STOCKTON, Calif. --- The Pacific Tigers scored once in the first half and added a goal in the second en route to a 2-0 win over the Portland Pilots at Knoles Field on a windy Sunday afternoon. The match concludes Portland's two-game road trip to open play in the West Coast Conference.
 
The Pilots (3-8-1, 0-2-0 WCC) dominated possession in the first half and created several chances, but it was the Tigers (4-7-2, 1-1-0 WCC) who found the back of the net in the 30th minute to hand the home side a 1-0 lead. Alex Hussar had possession, took a couple of touches inside the 18-yard box, and snuck a shot inside the right post from a tough angle. It's the second goal of the year for Hussar.

"Conditions were definitely a factor today with a stiff breeze on the field today," said Portland head coach Garrett Smith. "We definitely had the run of play in the first half and created the lion share of quality chances even more then the stats show as we attacked from their flanks really well in both halves. I give Taryn Ries a ton of credit as a stand alone forward holding possession allowing us to get numbers forward."
 
Previously in the 16th minute, Portland's Kimberly Hazlett found an unmarked Kaycie Young near the top of the box. Young had time to collect it and get a solid shot off, but Pacific keeper Regan Heslop came through with the save, re-directing the ball over the crossbar. The Pilots were then unable to capitalize on the two ensuing corners as the game remained scoreless.
 
Young had another shot saved in the 27th minute when she drove one towards the frame on a free kick from just outside the 18, and Ellie Walker had a header cleared off the goal line moments later.
 
Portland would continue to create chances following the Pacific goal as Maddie Dieker had a shot saved, Natalie Muth's header on a corner kick was high of the crossbar, and Hazlett hit one just wide searching for the upper 90 in the 35th minute.
 
Portland out-shot Pacific during the opening half, and the Pilots held a 5-1 edge in corners.
 
The Pilots continued to send promising balls into the box after the break, but the Tigers pushed their lead to 2-0 when Bianca Lopez's long-range effort found the top shelf in the 61st minute.

"As you can see from the stats  it was another very close WCC match in shots and corners," noted Smith. "But what it boils down to is Pacific found two individuals that could finish the chances given. We haven't found someone this season that can capitalize on the chances that we have worked hard in creating."
 
In the 79th minute, Ries reached the endline with possession before playing in a dangerous ball that was cleared. Ellie Walker then hit a shot high from 20 yards out, and Larkin Russell followed with a pair of shots that were wide of the target.

"All in all a good effort from the team to the final whistle," Smith said. "I know this team will continue to fight hard while we search for someone that can step up and lead this team and start scoring some goals as we have just been lacking in this area all season so far."

Portland next returns home to host WCC rival Santa Clara on Friday night at Merlo Field, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on CSN Northwest.