PORTLAND, Ore -- Portland Pilots men's soccer defender Kevin Bonilla was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com (TDS) National Team of the Week for the week of Sept. 6-12. It is the first time Bonilla has ever earned the honor and marks the first time a Pilot has done so since 2019.
Bonilla helped the Pilots earn their first ever regular season victory and first ever road victory over the UCLA Bruins last week, scoring the game-winner in the first half. Bonilla was also excellent defensively throughout the match, helping the Pilots earn what was then their third shutout of the season. The Pilots had only defeated the Bruins twice before, both times being in the playoffs. They beat UCLA at home en route to a College Cup appearance in 1988 and again back in 2018 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Dallas, Texas native has been a steady presence along the backline all season long for the Pilots after playing in just one match his freshman year. The sophomore has started in all six matches for Portland, helping the team earn four shutouts this year as primarily a right back. Along with his goal against UCLA, he also earned an assist in Portland's 2-0 win over the Air Force Falcons.
The Pilots are in great form at the moment, having earned three clean sheets in a row after their 1-0 win over the Sacramento State Hornets last night to put their record at 4-2-0. Next up, they will play the Seattle Redhawks here in Portland for the second annual Caffé D'arte Coffee Cup. Kickoff is set for Friday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats, video and ticket options.
