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The Pilots gather after a goal against Sacramento State.
0
Sacramento St. SAC (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
3
Winner Portland POR (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Sacramento St. SAC
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
3
Portland POR
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Sacramento St. SAC 0 0 0
Portland POR 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

No. 13 Pilots Shut out Hornets 3-0 in Season Opener

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The No. 13 Portland Pilots started the 2023 fall campaign with a bang, taking down the Sacramento State Hornets 3-0 in the season opener. The win was the biggest in a season opener against a NCAA Division I opponent for Portland since 2004.

Three different Pilots scored on the day, with Sebastian Nava, Samory Powder and Michael Hatcher all scoring.

How it Happened

Portland broke the 0-0 tie when Sebastian Nava scored his first goal of the season in the fourth minute, assisted by Kevin Bonilla and Buba Fofanah. Nava finished a beautiful play up the right side of the 18-yard box to score the first goal of the year.

The Pilots added another score on a goal from Samory Powder -- his first goal of the season and the first of his Pilot career -- in the 66th minute, assisted by Bonilla. Powder headed one in off an inch-perfect cross from Bonilla to make it 2-0.

Portland went up 3-0 on Michael Hatcher's 86th-minute goal, his first of the season and second of his career. Nick Fernandez assisted the goal, with Hatcher perfectly curling the low shot around the goalkeeper. The 3-0 score held to the end of the game.

Game Notes

  • Portland's win is their biggest against an NCAA Division I opponent in a season opener since 2004. That year, they also beat Sacramento State.
  • 2,342 spectators attended the game.
  • Miguel-Angel Hernandez collected three saves for the Pilots out of 16 total Hornets shots. He also earned the shutout in his Pilot debut.
  • Powder's goal was his first of the season and the first of his Pilot career.
  • Nava scored the first goal of the season for the Pilots for the second time of his career. He also scored the opening goal his freshman season against Air Force in 2021.
  • Hatcher's goal was the second of his career.
  • Bonilla is the first Pilot since Miles Robinson in 2020-21 to earn multiple assists in a season opener. He's the first to do so against a Division I opponent since Jarrod Weis in 2002.
  • Seven different Pilots made their debut today: Miguel-Angel Hernandez; Samory Powder; Boyd Curry; Timothy Ennin; Diego Rosas; Isaac Homer; and Efetobo Aror
Porltand Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt on the win

"Great to start the season with a shutout and win in our home opener. The first game of a college season presents new energy, opportunity and excitement and I thought we came out on the front foot. You never are quite sure how the opener will twist and turn as we have been waiting nearly nine months since the Elite 8 to play a game that counts. I have a lot of respect for Sac State and their coaching staff and they certainly presented moments that asked questions of us. We were gritty tonight when we needed to dig in, specifically when they made their push and had many players step up. Our depth was tested early in the season and our group responded beautifully. We certainly have room to improve, but overall just very proud of our performance tonight. Goals change games and our second goal pushed us towards the finish line. Couldn't be more happy for Michael Hatcher and his family to score a wonderful goal and the genuine happiness everyone had for him tonight. It speaks volumes to the loving family culture around our program."

Up Next

The Pilots will be back at Merlo Field to host the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. The two teams play on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.

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