
 
The Pilots have just two regular season games remaining, beginning with a road match at Santa Clara on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium.
 
Portland then returns home to host the San Francisco Dons next Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Merlo Field.