PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots will open the 2015 season at home before embarking on a trip east to face Marquette and perennial national power Notre Dame during the final weekend of August. The 2015 slate features 10 home games, which includes an exhibition against Oregon and the season-opener vs. Oregon State.
 
That exhibition game with the Ducks is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, while the opener against the Beavers follows six days later on Friday, Aug. 21. The Pilots have won 28 of 32 previous meetings with the Beavers, who have reached the postseason three times since 2009.
 
Portland then heads to Milwaukee, Wis., to battle the Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday, Aug. 28. Marquette has been to the NCAA Playoffs 12 times and won the 2012 Big East Conference title. Portland claimed the only previous meeting with the Golden Eagles, which was a 1-0 decision at Merlo Field in 2013.
 
Two days later brings a date with Notre Dame, who has won three NCAA National Championships. Portland's game with the Fighting Irish on Sunday, Aug. 30, which will be the Pilots' first visit to South Bend, Ind., since 2004.
 
Portland's annual visit to Washington's Husky Classic is scheduled for the following weekend (Sept. 4-6) and will feature games against a pair of Big Ten teams in Seattle. The Pilots will first face Illinois on Friday afternoon on the UW campus, while Sunday's match will be against the Michigan Wolverines. The Pilots have faced both Illinois and Michigan during recent NCAA Playoffs and both the Illini and Wolverines have been to 12 post-seasons.
 
The annual Nike Portland Invitational is scheduled for Sept. 11-13 at Merlo Field and the Pilots will host UC Irvine and CSUN during the weekend. Portland will first face the Anteaters on Friday before taking on the Matadors on Sunday. Usual participant Washington will also take part in the invite.
 
On Thursday, Sept. 17, the Pilots return to Seattle to face long-time rival Washington at Husky Soccer Field. The Pilots and Huskies have met on the pitch a total of 37 times, with the Pilots winning 27 of those games in a series that dates back to 1982. Washington has reached the postseason five times in the past seven years, reaching the third round last year, and the Huskies have totaled 21 NCAA berths.
 
The Pilots then conclude the non-conference portion of their schedule with a home game against the Washington State Cougars on Sunday, Sept. 20, and a road match against the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, Sept. 26. This will be the first meeting between the Pilots and Cougars since Portland eliminated Wazzu from the 2012 playoffs. WSU has been to the NCAA Postseason seven times during the last eight years, including last season.
 
The match against the Pioneers is Portland's first trip to Denver since 2003. DU has reached the NCAA Playoffs nine times with their most recent visit coming in 2013.
 
Portland's West Coast Conference opener is set for Thursday, Oct. 1 against San Diego at Merlo Field. The Toreros advanced to the 2014 NCAA Postseason, which was the program's 13th trip to the playoffs. Defending WCC champion BYU then visits on Saturday, Oct. 13.
 
The Pilots' follow USD and BYU with their first conference road trip at Saint Mary's (Oct. 9) and at Pacific (Oct. 11). The Gaels will have a first-year head coach and this marks the Tigers' third year in the WCC.
 
A week later conference rival Santa Clara comes to Merlo Field to face the Pilots on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Pilots and Broncos have combined to win 21 WCC titles.
 
Portland then heads back on the road to face LMU on Friday, Oct. 23 and Pepperdine on Sunday, Oct. 25. The Pilots are 21-0-1 all-time against the Lions, including a 1-0 win at Merlo last season, and Pepperdine reached the 2014 NCAA Sweet 16.
 
The Pilots follow their trip to LA by returning to The Bluff to conclude the 2015 regular season at home. Gonzaga visits Merlo Field on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the Pilots will face San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 7, which will be Portland's senior night.
 
The 2015 NCAA playoffs begin with first-round action Nov. 13-15 at campus sites, while the NCAA College Cup will be played December 4-6 in Cary, N.C.
 
Portland has led the nation in attendance for a remarkable 10 consecutive seasons. The Pilots have made the playoffs during 21 of the last 23 seasons, they've reached eight College Cups and Portland won the NCAA National Championship in 2002 and 2005.
 
Next fall the Pilots will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of that 2005 title, so order your season tickets now to make sure you're part of the festivities. Season tickets are on sale now, mini packages will be available on July 1, and single-game tickets go on-sale Aug. 3 at 11 a.m.
 
Packages can be purchased in person or over the phone at the Pilot Box Office inside the Chiles Center (503-943-7525). Single-game purchases will also be available at the Pilot Box Office or through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or over the phone at 1-800-745-3000.