Complete Release (pdf)  I  at SMU: Video  Stats  I  at Tulsa: Video  Stats
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (1-3-0) at SMU MUSTANGS (2-1-1)
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2015
Location: Dallas, Texas
Kick-off: 5:00 p.m.
Pitch: Westcott Field (2,000)
Live Video/Stats: SMUMustangs.com
 
POR vs. SMU
Overall Series: 1-2-0
Here: 1-0-0
There: 0-0-0
Neutral: 0-2-0
Last: @POR 3, SMU 0 (Sept. 29, 2013)
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (1-3-0) at TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (1-2-1)
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2015
Location: Tulsa, Okla.
Kick-off: 11:00 a.m.
Pitch: Hurricane Soccer Stadium (2,000)
Live Video/Stats: TulsaHurricane.com
 
POR vs. UT
Overall Series: 0-0-0
Here: 0-0-0
There: 0-0-0
Neutral: 0-0-0
Last: First Meeting
 
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots embark on their first road trip of the season for challenging games at SMU on Thursday night and at Tulsa on Sunday.
• First the SMU Mustangs host the Pilots for a 5 p.m. (Pacific) tilt at Westcott Field in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night.
• Portland then travels to Tulsa, Okla., for a game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
• Both the Mustangs and Hurricane are receiving votes in the latest NSCAA Coaches' Poll.
 
LAST WEEK
• The Pilots scored three goals in the final 36 minutes on Sunday to rally from a 2-0 halftime deficit and claim a thrilling 3-2 win over Vermont at Merlo Field.
• Thomas Peterson, in his first action of the season, scored the first goals, while Eddie Sanchez unleashed the game-winner from about 25 yards out in the 75th minute.
• Portland goalkeeper Paul Christensen made three saves on the day to help preserve the win.
• Previously, the Pilots succumbed to the Grand Canyon Antelopes 4-1 on Friday night; the game was tied 1-1 at the half, courtesy a Portland own-goal and Matthew Coffey's first goal of the season in the 31st min.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS...
• The Pilots feature a deep and talented roster, which includes four players who received All-West Coast Conference recognition in 2014, but Portland is still somewhat young with only two true seniors and 10 newcomers.
• The Pilots returned 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last season, including senior defender Hugo Rhoads, who landed all-league second team accolades a year ago.
• Also back is junior midfielder Eddie Sanchez, 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 Rhoads and Sanchez were selected to the 2015 Preseason All-West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Team in a vote by the league's eight head coaches; it's the first league preseason honor for Rhoads, while it's the second straight year to be selected for Sanchez.
• San Francisco was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2015 WCC men's soccer title, while the Pilots were picked to finish seventh.
• 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.
• Friday's game against then-No. 9 Michigan State set a program record with an attendance of 4,596; that record attendance included a remarkable 2,203 students.
• Portland has been to two College Cups (1988 & 1995) and has reached the NCAA Postseason 14 times, most recently in 2009 when they made a run to the quarterfinals.
• This fall the Pilots are celebrating the 20th anniversary of that 1995 College Cup visit.
• 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 back for his 12th year on the Portland bench, while assistant coach Brandon McNeil is entering his eighth year on the staff; both Baarts (1987-90) and McNeil (1998-2001) played at UP.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
• SMU enters the weekend with a 2-1-1 mark and is receiving votes in the NSCAA rankings; Mauro Cichero, the reigning American Conference Player of the Week, leads the team with three goals.
• The Mustangs have made 29 playoff appearances and have reached two NCAA College Cups.
• Tulsa (1-2-1) is also receiving votes in the latest coaches' poll and is coming off a 2-1 loss at No. 4 North Carolina and a 1-1 tie at No. 2 Virginia.
• Geoffrey Dee, Kay Duit and Miguel Velasquez each have a goal and an assist to lead the team with three points.