PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots women's soccer team will play one exhibition game here at Merlo Field against the British Columbia Thunderbirds before officially opening the regular season next week. The Pilots and Thunderbirds will play tomorrow, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. Live stats will be available at PortlandPilots.com.

The Pilots are coming off a strong 2021 campaign that saw them post a 9-8 overall record and a 5-4 record against conference opponents. Their WCC record of 5-4 was their best since 2013 and their fifth-place finish was also their best since that year. They return two All-WCC honorees in forward Nedya Sawan and goalkeeper Bre Norris, with 16 total returners and 10 newcomers. The Pilots were picked to finish fifth in the WCC in the annual WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, with Sawan making the WCC Preseason Team.

The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, went a solid 12-4-1 last season, advancing to the Canada West Final Four Championship and playing in the bronze medal match of the U SPORTS Soccer Championship. The Thunderbirds came up just short in both final matches. Last year, the Thunderbirds won the U SPORTS title for the seventh time in program history, cementing their place as one of the top programs in Canadian college soccer history.

Portland opens the regular season next Thursday with a home match against the Utah Utes. Kickoff for that match is set for 7 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PortlandPilots.com with tickets available at PortlandPilots.com/Tickets.

Season tickets for all men's and women's soccer matches are available now, starting at $75. Flex tickets are also available, with the option to buy 10 undated ticket vouchers that can be redeemed both in advance or on game day at the ticket office. For more information, check out PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or call Dave Taylor at (503) 943-8619.