PORTLAND, Ore. --- Saint Mary's scored late in the first half and the Pilots had an apparent goal waved off in the second half as the No. 5 Gaels escaped Merlo Field with a 1-0 win over No. 15 Portland in the West Coast Conference regular season finale on Saturday night. The Gaels, who had already clinched the WCC title, remain unbeaten on the year, while the Pilots will learn their possible postseason fate on Monday morning.
 
Down 1-nil in the 79th minute, Portland nearly connected on the equalizer when Drew Boyd sent a header towards the frame on a great ball sent in by Greg Tracey. SMC keeper Remi Prier made a clutch, diving save to push the ball wide as the Pilots earned on a corner kick.
 
Then on the corner, the ball took a few bounces inside the area before being deposited into the back of the net, as it appeared the Pilots had leveled the score. But the goal was waved off because of a foul called against the home side, allowing the Gaels to preserve their lead.
 
From there Portland continued to pressure the final third, and Gio Magana-Rivera sent a driven shot high of the crossbar in the 81st minute. Benji Michel had a shot blocked in the 86th minute, and during the closing seconds Malcolm Dixon hit one wide, which would prove to be the final shot of the match.
 
The Gaels cap a nearly perfect season as they head to the playoffs with a 17-0-1 overall record and a 6-0-1 mark in the WCC. Portland, who battled injuries all season long to key players, sit at 11-3-3, and are 3-3-1 in the conference.
 
Neither team was able to create many opportunities in the first half, but the Pilots out-shot the Gaels during the opening 45 minutes. In the 33rd minute, R.J. Stretch sent a brilliant ball into the area after a stellar step-over to lose the defender. Near the right post, Dixon tried to finish first time, but his effort was hit wide as the game remained scoreless.
 
In the 40th minute, Francesco Tiozzo sent a long ball over the top that Michel got on the end of inside the 18-yard box. Michel got off a well-struck shot, but a Saint Mary's defender was there to deny the attempt.
 
The Gaels then took advantage of a free kick in the 44th minute after a foul was called against Portland, just outside the top of the box. Stephen Dougherty hit the free attempt just right, and his shot bent inside the post to hand the visiting side a 1-nil lead with his sixth goal of the season.
 
After the break, the Pilots controlled possession for long stretches during the second half. In the 61st minute, Magana-Rivera sent a low cross towards the top of the sixth, but Michel couldn't quite get his feet right as the shot was wide of the left post.
 
Five Portland seniors were making their final regular season appearance at Merlo Field, and the Pilots honored Shane Aranda, Dixon, Lionel Mills, Brennan Weber, and Kienan Weekes with a pre-game ceremony.
 
The NCAA will announce the field for the 2018 playoffs with a selection show on Monday, which will stream live at NCAA.com at 10 a.m. (Pacific).