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SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots created chances all afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium and dominated possession during the final 20 minutes of regulation, but Santa Clara's Sofia Huerta scored the game-winner in the 85th minute to allow the Broncos to escape with a 1-0 win. The game was broadcast live nationally on ESPNU.
 
The two sides and long-time West Coast Conference rivals battled back-and-forth during the first half, and it was Portland's (6-9-3, 3-4-1 WCC) Noelle La Prevotte who had the game's first quality shot in the ninth minute. The junior midfielder gained possession inside the box before cracking a powerful shot from a tough angle. Santa Clara goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski made a nice save, controlling the ball and keeping the game scoreless.
 
Moments later sophomore Allison Wetherington hit a well-struck shot from about 30 yards out that just missed sneaking inside the upper v. And then in the 23rd minute, Wetherington slotted a nice ball through to La Prevotte, who had another shot saved by Tostanoski, this time from about 12 yards out.
 
Portland sophomore goalkeeper Hanna de Haan did well to keep the game scoreless with a couple of saves in the first half, including when she came through with a big-time save in the 25th minute. On a through ball, de Haan laid out to deny a shot off the foot of Mariana Galvan from point blank range.
 
Wetherington then had Portland's best chance of the match when she rattled the crossbar in the 30th minute. Sippel did well to set up the play when she got around the Santa Clara backline and dribbled the ball along the endline inside the 18-yard box. Sippel then sent a short pass to Wetherington, who tried to score with a first-time finish, but was denied by the framework from six yards out.
 
After the two teams entered the locker room at the half still tied 0-0, Portland center back Haylee DeGrood denied a golden SCU opportunity early in the second half. Huerta had gained possession behind the UP backline, drawing de Haan off her line. Huerta then made a touch wide to avoid de Haan, before drilling a shot towards an open net. But DeGrood recovered in time and made a sliding stop near the goal line, keeping the game level.
 
And only minutes later the Pilots responded and nearly found the back of the net. Parkes Kendrick sent a ball towards the penalty spot from the endline beyond the right post, and Sippel took a touch and tried to finish top shelf. But Tostanoski knocked the ball into the air before safely corralling it.
 
The Pilots would then take control of possession during the final 20 minutes of regulation and repeatedly created dangerous opportunities, while limiting Santa Clara's chances to virtually none. In the 82nd minute, Wetherington sent a ball into the area which allowed Madeline Dieker to get a quality shot from 12 yards out, but again Tostanoski made the stop.
 
And then in the 85th minute, Huerta took advantage of a Portland give-away and scored the game-winner, which came against the run of play. The senior forward earned possession about 35 yards out, dribbled up field, avoided a couple of Portland defenders and finished to hand the Broncos (13-6-0, 6-2-0 WCC) the late 1-0 lead.
 
Portland responded with heavy pressure in the final third and pushed numbers forward, but was ultimately unable to find the equalizer.
 
The Pilots totaled six shots on-goal for the afternoon, while the Broncos countered with seven. Both de Haan and Tostanoski finished with six saves. Perhaps the save of the game for de Haan came in the 61st minute when she ushered away a shot off the foot of Huerta, which appeared destined for the left corner of the net.
 
Portland has one regular season game remaining, which is scheduled for next Saturday at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash. Kickoff for the Pilots and Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m.