SPOKANE, Wash. --- After conceding two early goals to Gonzaga, the No. 11 Portland Pilots came all the way back to win 3-2 over the Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference opener on Saturday night at Luger Field. Benji Michel, Luke Hendel, and Malcolm Dixon scored for the Pilots, with Dixon claiming his first game-winner of the year.
 
"Very proud of our team tonight as we earned three points as a group," said Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. "Our identity will always be built around a fighting, attacking brand of football. We dug ourselves an early hole tonight but showed maturity and patience to find a way. Credit to Gonzaga who came out with great energy. They are well coached and will win games in our league." 

The Bulldogs jumped ahead in the first half with two early goals. The first one came in the sixth minute when Gonzaga earned possession near the half-line, worked the ball up field, and found Jake Kempf inside the 18. Kempf then hit a perfectly placed shot into the upper 90 from about 12 yards out to give the home side the 1-0 lead with his first goal of the year.
 
The Bulldogs then pushed their lead to 2-0 when a deflected ball fell to the feet of Chris Geanon. From right of the right post, Geanon placed a shot into the top shelf from an impossible angle for his first of the year, and the Pilots were forced to come from behind.
 
Moments later the visiting side pulled one back after the Pilots were awarded a penalty kick, and Michel stepped up to the spot and tucked one away to make it a 2-1 game. The goal is Michel's 10th of the year.
 
From there the Pilots controlled possession and created numerous chances, but the two teams would enter the locker room at the half with Gonzaga leading 2-1.
 
After the half, the Pilots nearly found the equalizer when Gio Magana-Rivera hit the post with a side volley from the top of the box, and Greg Tracey had a decent attempt on the rebound, but it was saved by the GU goalkeeper Ben Willis.
 
Moments later Hendel leveled the score when Michel found him with a pass inside the 18, and he chipped one over the hard-charging Willis to make it a 2-2 game with his first goal of the season.
 
The Pilots then surged ahead when Dixon found the back of the net in the 72nd minute. This time it was Hendel who set up the score when he drew the Gonzaga defense and the keeper to him as he had possession deep in the attacking third. That left Dixon unmarked for an easy finish after the pass from Hendel.
 
The Zags did have a few chances after Portland's go-ahead goal, including in the 77th when Geanon had a shot from point blank range. But Portland goalkeeper Kienan Weekes came through with a clutch one-handed save to preserve the lead, and the Pilots would eventually leave Spokane with the huge road win.
 
The Pilots remain unbeaten on the year to improve to 9-0-2 (1-0-0 WCC), while Gonzaga drops to 2-7-2 (0-1-0 WCC). Portland is off to the program's best start to a season since 1989.
 
Both teams had players shown red cards on the night, with Willis picking up the booking when he came out of the box to challenge Michel with a tackle in the 66th minute. The Pilots played a man-up for 22 minutes until Jake Arteaga was issued his second yellow of the night.
 
Next week the Pilots return home to host the Loyola Marymount Lions on Friday night at Merlo Field. Kickoff for the WCC match is set for 7 p.m.

"The group continues to stick together and overcome adversity, and we couldn't be more proud of them for coming back on the road to open up our league schedule," added Carlin-Voigt. "We now prepare for a tough LMU team Friday night back at Merlo."