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Sebastian Hernandez yells in elation after scoring a goal.

Men's Soccer

No. 1 Pilots Face off Against LMU Down in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Conference play resumes for the No. 1 Portland Pilots, who take on the LMU Lions this Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. down in Los Angeles. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: LMU Lions (5-3-2, 1-0-0 WCC)
Day: Saturday
Date: Oct. 4, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Place: Portland, Ore.
Pitch: Merlo Field
Video: ESPN+
Stats: PortlandPilots.com

POR vs. LMU
Overall Series: 28-15-4
H: 14-6-4  •  A: 13-9-0  •  N: 1-0-0
Last: @POR 5, LMU 0 (2024)
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The No. 1 ranked Portland Pilots began WCC play with a bang, routing the Gonzaga Bulldogs 3-0 before taming the FIU Panthers 2-1 at home.
  • The wins put Portland's unbeaten streak at 19, the second longest in the nation behind Vermont and the longest in program history since 1988. They also close nonconference play undefeated for the first time since 2018.
  • Joe Highfield, Diego Rosas and David Ajagbe all scored against the Zags. With was the sixth goal of the year for Highfield, the first for Rosas and fifth for Ajagbe.
  • Highfield's six goals give him 13 through his first two seasons with the Pilots. It's the most goals by a Pilot through his first two years since Benji Michel (2016-17).
  • Rosas – the 11th Pilot to score this year – had both a goal and an assist on Saturday, the second goal of his career and 18th as a Pilot. It's the most assists through three seasons for a Pilot since Sebastian Nava (2021-23), and his seven assists total are the most through nine games since Kevin Bonilla in 2023.
  • The Pilots also posted their seventh clean sheet of the season, the most shutouts through just the first eight games for Portland in program history.
  • Nikos Clarke-Tosczak – who started and played 84 minutes for Portland's defense – earned an assist in the game as well, helping him earn WCC Defensive Player of the Week honors and TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week honors.
  • Anton Hjalmarsson and Ajagbe both scored against the Panthers, with Ajagbe's goal being the game-winner. Hjalmarsson's goal was his second of the year while Ajagbe's was his sixth.
  • Ajagbe has three game-winners now on the season, which ranks sixth nationally and first in the WCC.
  • The Pilots are currently ranked first in the nation by United Soccer Coaches. It's their highest ranking ever in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, and it's the first time they've been ranked first in any poll since 1992.
  • Portland ranks second nationally in total assists (33) and assists per game (3.67), third in points (85), goal differential (23) and points per game (9.44), fourth in goals per game (2.89), fifth in shutout percentage (.778) and total goals (26) and sixth in goals-against average (.375). They lead the WCC in all of those stats.
  • Their plus-23 goal differential is the highest for Portland through nine games since 1999.
  • Highfield's six goals and 15 total points are tied for first in the WCC. He is 15th nationally in total points and 16th in goals.
  • With seven assists, Rosas ranks second nationally and first in the WCC. He is also third in assists per game at 0.78.
  • Ajagbe also slides into first in the WCC in scoring, with his six goals ranking first in the conference and his 14 points fourth. His three game-winning goals is tied for sixth nationally and first in the conference.
  • Miguel-Angel Hernandez has been rock-solid defensively, leading the WCC in goals-against average (.375) and shutouts (six). He is seventh and fifth nationally in both of those categories.
  • This year, they were picked to finish third in the 2025 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll, with forward Joe Highfield and midfielder Efetobo Aror each making the preseason team.
  • Highfield was the first Pilot to make the All-WCC First Team and the All-WCC Freshman Team in the same season since Benji Michel in 2016, scoring seven goals and adding three assists. His four goals and three assists against WCC opponents were the second most in the conference.
  • Aror was drafted in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft this past year by the Colorado Rapids but chose to return. The WCC Freshman of the Year in 2023, he played in 10 matches with six starts, recording a goal and assist.
  • Aror, along with Pilot newcomer David Ajagbe, was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 players in the preseason, slotting in at 52nd. Ajagbe ranks 99th on the list.
  • Ajagbe scored seven goals and added two assists with the Ohio State Buckeyes last season, who earned the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament last year. Ajagbe made the All-Big Ten Freshman team and the TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI Second Team.
  • Last season, the Pilots were a dynamic offensive team, ranking second in the WCC in goals per game (1.78), total assists (44), total points (108), points per game (6.00) and assists per game (2.44). Their 2.44 assists per game ranked ninth nationally while their assist total ranked 14th.
  • The Pilots also were in the top 50 nationally in points per game, (21st), total points (27th), goals per game (44th) and total goals (32, 46th).
  • The Pilots return 16 players from last year's roster while welcoming 16 newcomers. The incoming class ranks fifth nationally on TopDrawerSoccer.
  • Of the 16 returners, Portland returns three players who earned All-WCC honors: Highfield, Miguel-Angel Hernandez (Second Team) and Diego Rosas (Honorable Mention).
  • Hernandez played in seven matches last year, posting shutouts in three of those matches. 
  • Rosas led the Pilots in assists in his second season with the Pilots, posting eight assists. He was the third Pilot since 2017 to post at least three assists in a game, doing so against the LMU Lions.
  • Nick Carlin-Voigt enters his 10th year as head coach of the Pilots. He has posted a 97-46-22 record during his tenure, having led Portland to the NCAA Tournament five times during that span.
  • Carlin-Voigt was at the helm when the Pilots advanced to the Elite Eight in 2022, their first appearance that deep in the tournament since 1995. 
 
ABOUT THE LIONS
  • The LMU Lions are 5-3-2 on the season and 1-0 in WCC play, earning their first conference win over the Pacific Tigers 3-0. They are one of three teams, including the Pilots, to earn a win in their conference opener.
  • Last season, they finished 6-8-3 overall and 3-4-1 in WCC play to take fifth in the conference. They were an NCAA Tournament team in 2023 at 10-5-6 overall.
  • LMU was picked to finish sixth in the WCC in the annual preseason poll. No Lions were named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
  • LMU returns two players who earned All-WCC Freshman Team honors – Ismail Nieves and Daniel Idiakhoa.
  • Nieves ranked second on the team in points with three goals and four assists (10).
  • Kyle Schmid is in his fourth season in charge of the Lions, having posted a 30-22-14 record overall. 
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