DAVIS, Calif --- A penalty for UC Davis in the 65th minute provided the only goal of the game, and the Aggies held off the Portland Pilots to win 1-0 in a non-conference men's soccer game played on Sunday afternoon at Aggie Soccer Field.

After 64 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Aggies (3-2-2) were gifted a PK opportunity. The play was set up on a counter by the Aggies after a Portland (4-3-1) corner kick, and the head referee called a foul on the Pilots inside the 18-yard box. Kristian Heptner then stepped to the spot and converted the penalty, handing the home side a 1-0 lead.

The lead would stand as Portland searched for the equalizer during the final 20 minutes. In the 74th minute, Gio Magana-Rivera sent a dangerous corner into the box, but Portland couldn't get on the end of it as the Aggies maintained their lead.

At the other end of the field, Portland goalkeeper Paul Christensen did well to keep the Pilots within in a goal, and in the 80th minute he came through with a big-time save in a 1-v-1 with UCD's Noah Wilson. But time would soon run out on the Pilots, as the Aggies held on for the win.

Portland's Rey Ortiz had the best scoring chance for either team during the first half, when he drilled the left post with a well-struck free kick in the seventh minute. Benji Michel nearly got to the rebound for a shot, but the game would remain scoreless.

The ball spent most of the first 45 minutes in the UC Davis half of the field, and the Pilots repeatedly sent balls into the area and earned four corners. But Portland couldn't find the final touch as the two teams entered the break tied 0-0. Christensen was never seriously threatened during the opening half as the Pilots claimed an advantage in both shots and corner kicks.

Next up for the Pilots is another road trip, this time taking Portland to Phoenix, Ariz., for a match with Grand Canyon on Thursday night. The Pilots will then return to The Bluff to host UC Irvine on Sunday afternoon.