STOCKTON, Calif. – Freshman striker Buba Fofanah scored his second goal of the season, but the Portland men's soccer team opened West Coast Conference play with a 2-1 loss to the Pacific Tigers Sunday afternoon at Knoles Field. The Pilots fall to 1-2 overall, while the Tigers improve to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in league play.

With Pacific leading 2-0 midway through the second half, the Pilots began to take control and created numerous chances late in regulation.

Fofanah capitalized with a superb effort in the 72nd minute. He received a throw-in just outside the box on the left side. He settled it down and took one touch between three Pacific defenders before blasting a shot into the upper right corner.

Portland nearly equalized in the 84th minute when Alejandro Pereira teed up a shot from the top of the box, but Pacific goalie Eric Cotton pushed the shot wide.

Portland had a decisive 16-8 advantage in shots and 8-1 margin in corner kicks for the game, but the two-goal cushion held up for Pacific on its home pitch.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a build up from the back. The ball ended up on the left side with Diego Villapudua and Samuel Saiz Herraiz combining and sending a cross to the center of the goal box where Avery Whipple rose up to convert a point-blank header.

Pacific doubled its lead in the 51st minute when Samuel Villalta put away a rebound from the center of the box. Herraiz again created the opportunity with a run into the left side of the box. He cut back and hit a low shot to the near post that was stopped by Pilot goalkeeper Lute Lillo Portero, but the deflection went right to Villalta for the finish.

Portland will return to Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex and continue WCC play against the Loyola Marymount Lions on Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m.