PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Pilots Men's Soccer is ranked 22nd in the nation heading into the 2024 fall season on the annual preseason United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. It's the second year in a row the Pilots have been ranked in the preseason poll.

The Pilots were one of three WCC teams to make the poll, with the Oregon State Beavers ranking fourth and the LMU Lions taking the 11th spot. Last year, they finished the season ranked 22nd as well.

Portland has been one of the most exciting programs in the country, leading the nation in combined goals per game over the last two years (2.52). They set a program record with a home unbeaten streak that extended to 28 games (26-0-2) dating back to the 2021 season. This past year they led the conference in 11 different statistical categories and nationally ranked first in points per game (8.47), second in goals per game (2.65) and assists per game (3.18), fourth in assists (54), fifth in total points (144) and sixth in total goals (45) and goal differential (30). Portland is 10th in the country in NCAA Director Cup points from NCAA Participation the last three years as well.

The Pilots had three players taken in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, the most in program history, with Kevin Bonilla, Jacob Babalai and Buba Fofanah all being selected. Since 2016, nine different Pilot players have gone on to earn the chance to play in MLS either through the SuperDraft or homegrown signings. Bonilla, who signed with Real Salt Lake after being a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, was the first Pilot taken in the first round since 2010. The Pilots have had 11 players go on to play abroad as well since 2017.

Portland will play two exhibition matches -- one against the Oregon State Beavers on Aug. 12 in Corvallis and another against the Seattle U Redhawks in Portland on Aug. 16 -- before opening the regular season on Friday, Aug. 23 against the Washington Huskies. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. here at Merlo Field. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.

---

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.