Complete Release (pdf)  I  vs. Grand Canyon: Live Video  Live Stats  I  vs. Vermont: Live Video  Live Stats  I  Tickets  I  Promotions
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (0-2-0) vs. GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES (0-1-0)
Date: Friday, September 4, 2016
Location: Portland, Ore.
Kick-off: 7:00 p.m.
Pitch: Merlo Field (4,892)
Live Video: TheW.tv
Live Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. GCU
Overall Series: 0-0-0
Here: 0-0-0
There: 0-0-0
Neutral: 0-0-0
Last: First Meeting
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (0-2-0) vs. VERMOUNT CATAMOUNTS (1-1-0)
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2016
Location: Portland, Ore.
Kick-off: 5:00 p.m.
Pitch: Merlo Field (4,892)
Live Video: TheW.tv
Live Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. UV
Overall Series: 0-0-2
Here: 0-0-1
There: 0-0-1
Neutral: 0-0-0
Last: POR 1, @UV 1 (2ot) - Sept. 11, 2009
 
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots remain at home this weekend to host the 2015 version of the Nike Portland Invitational, which will feature the Oregon State Beavers, the Vermont Catamounts, and the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Merlo Field.
• The Beavers and Catamounts kickoff the Nike Invite with a game at 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
• The Pilots and Antelopes follow, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
• The Nike Invite concludes on Sunday with just one game, which will feature the Pilots and Catamounts at 5 p.m.
 
LAST WEEK
• The Pilots took then-No. 9 Michigan State to the brink to open the season last Friday at a packed Merlo Field, but a PK in the 75th minute proved to be the difference in the Spartans' 1-0 win.
• A program record 4,596 fans attended the game, which included a remarkable 2,203 students.
• The game was evenly played and both teams finished with 10 shots.
• On Sunday, the visiting Marquette Golden Eagles jumped ahead of the Pilots 3-0 before settling for a 4-2 win.
• Both Hugo Rhoads and Brandon Zambrano scored a goal for Portland.
 
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 return 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.