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PORTLAND PILOTS (4-2-0)
vs. DENVER PIONEERS (2-3-2)
Date: Friday, September 27, 2013
Location: Portland, Ore.
Kick-off: 4:30 p.m.
Pitch: Merlo Field (4,892)
Live Video: PilotsVideo.com
Live Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. DU
Overall Series: 1-1-1
Here: 0-1-0
There: 0-0-0
Neutral: 1-0-1
Last: POR 3, DU 3 (2ot) - 9/10/10 @Albuquerque, N.M.
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (4-2-0)
vs. SMU MUSTANGS (2-5-0)
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2013
Location: Portland, Ore.
Kick-off: 10:30 a.m.
Pitch: Merlo Field (4,892)
Live Video: PilotsVideo.com
Live Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. SMU
Overall Series: 0-2-0
Here: 0-0-0
There: 0-0-0
Neutral: 0-2-0
Last: SMU 2, POR 1 (ot) - 1991 @Seattle, Wash.
 
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots play their final two non-conference games of this season this weekend as they welcome the Denver Pioneers and the Southern Methodist Mustangs to Merlo Field.
• Friday's game against Denver is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. and is part of a UP double-header; the Portland women will follow with a game against Wyoming.
• Sunday's kickoff with the Mustangs was moved up to 10:30 a.m. to accommodate SMU's travel itinerary.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS...
• Portland has won three straight matches, two of which were shutouts; the Pilots have out-scored their opponents 9-1 during that stretch.
• Seven of Portland's eight games to begin the season are at home.
• Sophomore midfielder Jaime Velasco was named to the National Team of the Week by College Soccer News after a two-goal performance against Oregon State last Thursday; Velasco scored the game-winner in the 42nd minute of the 4-0 win, while his second goal came with just 19 seconds remaining.
• Junior midfielder 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.
• Eight different Pilots (Corbett, Escobar, Iwasaki, Liberator, Munger, Rhoads, Sanchez, Velasco) have combined to score Portland's 10 goals this season, while seven different Pilots (Caprio, Coffey, Corbett, Escobar, Rhoads, Sanchez, Velasco) have registered an assist.
• Junior Derek Boggs was named to the West Coast Conference Preseason All-Conference Team, while the Pilots were picked sixth in a tight vote by the league's head coaches.
• Five different teams received a first place vote and just 13 points separate first-place choice Santa Clara and the Pilots.
• Portland features a bevy of newcomers as 10 players total are in their first season with the Pilots.
• Portland has been to two College Cups (1988 & 1995) and has reached the NCAA Postseason 14 times.
• The Pilots are looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009; redshirt-senior goalkeeper Justin Baarts is the lone remaining player from that team.
• Head coach and Director of Soccer Bill Irwin is in his 11th year at the helm of the UP men's soccer program and he is just four wins shy of career win No. 100; Irwin is in his 27th year overall on the Portland staff.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
• Denver is in its first year as a member of the Summit League.
• Nine different Pioneers have scored a goal this year, with Cole Chapleski and Kosta Kordistos leading the way with two each; Brian Hoyt has a team-best three assists.
• The Mustangs have a pair of 2-1 losses this season to then-No. 1 Indiana and then-No. 7 Notre Dame.
• SMU has allowed eight goals, while scoring just five; Alfred Koroma has scored three goals.
 
LEADING THE WAY
• Portland leads the WCC in goals (13) and assists (14) and is second with three shutouts.
• Individually Jaime Velasco is tops in the conference in shots (22), while Eddie Sanchez is tied for the league lead in points (8) and goals (3).
 
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.
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
• The Pilots are spreading around the offense so far this season with eight different players accounting for Portland's 13 goals.
• Freshman Eddie Sanchez and senior Thomas Iwasaki have each scored two goals, while Michael Escobar, Steven Corbett, Jaime Velasco, Hugo Rhoads, Matt Liberator and Dustin Munger each have one.
• Additionally, seven different Pilots have registered at least one assist, with junior Michael Escobar leading the way with three.
• Sanchez, Iwasaki and Rhoads each have one of Portland's three game-winners.
 
#100
• Head coach and UP Director of Soccer Bill Irwin is quickly closing in on career win No. 100; Irwin, who is in his 11th year at the helm of the men's team, is 97-80-31 overall and he's in his 27th year overall on the Portland bench.
 
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.