SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Portland Pilots Handed the No. 3 San Diego Toreros their first loss in WCC play this season with a 2-0 win in San Diego on Saturday. The win improved Portland's record to 6-4-7 overall and 3-0-4 in WCC action.
Nick Fernandez and Joe Highfield scored the goals for Portland, with Fernandez delivering the game-winner. Miguel-Angel Hernandez recorded his second straight shutout for Portland as well. The win is the first for the Pilots over a top three team since their victory over No. 1 Indiana back in 2000.
How it Happened
Portland broke the scoreless tie when Nick Fernandez scored his fourth goal of the season in the 34th minute, assisted by Joe Highfield. Highfield originally had a shot blocked before Fernandez corralled it, rolling it by San Diego for the score.
The Pilots extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Highfield -- his sixth goal of the season -- in the 83rd minute, assisted by Muslim Umar. The Pilots took advantage of a miscue by the Toreros, with Umar pushing the pass to Highfield for the score. The goal put the score at its final.
Game Notes
- Highfield's goal was his sixth of the season. That total is the most by a Pilot in his freshman season since Benji Michel in 2016 and is also tied for the most by any Pilot this year.
- Fernandez's goal was his fourth of the season. His four goals are the most he's posted in any season with the Pilots.
- Miguel-Angel Hernandez recorded two saves for the Pilots out of 18 total Toreros shots. This is the third shutout he's recorded this season, and the second against a team ranked in the top three of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll.
- Portland's win over the No. 3 Toreros is their first over a top three team since 2000.
- Portland's unbeaten streak extends to eight games
- The Pilots last went their first seven games in conference play unbeaten in 2011. They had never gone unbeaten in their first seven WCC matches prior to this.
- The Pilots are 1-0-1 against teams ranked in the top three this season.
- San Diego was unbeaten in WCC play prior to the loss.
Quote From Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt
"Really proud of the result in a hard fought game. Our guys have continued to stick together and improve game by game. Not many people will ever fully know about the adversity this group has dealt with and I couldn't be more proud of them and their resiliency. Great collective team performance and thought we were deserved winner tonight in a tough place to play against a top three team on the road who were unbeaten in the WCC. We took our chances well and overcame some wild hurdles out of our control. Goals change games and we thought we scored three. After the goal was disallowed we got stronger when many teams would have had a tough time moving on. We will turn our attention to OSU in our last regular season game."
Up Next
The Pilots return home for the regular season finale against the Oregon State Beavers. The two teams play on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. here in Portland. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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