PORTLAND, Ore. --- Junior Benji Michel scored his ninth goal of the season and the No. 13 Pilots held Northern Illinois to just five shots as Portland claimed a convincing 3-0 win over the Huskies on Friday night at Merlo Field. The win allows the Pilots to improve to 8-0-2, which is their best start to a season since 1989.
 
"Proud of the guys to complete a solid week with an important win against another team who was nationally ranked," said Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt, whose Pilots won 2-1 on Monday night at No. 24 Coastal Carolina. "It was a challenging week with across country travel, but our guys responded with positive energy and came out with a strong start.:
 
The Pilots were in control the entire night and Michel began the scoring when he finished with a header in the 11th minute. Gio Magana-Rivera sent a corner towards the far post, and Michel elevated to find the back of the net with a powerful header. Michel entered the game No. 5 in the nation in goals, and he notches his sixth game-winner.
 
The game remained 1-0 until Malcolm Dixon collected his second goal of the year in the 64th minute. Tristan Weber sent a pass wide to find Greg Tracey, who whipped in a cross towards the top of the six. That's where Dixon connected with a header, handing the Pilots a commanding 2-0 edge.
 
And then at the 74-minute mark, Tracey scored his first career goal to seal the win. Magana-Rivera gained possession near the half line and dribbled the ball 30 yards up field before finding the feet of Tracey. The freshman then produced a composed finished when he hit it inside the left post, and Magana-Rivera's second assist of the game gives him five on the year.
 
Portland was solid on defense all game long as the Huskies (7-3-0) did not put a shot on-target, and most of their attempts came from outside the 18-yard box. NIU entered the night No. 13 in the NCAA's RPI rankings and sit at No. 24 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll.
 
Goalkeeper Kienan Weekes played the first 83 minutes, and Nico Campuzano finished off the shutout as  the pair combined for Portland's third clean sheet of the year.

The Pilots played with a man advantage for the final 32 minutes after NIU's Lawrence Kwazema was shown a straight red after a foul in the 58th.
 
Portland's 10-game unbeaten streak is the longest since the Pilots went 14 matches without a loss in 1995.
 
"I was happy we played 23 players tonight," added Carlin-Voigt. "Numerous guys stepped up tonight when called upon and that unity and team spirit will continue to be our focus. We now re-focus and recover as we shift our attention towards WCC conference play and starting to prepare for a good Gonzaga team. We thank all of the students and community who came out to support our program."
 
The game with the Huskies was the final non-conference match of the season as the Pilots next open play in the West Coast Conference against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., next Saturday. Kickoff for the two northwest rivals is set for 7 p.m.