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Live Stats PORTLAND PILOTS (3-11-3, 1-5-0 WCC) at SAINT MARY'S GAELS (7-9-1, 4-2-0 WCC)Date: Saturday, November 14, 2015
Location: Moraga, Calif.
Kick-off: 1:00 p.m.
Pitch: Saint Mary's Stadium (5,000)
Live Video: TheW.tvLive Stats: SMCGaels.com POR vs. SMCOverall Series: 25-11-4
Here: 14-6-0
There: 10-5-4
Neutral: 1-0-0
Last: SMC 3, @POR 1 (Nov. 9, 2014)
THIS WEEK • The Pilots conclude the 2015 campaign this weekend when they travel to Moraga, Calif., for a West Coast Conference match with the Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday.
• Kickoff at Saint Mary's Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
LAST WEEK • The Pilots defeated the Pacific Tigers 2-1 on Sunday at Merlo Field in their lone game of the week.
• After a scoreless first half, Jacob Hanlin gave the Pilots a lead with a goal in the 49th minute, Pacific's Collin Bettencourt notched the equalizer in the 68th minute and Portland's Eddie Sanchez buried the game-winner in the 79th minute.
• Hanlin's goal came on a well-struck cross from Hugo Rhoads and Brandon Zambrano claimed the assist on Sanchez's game-winner, which came in true Eddie Sanchez fashion; the junior midfielder received the pass, took a deft touch to avoid a defender and drilled a low shot into the back of the net, past Pacific goalkeeper Curtis Goldsmith.
ABOUT THE PILOTS... • The Pilots have shutout three top-10 opponents this season, defeating No. 8 Oregon State 1-0 on Sept. 17 before playing both No. 10 Washington and No. 7 Denver to scoreless ties on Sept. 27 and Oct. 24, respectively.
• The Pilots also earned a scoreless draw at SMU (Sept. 10), who wasn't ranked at the time but have since climbed to No. 7 in the country.
• Portland is 1-2-2 against ranked opponents, getting out-scored by a slim 3-4 margin in those matches.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Christensen nabbed WCC Player of the Week honors after the shutout at No. 10 Washington and he was the second straight Pilot to earn the award, following senior defender Hugo Rhoads.
• Christensen matched a career high with nine saves during the 0-0 game at UW, while Rhoads scored the only goal in Portland's 1-0 win over OSU.
• Paul Christensen leads the conference in saves (79), while the Pilots lead as a team in that same category with 85 stops.
• Hugo Rhoads leads the WCC with six assists; Rhoads and Brandon Zambrano have four assists each against WCC foes, which also leads the conference.
• Paul Christensen and Eddie Sanchez landed on OSU's Hensor/Zaher Classic All-Tournament Team earlier this season.
• Portland's game against then-No. 9 Michigan State (Aug. 28) set a program record with an attendance of 4,596; that record attendance included a remarkable 2,203 students.
• Portland features a somewhat young roster with only two true seniors and 10 newcomers.
• Eddie Sanchez was Portland's leading goal scorer last fall and a 2014 All-WCC First Team Selection; Sanchez tallied five goals last year, despite missing six games due to an injury; he also added three assists, which matched a team-high.
• Both Hugo Rhoads and Sanchez were selected to the 2015 Preseason All-WCC Men's Soccer Team.
• Hugo Rhoads and the Pilots received national attention last year after he scored a thunderous goal against Duquesne on Sept. 12; visit this link to see Rhoads featured on SportsCenter's Top 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOx2lQFKHG0.
• Portland has been to two College Cups (1988 & 1995) and has reached the NCAA Postseason 14 times.
• Head coach Bill Irwin is in his 13th year at the helm of the UP men's soccer program and his 29th year overall on the Portland staff; he began his UP coaching career as an assistant for legendary Clive Charles back in 1987.
• Assistant coach Rob Baarts is in his 12th year on the Portland bench, while assistant coach Brandon McNeil is in his eighth year on the staff; both Baarts (1987-90) and McNeil (1998-2001) played at UP.
