LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Portland Pilots men's soccer team was victorious in their first road match of the season, taking down the UCLA Bruins 1-0 in Los Angeles. The win puts the Pilots above .500 at 3-2 on the season and is the first road win and regular season win ever for the Pilots against the Bruins.
"Incredibly proud of the program and players tonight," Pilots head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt said. "UCLA is a very talented team who will win a lot of games. Our entire team and staff bought into what was needed to earn a gritty result."
The win also marks the second in a row for the Pilots against the Bruins. Back in 2018, the Pilots defeated UCLA 1-0 at Merlo Field in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the first playoff win for the Pilots since 2009 and the first home playoff win since 2002.
Kevin Bonilla scored the lone goal of the match for the Pilots. It marked the first of both the season and his career.
Portland came out strong to start the match. The Pilots worked their way up the sides of the field through their wingers and put pressure on UCLA's goal early. They looked controlled in possession and generated early chances as a result.
UCLA became more aggressive as the half progressed. The Bruins used their speed to try and penetrate the backline of the Pilots and started ripping off shots at a rapid pace. But the Pilots handled the pressure from the Bruins well and staved off the attack.
The Pilots opened up the scoring in the 33
rd minute. R.J. Stretch took the ball down the left sideline and sent a cross into the box. Christoforos Kourtis had a touch, but it ultimately deflected off the midfielder. Fortunately for Portland, Bonilla was right there to clean things up, blasting a shot that was redirected in for a score. Bonilla's shot made it 1-0 Pilots, which would be the score heading into the half.
"They are a good team," Carlin-Voigt said. "I thought we played a very strong first half and created a lot of chances."
The second half started with both teams aggressively attacking the goal. Portland looked to catch UCLA off guard on the counterattack and the Bruins did the same. UCLA in particular looked much stronger to start the half than in the first, but Portland once again handled the Bruins well.
Portland looked especially impressive in the second half defending against set pieces. The Bruins had nine corner kicks and several free kick opportunities, and every time the Pilots managed to fend them off. Brian O'Hara in particular played a key role in helping the Pilots' backline stay strong when facing adversity.
UCLA searched frantically for the equalizer, but Portland's backline remained steadfast in their defense while George Tasouris was once again stellar between the pipes, making two key saves in the waning minutes of the match. The equalizer eluded the Bruins as Portland would go on to win 1-0.
"We knew the second half would be us protecting a lead on the road, and we did what was needed." Carlin-Voigt said. "We will grow and build form the performance and prepare for a quick turnaround Monday. I also want to thank all of our fans who traveled to LA to support the Pilots."
The Pilots will be back home on Monday, Sept. 13 for their match against the Sacramento State Hornets. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats, video and ticketing options.
