PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Devlyn Jeter scored two-and-a-half minutes into the match and Cecilia Pedersen and Noelle La Prevotte each added a goal as the Pilots defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters 3-1 at the Nike Portland Invitational on a balmy Friday night at Merlo Field. Pedersen's goal goes into the books as the game-winner, her first as a Pilot.
 
The first half was all Portland (2-4-0) as the Pilots came out energized and applied constant pressure on the UC Irvine (3-3-1) side the field. Jeter's goal came in the third minute, and it was set up by a nice pass from La Prevotte into the left side of the box. From near the left post, Jeter hit one to the inside of UCI goalkeeper Corey Tobin, handing the Pilots the early lead with her second goal of the year.
 
From there the Pilots continued to create chances, repeatedly getting behind the UC Irvine backline for 1-v-1 opportunities. But Tobin came through with clutch save after clutch save, denying shots from La Prevotte and Jess Kennedy, keeping it a one-goal game.
 
The Pilots finally broke through for their second goal after Pedersen entered the match. The freshman took a pass from Parkes Kendrick near the top of the box, made some nifty touches to create some space before depositing a shot into the net. It's Pedersen's second goal of the year and it gave the Pilots a little breathing room.
 
Pedersen's goal proved to be key as the Anteaters pulled one back just before the half. On a throw in from the right touch line, Kiana Palacios sent in a perfect ball towards the top of the six yard box. That's where Alex Karlowitsch redirected the ball into the net to make it a 2-1 game at the break.
 
The Anteaters continued that momentum into the second half, but the Pilots did well to defend and keep the game at 2-1. Portland's Allison Wetherington nearly gave the Pilots a two-goal cushion in the 62nd minute when she drilled a shot towards the frame from 22 yards out. But UCI caught a break when the shot rattled the crossbar and went out of play.
 
La Prevotte would follow with some insurance on a stellar goal in the 69th minute. Kendrick whipped in a well-placed ball from the left wing, and La Prevotte did the rest with a first-time finish off the outside of her right foot. It's her second goal of the year and it gave the Pilots a comfortable 3-1 advantage.
 
Portland freshman goalkeeper Rachel Lusby started her third straight match and she was forced into making just one save, which was a diving stop on a shot off the foot of Sammie James in the 60th minute.
 
The Pilots finished with a 16-8 edge in shots, Tobin collected seven saves and the Anteaters also recorded a team save. 11 of UP's shots were on-target, while the Anteaters placed two on-frame.
 
The Nike Portland Invitational continues on Sunday when the Pilots host the CSUN Matadors at 2:30 p.m. The game will be preceded by Washington-UC Irvine at noon.
 
The Huskies topped the Matadors on Friday afternoon 3-1.