SPOKANE, Wash. --- After Portland emerged from the halftime locker trailing at Gonzaga, the Pilots exploded for five second-half goals, fueled by an Eddie Sanchez hat trick, as the visiting side dismantled the Bulldogs 5-1 in the West Coast Conference opener on Sunday afternoon at Luger Field. Benji Michel added a goal and an assist for the Pilots, while Gio Magana-Rivera claimed the fifth goal.

The game also featured a remarkable four PK's, two of which were saved.

The win is the third straight for the Pilots (7-3-1, 1-0-0 WCC), who have scored 12 goals during that span. It's the most goals for Portland covering three games since the Pilots also scored 12 goals during a three-game stretch in 2001.

Sanchez also becomes the first Pilot to register a hat trick since his teammate Brandon Zambrano accomplished the feat at Saint Mary's almost exactly two years ago. The 2014 season was also the last time the Pilots scored five goals in a game.

"I'm very pleased for the group to start our conference campaign out with such a dominant and comprehensive performance," said Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voit. "We really focused on some key areas of our game over the past 14 days in training that came to life today. We scored some fantastic goals and had a good team spirit. Even down 1-0 on a PK against the run of play we never wavered and stayed committed to our brand.  We played with an edge and winning fabric in the second half that wasn't apparent enough at the start. We will continue to improve and focus on the process as we prepare for a very good San Francisco team on the road Friday."

With the Pilots trailing 1-0 in the 53rd minute, Michel began the scoring when had possession at the top of the box before squaring one to Magana-Rivera. The freshman then took a deft touch to lose the defender before burying a shot into the right corner of the net from 18 yards out. It's the second goal of the year for Magana-Rivera and it leveled the score 1-1.

Eight minutes later Sanchez began a flurry of goals for the Pilots when he took a free kick from about 25 yards out. The senior placed a shot perfectly into the upper 90 to give the visiting side a 2-1 advantage on the stellar strike. A minute later, Sanchez again found the back of the net, this time from the penalty spot after the Pilots had been awarded a PK. His second goal of the afternoon made it 3-1.

Michel continued the scoring barrage barely a minute after the Sanchez goals. On a long header from Conor Johnston, Michel was in the right spot after the ball took a deflection off a Gonzaga defender. Michel then claimed his sixth goal of the year with a composed finish as the Pilots left their hosts stunned, now leading 4-1.

Sanchez wasn't finished as he capped the hat trick in the 66th min. This time he received a pass from Shane Aranda in the center of the box, turned, and deposited his third goal of the game and sixth of the year into the corner of the net, making it 5-1.

Seven of Portland's 14 shots were on-goal, and goalkeeper Paul Christensen denied a Gonzaga PK in the 70th minute. Sanchez notches his first game-winner of the fall, and the Pilots only allowed one shot during the run of play all game long.

"I would also like to honor our amazing Villa supports who showed up on a Sunday afternoon 300-plus  miles away from campus," added Carlin-Voigt. "They were our 12th man today and we greatly appreciate the best student section in the country."

Sanchez sparked one of Portland's first quality looks on the afternoon when he sent a thru ball to Michel, who made a well-timed run in the eighth minute. Michel, in a 1-v-1 one opportunity, took a touch to avoid Gonzaga keeper Ben Willis, who came off his line to challenge the freshman. But then from a tough angle, Michel hit a shot wide of the near post as the game remained scoreless.

Gonzaga (6-4-1, 0-1-0 WCC) then capitalized when they were awarded a penalty shot in the 23rd minute after the Pilots were called for a foul inside the 18-yard box. Jakob Granlund stepped to the spot and drove a shot into the upper right corner of the net, and Bulldogs lead 1-0.

The Pilots didn't allow a shot during the run of play in the first half, but trailed at the break 1-0. Portland attempted six shots during the first 45 minutes, with Willis making a diving save on a shot of the foot of Magana-Rivera in the 32nd minute.
 
Portland nearly made it a 6-1 lead in the 73rd minute, but Willis came through for the Bulldogs when he smothered a PK off the foot of Erik Edwardson.
 
This marks the Pilots' first win at Gonzaga since 2010.

Next week the Pilots travel to the Bay Area for a pair of WCC games. First on Friday night Portland will face the San Francisco Dons at 7 p.m. Sunday night brings a date with the Santa Clara Broncos, just down the road from USF.