SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Portland Pilots Men's Soccer was picked to finish first in the West Coast Conference in the annual WCC Coaches Preseason Poll. A program record four players were also picked to the All-WCC Preseason Team: Jacob Babalai, Kevin Bonilla, Nick Fernandez and Sebastian Nava.

This is the second season in a row that the Pilots have been picked to finish first in the conference. Portland received four first-place votes and 46 points total to finish just ahead of San Diego, who had 44 points. LMU and Saint Mary's trailed in third and fourth with 33 and 32 points respectively, Santa Clara was picked fifth with 24 points, Pacific was picked sixth with 20, San Francisco seventh with 18 and Gonzaga eighth with seven.

Babalai is coming off a stellar season where he scored eight goals and added four assists for 20 points. He was second in the WCC in both points and goals and also ranked third in game-winning goals (34^th nationally at three). He scored the game-winner in Portland's 1-0 win over UC Riverside in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament as well as the game-winner against Oregon State the following round. Along with Brandon Cambridge, he was the first Pilot to eclipse 20 points in a season since Benji Michel in 2018.

Bonilla played and started in almost every match for the Pilots last season as a fullback. He notched one goal and two assists on the year offensively while also helping the Pilots earn shutouts in 10 matches, the most since 1990. Bonilla earned All-WCC honors for the first time last season, making the second team, and also made the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team.

Fernandez was crucial in the midfield for Portland, playing in 20 matches with 19 starts and earning one goal and seven assists in those appearances. Fernandez was third in the WCC in assists last year and was stellar enough to make, the All-WCC First Team, the TopDrawerSoccer Freshmen Best XI Second Team and the All-West Region Third Team.

Finally, Nava returns as one of the top midfielders in college soccer. He was named to the United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch list and enters the year having earned All-WCC Honorable Mention and All-West Region Second Team honors. Nava's 10 assists last year led the WCC and ranked ninth in the nation, and it also marked the first time a Pilot has put up 10 assists in a year since Rey Ortiz in 2017. His 18 points total (four goals, 10 assists) ranked third in the conference.

The Pilots are coming off their best season since 1995, having posted a 15-3-3 record and a 7-1 record in WCC play. They made the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1995 as well. Their 11-0-2 record at home matched a program record set back in 1988. This year, the Pilots enter the season ranked 13^th in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and also bring in the No. 2 ranked recruiting class per TopDrawerSoccer.

Portland opens the regular season at home against the Sacramento State Hornets on Friday, Aug. 25. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.

2023 WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (first-place votes) points
Portland (4) 46
San Diego (4) 44
LMU 33
Saint Mary's 32
Santa Clara 24
Pacific 20
San Francisco 18
Gonzaga 7
 
2023 WCC Men's Soccer Preseason Team
Jacob Babalai – POR
Kevin Bonilla – POR
Caden Buckley - SCU
Trevor Dillon – USD
Nick Fernandez - POR
Max Hamelink – USF
Ross Johnstone - USD
Riley Lynch - SMC
Sebastian Nava - POR
Louis Sterobo - SMC
Mason Tunbridge – USD

---

Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App.  For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.

Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!

Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.