PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots scored a season-high five goals and forward Alejandro Pereira netted a hat trick as they took down the San Diego Toreros 5-1 to earn their first WCC win. The victory puts the Pilots above .500 at 6-5-0 and makes them 1-1-0 in conference play.

Pereira and Luke Hendel were the goalscorers for the Pilots. Pereira's hat trick gave him his first multi-goal game of his career. Hendel's goal was also the first of his season. The fifth goal for the Pilots came on an own goal. Robert Webb scored the lone goal for the Toreros.

Portland methodically attacked the goal early in the match. They slowly built from the backline, picking and choosing their spots with great success. They put together five shots in just the first 15 minutes and were the clear aggressors from the get-go.

The aggression paid off in the 22^nd minute. The Pilots played a ball into the box that hit the hand of Robert Webb. The handball was called, and Portland had a chance at a penalty kick. Pereira stepped up to take the shot and knocked it in with authority. Pereira gave the Pilots a 1-0 lead.

The Pilots didn't wait long to score again. In the 26^th minute, Greg Tracey started to bring the ball up through the midfield. Tracey worked it wide to Kevin Bonilla, who took the ball down the sideline. Bonilla put an inch-perfect low cross into the box that found Pereira. The forward kicked it past San Diego keeper Berk Watson to earn his second goal of the day and make it 2-0 Pilots.

Portland would earn one more goal before the first 30 minutes had expired. The Pilots put together a suffocating high press in the 29^th minute. Luke Hendel dispossessed his mark and attacked. He took the ball and chipped a shot right above Watson to give Portland their third goal of the half.

The Toreros were handed a disadvantage in the 36^th minute after Praise Maduekwe drew a straight red card. The Pilots continued to relentlessly attack the goal, taking 12 shots before the first 45 had ended. Portland would not score, however, for the rest of the half.

It did not take long into the second half for the Pilots to add to their score total. Portland once again had the ball deep into their own final third, with the ball landing at Bonilla's feet. Bonilla crossed it into the box, looking to score. San Diego's Kai Peterson slid into the box in hopes of clearing the ball, but instead, he kicked it right into his own goal. The own goal made it 4-0 Pilots.

San Diego broke through for the first and only time of the match in the 63^rd minute. San Diego finally broke past Portland's backline and Robert Webb snuck it by Portland keeper George Tasouris to bring the Toreros within three.

But Portland didn't let it stay that way for long. In the 74^th minute, the Pilots worked the ball down the sideline to Brandon Cambridge. The winger crossed the ball into the box for an on-rushing Pereira, who once again put it into the back of the net. That goal made it 5-1, which would be the final.

The Pilots are off for the next week, restarting WCC play on Oct. 23 when they travel to Los Angeles, Calif. for their match against the Loyola Marymount Lions. That match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video.