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PORTLAND PILOTS (7-5-0, 2-2-0 WCC)
at GONZAGA BULLDOGS (6-2-3, 1-0-3 WCC)
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013
Location: Spokane, Wash.
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m.
Pitch: Gonzaga Soccer Field (500)
Live Video ($$$)/Stats: GoZags.com
 
POR vs. GU
Overall Series: 23-9-6
Here: 12-4-2
There: 10-6-3
Neutral: 1-0-0
Last: POR 1, @GU 1 (2ot) - Nov. 11, 2012
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (7-5-0, 2-2-0 WCC)
at SANTA CLARA BRONCOS (5-7-0, 2-2-0 WCC)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013
Location: Santa Clara, Calif.
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m.
Pitch: Buck Shaw Stadium (6,800)
Live Video (free)/Stats: SantaClaraBroncos.com
 
POR vs. SCU
Overall Series: 14-20-8
Here: 6-8-3
There: 7-11-3
Neutral: 1-1-2
Last: POR 2, @SCU 1 (2ot) - Oct. 26, 2012
 
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots will spend their Fall Break on the road as they travel to Spokane, Wash., and Santa Clara, Calif., this week for West Coast Conference games against the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Santa Clara Broncos.
• First the Pilots and Bulldogs will square off on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Gonzaga Soccer Field.
• Portland will then face the Broncos on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS...
• Head coach and Director of Soccer Bill Irwin notched career win No. 100 last Friday when the Pilots defeated San Diego 2-1 at Merlo Field; Irwin is in his 11th year at the helm of the UP men's soccer program and he's in his 27th year overall on the Portland staff.
• The Pilots feature the most prolific offense in the WCC, leading the way with 24 goals and 69 points; Portland ranks 16th nationally in goals.
• Freshman midfielder Eddie Sanchez is tops in the WCC in both goals (8) and points (19).
• Sanchez has scored at least one goal in four straight games.
• Nine different Pilots (Boggs, Corbett, Escobar, Iwasaki, Liberator, Munger, Rhoads, Sanchez, Velasco) have combined to score Portland's 24 goals this season, while eight different Pilots (Caprio, Coffey, Corbett, Escobar, Munger, Rhoads, Sanchez, Velasco) have registered an assist.
• Goalkeeper Jason Dodson nabbed WCC Player of the Week honors (Sept. 30) after making six saves during a 3-0 shutout at home over SMU on Sept. 29.
• Sophomore midfielder Jaime Velasco was named to the National Team of the Week (Sept. 23) by College Soccer News after a two-goal performance against Oregon State on Sept. 19.
• Michael Escobar was named the WCC's Player of the Week by College Sports Madness following his one-goal, three-assist performance (Sept. 13-15) during wins over Air Force and Seattle.
• Derek Boggs was named to the WCC Preseason All-Conference Team, while the Pilots were picked sixth in a tight vote by the league's head coaches.
• Portland has been to two College Cups (1988 & 1995) and has reached the NCAA Postseason 14 times.
 
#100
• Head coach and UP Director of Soccer Bill Irwin recorded career win No. 100 last weekend when the Pilots topped San Diego 2-1 at Merlo Field.
• Irwin, who is in his 27th year overall on the UP staff, is in his 11th year at the helm of the program and he's compiled an overall record of 100-83-31.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
• Santa Clara was the pre-season favorite to win the WCC, while Gonzaga is the league's highest team in the RPI rankings at No. 19.
• The Bulldogs already have three ties in the WCC and they lead the league with five blank sheets; GU holds a 15-8 total goal advantage on the season.
• The Broncos split last weekend, dropping a 1-0 overtime match at home to USF before claiming a 2-1 win at Saint Mary's; SCU has been out-scored this year 16-10.
 
LEADING THE WAY
• Portland leads the WCC in goals (24) and points (69) and is second in assists (21) and shutouts (4).
• Eddie Sanchez leads the league in both goals (8) and points (19) while Jaime Velasco and Aaron Caprio are tied for second with four assists.
• Sanchez ranks eighth in the nation in goals per game (.80), while the Pilots are 16th in total goals.
 
EDDIE WOULD GO
• Freshman attacking midfielder Eddie Sanchez is making the most of his time on The Bluff so far, exploding for eight goals in 10 games, which leads the WCC.
• The native of Canby, Ore., also has three assists to lead the league in points (19) as well.
• Sanchez has become a regular on WCC's Top Play Tuesdays as the majority of his goals are highlight-reel worthy, and he ranks eighth nationally in goals per game (.80)
 
CELEBRATING THE '88 COLLEGE CUP
• During the weekend of Sept. 13-15 UP celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the men's trip to the 1988 College Cup, which was the first Final Four visit in program history.
• That team, which was coached by Clive Charles and featured Kasey Keller, Rob Baarts and Garrett Smith, went through the regular season undefeated before succumbing to eventual national champion and College Cup host Indiana 1-0 in the semi's.
• Members from the '88 squad were on hand for a half-time celebration during the men's game against Seattle.
 
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR
• The Baarts trio is back for their final season on the same bench.
• Assistant coach Rob Baarts' son Tyler is in his senior year as a defender with the Pilots, while Rob's nephew and Tyler's cousin Justin is a redshirt-senior goalkeeper.
• New to the Portland roster this year are freshmen twin brothers Conor and Rory Johnston, who came to The Bluff from Sonoma, Calif.
• Conor is a defender, while Rory plays in the midfield.
 
PILOTS IN THE MLS
• Four Portland men's soccer alums are currently on active rosters in the MLS, including Steven Evans here with the Portland Timbers.
• Both Luis Robles, a goalkeeper, and Heath Pearce, a defender, play for the New York Red Bulls, while Collen Warner plays for the Montreal Impact.
• Robles is having a career year and his name has been mentioned as a possible league MVP.