PORTLAND, Ore.—The Pilots pushed the attack from the opening whistle and never let down, producing 26 shots in a 3-0 defeat over North Dakota in a women's soccer match held at Merlo Field on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Elianna Wong and senior Sophie French each collected their first career goals in the second half, and All-WCC striker Taryn Ries converted a penalty kick in the 62nd minute to hand the Pilots their fourth shutout victory to close out non-conference play.
 
Portland (4-4-0, 0-0-0 WCC) put on a dominating display throughout the game, forcing North Dakota (2-5-0, 0-0-0 Summit) goalkeeper Madi Livingston into several critical blocks, who finished with seven saves by the end of regulation time. 10 different Pilots each had cracks at goal against the Fighting Hawks, and 10 of Portland's 26 attempts came off the foot of sophomore forward Nedya Sawan.
 
The Pilots kept the majority of the match in North Dakota's half, with freshman forward Cally Togiai sparking two scoring chances early in the game. The Tualatin native first slipped in Sawan near North Dakota's box, although the striker's shot flew just above the bar in the eighth minute. Portland's press created another solid opportunity just two minutes later, when Ellie Walker floated in a service from the left side after combining with Nyota Katembo, and Togiai was there to connect on the cross—but Livingston managed the save.
 
Portland's next solid chance came in the 25th minute, when Ries took it end line to get around a North Dakota defender, seeing Sawan, who hammered it on frame although Livingston found the clutch touch on the effort.
 
A short time later, junior winger MJ Roe checked into the match for the first time this season, and got involved right away by drilling a right-footed shot on target—again saved by the Fighting Hawks' keeper to preserve a scoreless game at the midway break.
 
Ries started the Pilots' second-half scoring spree in the 62nd minute, caplitalizing on a kick from the spot after a North Dakota hand-ball was called in the box.
 
Not even five minutes later Wong followed with her goal, driving the ball in from deep on the left side, nicking it off the post and over the line to give the home side the 2-0 lead.
 
French capped an exciting Portland performance in the 81st minute, letting go a screamer from the top of North Dakota's eighteen which took a deflection before hitting the back of the net for the Pilots' third and final goal.
 
Portland goalkeeper Bre Norris was needed for just one save in the match—stopping a North Dakota penalty kick in the 77th minute—and the freshman picked up her fourth clean sheet after the Pilots defense held their opposition to just five shots total.
 
The Pilots will have some time off before beginning the West Coast Conference season against ninth-ranked Pepperdine, with a matchup in Malibu happening on Saturday, October 2nd. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
Highlights from today's match can be found here.