PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Pilots held a sizeable advantage in shots and created quality chances all game long, but in the end an own-goal proved to be the difference as the San Diego Toreros escaped Merlo Field with a 1-0 win over Portland in the West Coast Conference regular season finale played on Saturday night. The Pilots out-shot the Toreros 22-6 on the night.
 
From the opening whistle, it was the Pilots (6-6-5, 2-4-3 WCC) who controlled possession and had numerous chances in the final third of the field. Gabi Brummett had the first shot of the night in the second minute, and Kimberly Hazlett put one on-frame that was saved in the sixth minute.
 
The Pilots would continue to press from there, and Brummett hit one that was saved by the San Diego keeper, Amber Michel, in the 23rd minute. The Pilots then earned three consecutive corner kicks during the final minutes of the half, but they couldn't provide the finishing touch as the two sides entered the break scoreless.
 
It was more of the same in the second half as the Pilots continued to attack the Toreros, and Taryn Ries had a golden opportunity in the 54th minute. She had possession deep in the 18 with only the keeper to beat, but Michel came through with a game-saving stop on the shot from point blank range.
 
Hazlett struck one towards the top right corner of the frame that was denied by Michel in the 57th minute, and Brummett blasted a shot high in the 71st minute.
 
The Toreros then claimed the night's only goal in the 75th minute, which came on a corner kick. Michaela Foster sent in the well-place ball, and it took a deflection off of a Pilot before finding the back of the net.
 
The Pilots nearly provided the equalizer during the final 15 minutes, including when Emily Collier hammered a shot from distance that was just high of the cross bar with seven minutes left.
 
Portland had its best chance of the night in the closing seconds when Anja Koehler nearly found the left corner of the net with a header from near the top of the six-yard box. But Michel made a clutch, diving stop to preserve the shutout for San Diego (8-9-1, 4-5-0 WCC).
 
Michel finished with four saves, while Portland keeper Madison Zamora countered with three. Brummett and Ries each finished with five shots for the Pilots.
 
It was Senior Night at Merlo Field, and the Pilots honored Lucy Davidson, Jasmine Garibay, Juliana Guthner, Hazlett, Rachel Khaw, Koehler, Brianna Miyama, Natalie Muth, Amber Mutsaers, Larkin Russell, and Sydney Warren with a pre-game ceremony.