SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Portland recovered from an early two-goal deficit with goals from Eddie Sanchez and Brandon Zambrano, but in the end a header from Patrick McGrath in the 76th minute proved to be the difference as the San Diego Toreros claimed a 3-2 win over the Pilots in a West Coast Conference men's soccer game played on Friday night at Torero Stadium. The first four goals of the match were scored during the first 25 minutes.
 
Torrey Dearmas scored first for San Diego (6-4-2, 2-0-0 WCC) when he received a pass from Keegan Smith, made a couple of touches to get behind the Portland (2-8-2, 0-2-0 WCC) backline and finished inside the right corner of the net in the 17th minute.


Four minutes later Portland's Erik Edwardson nearly tallied the equalizer, but his shot hit the right post before ending up in the hands of San Diego goalkeeper Thomas Olsen. From there the Toreros worked the ball up field, and Smith made it a 2-0 game when he capitalized on a 1-v-1 opportunity. Portland keeper Paul Christensen saved the initial shot from Smith, but the senior forward was able to put away the rebound.
 
The Pilots refused to falter and moments later they pulled one back when Sanchez scored his third goal of the season. Zambrano dribbled the ball 20 yards up field, cut right and fed a short pass to Sanchez, who was making a well-timed run. Sanchez took a few touches to get inside the box before drilling a shot past Olsen to pull the Pilots within 2-1.
 
Moments later Zambrano claimed the equalizer when he gained possession right of the 18, navigated his way through traffic and finished past Olsen, leveling the score 2-2 in the 25th minute. It's the second goal of the season for the sophomore.
 
After an active first 25 minutes, the game would remain tied all the way to the 76th minute, when Michael Turner sent a perfectly placed ball into the box. That's where McGrath elevated to hammer in a header, giving the lead back to the Toreros.
 
The lead would stand as the Toreros overcame heavy pressure from the Pilots during the game's final 10 minutes.
 
The Pilots forced Olsen into making six saves on the night, while Christensen countered with four.
 
Portland next makes the short trek up I-5 to Los Angeles to face the Loyola Marymount Lions on Sunday. Kickoff at Sullivan Field is set for 1 p.m.