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Diego Rosas drives the ball downfield.

Men's Soccer

No. 9 Pilots Welcome Dons to Merlo This Saturday

PORTLAND, Ore. – A crucial WCC contest awaits for No. 9 Portland Pilots Men's Soccer, as they take on the San Francisco Dons on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. here at Merlo Field. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: San Francisco Dons (9-4-1, 4-2-0 WCC)
Day: Saturday
Date: Nov. 1, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Place: Portland, Ore.
Pitch: Merlo Field
Video: ESPN+
Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. USF
Overall Series: 24-24-6
H: 14-8-0  •  A: 9-13-6  •  N: 1-3-0
Last: POR 1, @USF 1 (2024)
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The No. 9 Portland Pilots are 10-1-3 on the season and 3-1-2 in WCC play.
  • They most recently took their first loss of the season on the road against the Santa Clara Broncos. The loss snapped a 23-game unbeaten streak, which was the second longest in the nation and the longest ever in program history.
  • The Pilots rank among the best in the nation in numerous statistical categories.
  • Portland currently is fourth nationally in assists (45), assists per game (3.21), goal differential (26) and points per game (8.07), sixth in total points (113) and goals per game (2.43), ninth in goals-against average (.615) and 11th in total goals (34). They lead the WCC in every one of those categories except for assists.
  • Portland has allowed just eight goals this season, the fewest by a Pilot team through 14 games since the 1988 squad.
  • With 45 assists, Portland is nine assists shy of tying the program record set in 2023.
  • Many Pilots rank among the best in the nation in several individual categories this year.
  • Diego Rosas is one of the best passers in the nation, ranking third among all players in assists (10) and assists per game (0.71). Rosas was the fastest Pilot to 10 assists in a season since Rey Ortiz in 2017 and ranks 12th already all-time for Portland in the category.
  • Joe Highfield and David Ajagbe are the leading goalscorers for Portland this year at eight goals each, tied for third in the WCC. They are tied for 24th nationally in the category.
  • Highfield and Ajagbe have four and three assists on the year respectively, putting them at 20 and 19 points. Highfield's third in the conference while Ajagbe's fourth in the category.
  • Ajagbe's four game-winning goals are the third most in the country and also the most in the WCC. Ajagbe's eight goals in his first year as a Pilot are the most by any Pilot in their first year with the team since Benji Michel in 2016.
  • In-goal. Miguel-Angel Herandez has been stellar, with his .615 goal-against average ranking second in the WCC and 14th nationally. His .778 save percentage and six shutouts between the pipes also rank second in the WCC.
  • Earlier this year, the Pilots were ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, their first No. 1 ranking ever in the poll and their first in any poll since 1992.
  • Highfield and Ajagbe both made the Mac Hermann Midseason Watch List, marking the first time two Pilots have made any Mac Hermann list since 2018 (Benji Michel, Rey Ortiz).
  • Both players were also named to TopDrawerSoccers Midseason Top 100 Players list, with Ajagbe ranking seventh and Highfield 75th.
  • 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 100-47-24 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.
  • Carlin-Voigt reached 100 career wins on Oct. 18 against the Pacific Tigers, becoming the third Pilot coach to reach the benchmark.
 
ABOUT THE DONS
  • The San Francisco Dons are 9-4-1 overall and 4-2-0 in WCC play, sitting at third in the conference one point ahead of the Pilots.
  • Last year, they finished second in the WCC at 7-6-4 overall but 5-1-2 in WCC play. It was their highest conference finish since 2017.
  • The Dons were picked to finish fourth in the WCC this season, with forward David Raphael making the All-WCC Preseason Team.
  • Raphael, who just earned WCC Player of the Week honors, leads the Dons with six goals and three assists on the year.
  • Chris Brown is in his fifth year as head coach of the Dons. He is 33-33-15 for his career. 
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.

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