Complete Release (pdf)

PORTLAND PILOTS (2-1-1, 0-0-0 WCC)
at EVANSVILLE PURPLE ACES (3-0-0, 0-0-0 MVC)
Date: Friday, September 7, 2012
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Kick-off: 5:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Pitch: McCutchan Stadium (2,500)
Live Video ($), Audio, Stats: GoPurpleAces.com
 
POR vs. EVAN
Overall Series: 5-1-0
Here: 3-0-0
There: 1-1-0
Neutral: 1-0-0
Last: @POR 2, UE 1 (September 5, 2010)
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (2-1-1, 0-0-0 WCC)
vs. BRADLEY BRAVES (2-1-1, 0-0-0 MVC)
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Kick-off: 10:00 a.m. (Pacific)
Pitch: McCutchan Stadium (2,500)
Live Video/Audio: N/A
Live Stats: GoPurpleAces.com
 
POR vs. BRAD
Overall Series: 0-0-0
Here: 0-0-0
There: 0-0-0
Neutral: 0-0-0
Last: N/A
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS...
• The Pilots were the co-champions of last weekend’s Nike Portland Invitational at Merlo Field after defeating CSU Bakersfield 2-1 on Friday night and earning a 1-1 draw with Wisconsin on Sunday.
• Steven Evans was named the tournament’s offensive MVP after scoring both Portland goals against the Roadrunners; he also earned his second straight WCC Player of the Week award, and he was named the WCC Player of the Month.
• Ricardo Carrillo scored the equalizer for the Pilots in the 85th minute during Sunday’s draw with Wisconsin.
• Evans, who leads the WCC with four goals and eight points, was voted to the 2012 Preseason All-WCC Team, and the Pilots were picked to finish third in a preseason poll of the league’s seven head coaches.
• Evans was a 2011 All-WCC First Team selection after leading Portland last season with a conference-best six goals and 17 points.
• The Pilots return 16 letterwinners and eight starters from a team that just missed the playoffs last fall with an 11-7-2 overall record (6-5-1 WCC).
• Sophomore Derek Boggs garnered WCC All-Freshman Team honors in 2011, while he and Carrillo also earned All-WCC Honorable Mention.
• Five of UP’s six newcomers are from the Portland metropolitan area.
• Director of Soccer Bill Irwin enters his 10th year as head coach of the Pilots and his 26th year overall with the program; he has 88 career wins to his credit.
• Portland has been to two College Cups (1988 & 1995) and has reached the NCAA Postseason 14 times.
 
CLEAN SWEEP
• So far this season, the West Coast Conference has handed out three individual awards, and Portland junior midfielder Steven Evans has claimed them all.
• Most recently, Evans was named the WCC’s Player of the Month for August after scoring a league-best four goals during the month, helping the Pilots to a 2-1-0.
• Evans was named the league’s player of the week on Monday after also garnering Nike Invitational Offensive MVP honors during the weekend.
• Evans scored both UP goals in the second half last Friday night as the Pilots came from behind to defeat the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 2-1 at Merlo Field.
• Previously, Evans scored twice during a 4-0 win at Cal State Fullerton (Aug. 26) to grab the league’s first player of the week award of the season.
 
IT’S STILL EARLY, BUT...
• It’s still early in the season, but the Pilots already find themselves leading the WCC in most offensive categories.
• Portland is tops in the WCC in shots (65), points (19), goals (7), goals per game (1.75) and assists (5).
• Individually, Steven Evans leads the league in shots (18), points (8), goals (4) and goals per game (1.00).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
• The majority of Portland’s non-conference schedule will take place on the road.
• The Pilots will follow their trip to Evansville, Ind., with their annual trek north to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Fever Classic.
• While in Seattle, Portland will play Seattle University on Friday, Sept. 21 and Brown University on Sunday, Sept. 23.
• UP will open the WCC slate at home against Gonzaga on Wednesday, Oct. 26, which will be followed by a home match against San Francisco on Friday, Oct. 28.
 
THE COUNTRY’S #1 FANS
• The Pilots have ranked in the top 15 in home attendance nationally in 13 of the past 17 years, including posting the nation’s top attendance in 1996.
• Last season, Portland was 24th in the country with total attendance of 8,894 and a per game average of 1,111.
• The Pilots have posted an all-time record of 127-48-18 (.705) at the friendly confines.
 
WCC COACHES POLL
• Portland junior midfielder Steven Evans was voted to the 2012 Preseason All-West Coast Conference Team and the Pilots were picked to finish third in a preseason poll of the league’s seven head coaches.
• The San Diego Toreros were selected to win the 2012 WCC men’s soccer championship this season.
• Evans, who was 2011 All-WCC First Team selection after leading Portland last season with a conference-best six goals and 17 points, is one of 16 returning letterwinners and eight starters for the Pilots.
 
PILOTS IN THE MLS
• The Portland Timbers selected defender Ryan Kawulok with the eighth pick of Major League Soccer’s 2012 Supplemental Draft in January.
• Kawulok, who started all 82 games during his four-year UP career and received conference honors all four years, is one of six Portland alums currently on an MLS roster, joining Logan Emory (Toronto FC), Heath Pearce & Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls), Connor Casey (Colorado Rapids) and Collen Warner (Montreal).
• Additionally, former UP defender Steve Cherundolo has also enjoyed a lengthy career with Hannover 96 of Germany’s Bundesliga, and he has 84 career caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
 
NATIONAL EXPOSURE
• The Pilots are slated for one national television appearance this season, which will happen when they travel to Santa Clara for a WCC match on Oct. 26.
• Fox Soccer Channel (Ch. 800 on Comcast Digital Cable in the Portland Metro Area) is set to broadcast the 7:00 p.m. match live.
 
GAMECENTRAL IS BACK & BETTER THAN EVER
• UP’s popular GameCentral is back and better than ever, and it’s available for every home game this season.
• GameCentral is a free portal via PortlandPilots.com that offers live video, live audio and live stats all on the same page; you can also access GameCentral directly by visiting PilotsVideo.com.
• The internet broadcast rivals that of any college program in the country and it features a four-camera production, instant replays, in-game live and taped interviews and on-screen graphics.
• You can also access UP’s GameCentral via your Smartphone.