PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots dominated possession throughout the second half, Hannah Griffiths Boston hit the crossbar with a header, and Natalie Muth had a shot cleared off the goal line as the San Diego Toreros escaped Merlo Field with a 1-0 win on Thursday night. USD's Summer Mason claims the game-winner, which came in the 76th minute.
 
The Pilots (5-10-1, 2-4-0 WCC) refused to falter following the San Diego (7-9-0, 5-1-0 WCC) goal, and in the 81st minute Kaycie Young found Ellie Walker with a pass inside the 18-yard box. Walker tried to finish first time with a shot towards the near post, but San Diego keeper Amber Michel was there for the save.
 
On the ensuing corner, Griffiths Boston nearly provided the equalizer, but her header from the top of the six was denied by the crossbar as the game remained 1-0 in the Toreros' favor.
 
The Pilots continued to search for the equalizer and nearly found it in the 86th minute on another corner kick. This time Muth connected with a header that appeared destined for the back of the net. But San Diego defender Natali Copenhaver was positioned perfectly on the right post, and she cleared the shot off the goal line preserving the lead.
 
Earlier in the first half with the game still scoreless, Taryn Ries looked to give the home side the lead when she tried to bend one inside the far post from just inside the top of the 18. The effort sailed wide as the game remained tied 0-0, and the shot came after a nice build up by the Pilots. In the 70th minute Young played a stellar ball into the box, and Griffiths Boston sent a diving header towards the frame that that appeared to skim the top of the net on its way by.

Six minutes later Mason hit the game-winner from about 20 yards out that deflected off the right post on its way in.
 
Portland had the more dangerous opportunities in the first half as well, and in the 25th minute Michel made a nice diving save on a shot off the foot of Larkin Russell from 20 yards out.
 
The Pilots out-shot the Toreros 14-10, and Portland goalkeeper Rachel Lusby made a pair of saves. Michel came through with three game-saving stops, and USD also had that team save late in regulation.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a visit from the BYU Cougars for Portland's final home game of 2017 Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the Pilots will honor their three seniors, Maddie Dieker, Griffiths Boston, and Ariel Viera, with a pre-game ceremony.