PORTLAND, Ore. – Success breeds ambition, especially in athletics. The better one does in their respective sport, naturally, the more they want to see that success continue. Portland Pilots Women's Soccer is no different.
 
The Pilots recent finished their best season in almost 10 years. They went 12-5-4 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. They were unbeaten through their first 13 matches, their longest such streak since 2005, the year they won their second national championship. They were undefeated at home for the first time since 2010. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament with a dominant 3-0 win over Arizona State and fell in what was a resilient battle against the top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide 2-1. It was unquestionably a resurgent year for Pilot soccer, and it has sparked something in this squad.
 
"This group already had a fire lit inside them – the success they had this past fall has definitely provided air to that fire," Portland head coach Michelle French said. "They're going to be more motivated, they're going to be more driven, they're going to be more confident, and they're also going to be more challenged – not only from us as a staff, but from teams that they compete against."
 
That's what happens after consistently putting up good results against quality opponents. That Alabama match was one that helped provide air for the fire. It was one of a few matches this year where they felt they had a better shot than what might have been originally thought. The scoreboard doesn't fully reflect how well they played.
 
"Every member of  our UP women's soccer bubble felt we had a good chance of winning that game," French said. "We put ourselves in a great position to be able to do that,  it's now seen as a jumping-off point for the current, and incoming, players that are a part of this program."
   
There were several results throughout the year that helped bolster the Pilots both nationally and internally. Wins over teams like Nebraska, Utah Valley and Pepperdine – three teams that at one point this season either made the Top 25 or received votes – all helped (the win over Pepperdine was their first since 2013). Important ties like the 0-0 draw against Washington State, another Top-25 team, also helped.
 
"Those are the games that stand out as really important and influential ones," French said. "Not only from results and a RPI perspective, simply from a confidence and momentum building perspective for the team."
 
The defense is where it all starts for Portland. They were one of the top defenses both in the conference and in NCAA Division I. They finished the year first in the WCC in save percentage (.840) and second in goals-against average (.905). The last time they allowed less than a goal a game was 2013. At one point, they ranked in the top five in the nation in both categories.
 
Their shutout streak played no small part in making that happen. After giving up two goals in their opening match against Utah, the Pilots didn't allow a goal for six straight matches, their longest streak since 2010. They shut out 11 teams in total, which was their highest total since 2009.
 
"Defensively, there was a collective buy-in to how we wanted to defend," French said. "Every player had an important role that allowed the team to be fluid, organized and committed defensively."
 
Several players were crucial to building that stout defense. In her second year starting between the pipes, goalkeeper Bre Norris proved essential, posting a conference-high .849 save percentage while adding 90 saves (including eight in that Alabama match) and a .818 GAA. Her 90 saves were the third most of any Pilot in program history and were good enough earn her All-WCC Second Team honors as well as All-West Region Second Team recognition. Her 11 shutouts also ranked seventh nationally
 
Norris was critical along with senior defender Shay Adams. Adams suffered a knee injury in Portland's first-round playoff win over the Sun Devils, but prior to that she had started in almost every match and was one of the best one-on-one defenders on the west coast, earning All-West Region First Team honors.
 
Offensively, the Pilots weren't pushovers either. Three players scored five or more goals on the year for the first time since (believe it or not) 2013. Their 33 goals on the year were the most since that same year as well.
 
Cally Togiai led the way with six goals and four assists, becoming the first Pilot since Taryn Ries in 2018 to hit both of those thresholds. Nedya Sawan and Kayla Adams both had five goals each, with Adams adding three assists and Sawan tallying two. 14 different Pilots scored on the season, with the diversity in attack making life difficult for opposing defenses.
 
"We were exceptionally unpredictable in our attack," French said. "Opponents couldn't circle one specific player that they needed to manage on the field to keep us from scoring. We were diverse in the way we scored, and unpredictable in terms of who the finisher would be."
   
French sees several other players as also hugely important to Portland's success. They're the "unsung heroes", players like Isabella Yakel, the only freshman to play in all 21 matches this season and the only freshman to make the All-WCC freshman team for the Pilots. Or Colby Wilson, who played only 10 games last season and played every game this year with 20 starts. Or even Sophia Mattice, who earned All-WCC Honorable Mention recognition and was second on the team in assists with three.
 
Beyond that, there are players like freshman Katana Norman, who played the second most games of any Pilot freshman behind Yakel at 20 primarily as an outside back. There's Keeley Dockter, the redshirt freshman who played seemingly everywhere in the midfield and even back line. Several players made an impact, and several of them will be back next year.
 
"In our post-season conversations, we're looking at our potential roster for not only spring, but also for the Fall '23 season, and asking a lot of questions. What will be this specific player's best position to be impactful and highlight her skills?  What formations are possible?"  French said.  "At minimum, with the returning players, there is an opportunity for flexibility not only in terms of formations, but also in how we want to play and how we want to highlight each one of their respective skill-sets."
 
It's a good problem to have, with so many diverse players on the roster. With the success from this season, there's a solid foundation they can now build upon. The players know what's possible; now it's time to take it further.
 
"My hope is that as a group, they got a taste of what's possible," French said. "We're exceptionally excited for what the future could hold for the program."

Women's Soccer Highlights

• The Pilots had their highest win total since 2013 and also played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since that year.
• Their 3-0 win over Arizona State was their biggest margin of victory in a playoffs match since their 9-0 win in the first round over UTSA back in 2010.
• At 12-5-4, their win percentage of .667 was their highest since the 2013 season.
• Five Pilots earned All-WCC honors, with Shay Adams making the first team, Bre Norris and Cally Togiai making the second team, Sophia Mattice earning honorable mention and Isabella Yakel making the freshman team.
• Two Pilots earned All-West Region honors as well, with Adams making the first team and Norris making the second team.
• Portland led the WCC in save percentage (.840) and were second in goals-against average (.905).
• At one point they held a ranking as high as 14^th in the nation, their highest such ranking since 2014.
• They went the first 13 matches of the season unbeaten, their longest such streak since 2005, the year they won their second national championship.
• The Pilots had 11 shutouts on the year, the most by a Pilot team since the 2009 season.
• Norris was the starting goalkeeper for all 11 of those matches, giving her the most shutouts for a Pilot since 2009. That total ranked seventh nationally.
• Norris also led the WCC in goalie minutes played (1,759:37) and save percentage (.849). She was 21^st nationally in save percentage.
• Her 90 saves this season are the third most from a Pilot over the course of a season.
• Togiai was the first Pilot since Taryn Ries in 2018 to total at least five goals and four assists. Togiai had six goals and four assists on the year and ranked second in game-winning goals (four).

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