SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- After a successful week that included two game-winners and an assist, Portland junior forward Benji Michel was named the West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week. Michel and the Pilots won at No. 24 Coastal Carolina last Monday before dominating Northern Illinois at home top remain unbeaten on the year.
 
Michel, who now has nine goals and six game-winners on the season, provided the go-ahead goal against the Chanticleers in the 73rd minute as the Pilots defeated their second ranked opponent this fall. He earlier assisted on a goal by R.J. Stretch, which at the time gave the Pilots a 1-0 edge.
 
Northern Illinois entered Friday's game No. 13 in the NCAA's RPI rankings and were riding a five-game winning streak, but Michel opened the scoring in the 11th minute. On a corner sent towards the far post, Michel elevated and planted it into the back of the net with a powerful header, and the Pilots would cruise from there en route to the 3-0 shutout.
 
Michel ranks No. 2 nationally in game-winners and is No. 6 in overall goals, and at 8-0-2 the Pilots are off to their best start to a season since 1989. Portland's 10-match unbeaten string is also the longest such streak since the Pilots went 14 games without a loss during the 1995 season.