PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women's soccer program has announced its schedule for 2019, which features nine opponents who have reached the NCAA playoffs within the past two years. The Pilots will play eight home dates in the fall, and they open the regular season with three straight road fixtures.
 
"Starting with the first game on our regular season schedule, we have put our team in a position to compete against some of the best teams in the country," said Portland head coach Michelle French. "With three formidable Pac-12 teams, a Summit League regular season and conference tournament champion, the Mountain West regular season champion and the Mountain West tournament champion, the WAC tournament champion, and the ACC regular season champion, there is no doubt we will have been tested on all levels prior to facing our challenging WCC opponents. With this schedule, we have an incredible opportunity in front of us to improve, grow, and display the commitment and dedication the team shows on a daily basis."
 
Following a home exhibition match with British Columbia on Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Pilots begin the 2019 campaign with consecutive trips to Seattle, Wash., first playing their longtime Northwest rival Washington Huskies on Friday, Aug. 23. This will mark the 40th game all-time between the Pilots and Huskies, with the first meeting coming back in 1982. UW has been to 21 NCAA tournaments, with 2015 being their most recent visit.
 
A week later the Pilots return north for the annual Husky Nike Invitational, where they'll face New Mexico and North Carolina, who reached the NCAA title game last fall. The Pilots and Lobos last met in 2017, and this will be the first contest with the Tar Heels since 2012 when Portland defeated UNC at Merlo Field. The Tar Heels have won 22 NCAA National Championships during their storied history.
 
Portland plays their first home game on Sunday, Sept. 8, when they host Denver as part of the 2019 Nike Portland Invitational. In 2018 the Pioneers won the Summit League Tournament and made their 10th appearance in the NCAA Playoffs.
 
On Friday, Sept. 13, the Pilots venture south for a match-up with the Oregon Ducks in Eugene. Portland has won 18 of the last 19 meetings with Oregon, and it's a rivalry that dates back to 1982.
 
Two days later on May 15 the Pilots are back on The Bluff to host Seattle U at Merlo Field. The Redhawks are also a 2018 NCAA playoff team after claiming the WAC tournament title last fall. Seattle has been to the postseason four times during the past seven seasons.
 
The next weekend brings another match with a 2018 playoff team when the Pilots travel to the Bay Area to face the San Jose State Spartans on Friday, Sept. 20. UP women's soccer alum Lauren Hanson enters her fifth year as head coach at SJSU, and she's guided the Spartans to three NCAA Tournaments.
 
While in Northern California the Pilots will also visit Cal for a contest with the Bears on Sunday, Sept. 22, in Berkeley. Cal has made the playoffs 23 times, which includes a recent stretch of 13 straight NCAA berths.
 
Portland begins play in the West Coast Conference with a trip to Malibu, Calif., for a match with the Pepperdine Waves on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Waves have been to the NCAA Postseason during eight of the last nine years.
 
The following Wednesday (Oct. 9) brings a home game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs as the WCC switches their league games to a Saturday-Wednesday format after going mostly with a Friday-Sunday schedule in the past. The Zags are coming off one of their most successful seasons ever, posting a 10-4-4 record last fall.
 
Portland is in Moraga, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 12 to match-up with the Saint Mary's Gaels, and they will welcome the Santa Clara Broncos to Merlo Field on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Broncos reached the NCAA Second Round in 2018.
 
The match with Santa Clara begins a string of three straight home games for the Pilots, which continues Wednesday, Oct. 23 when reigning league champion BYU visits North Portland. Next up is San Francisco, who comes to Merlo Field on Saturday, Oct. 26.
 
A pair of road contests at Pacific (Nov. 1) and at Loyola Marymount (Nov. 6) follow before the Pilots conclude the regular season with a home date against San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 9.
 
In her first year as head coach, French guided the Pilots to 11 wins last fall, which was more than double the previous year's total. The Pilots also exploded for 30 goals, nearly tripling the goal output from 2017, and Portland was solid defensively as eight of their wins were shutouts.
 
2019 season tickets are now on sale, and fans can reserve their seat at historic Merlo Field by calling or texting 503-943-GoUP (4687), or by visiting PortlandPilots.com/SoccerTickets. Stadium chairs, which offer the best views in the stadium, start at $215, bench backs are available for $135, and general admission seats start at only $85. One season ticket is good for every men's and women's soccer home game.
 
The popular fan experiences also return for the 2019 Fall Season, so make sure to reserve a group experience for your team/group while they're still available. Reservations require a 10-ticket deposit per experience. To receive more information on specific fan experiences, or to purchase your group package, please call or text 503-943-GoUP (4687), or visit PortlandPilots.com/SoccerTickets.