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Anton Hjalmarsson celebrates with David Ajagbe.

Men's Soccer

No. 6 Pilots set for Ranked Matchup Against No. 12 Toreros

PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 6 Portland Pilots are back at Merlo Field for an exciting top-15 matchup against the No. 12 San Diego Toreros. The Pilots and Toreros face off on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: San Diego Toreros (7-1-3, 1-0-1 WCC)
Day: Friday
Date: Oct. 10, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Place: Portland, Ore.
Pitch: Merlo Field
Video: ESPN+
Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. USD
Overall Series: 21-22-8
H: 13-8-3 • A: 7-13-4 • N: 1-1-1
Last: POR 2 @USD 0 (2024)
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The No. 6 Pilots enter the match against the Toreros with a 8-0-2 record overall and 1-0-1 record in WCC play, having most recently tied the LMU Lions 1-1 on the road.
  • Sebastian Hernandez scored the goal for Portland, his first of the year. Ethan Zamora and Diego Rosas had assists on the play.
  • Rosas reaches eight assists now on the year and 20 for his career, with his eight this year matching Kevin Bonilla for the most assists through 10 games since 2023.
  • The Pilots are unbeaten through 10 matches this year and their last 20 matches dating back to last year. Portland's streak is the longest since 1988, coming just one unbeaten result shy of matching that record.
  • The streak is also the second longest in the nation, trailing just the defending national champions in Vermont.
  • Their unbeaten start through 10 marks the first time they've done so since 2022 and their 8-0-2 record is the best to start the year since 2018. Portland was undefeated in nonconference for the first time since that year as well.
  • The Pilots are one of the top teams statistically this year, ranking in the top 10 in numerous categories.
  • They are second in the nation in points per game (8.90) and assists per game (3.50), third in assists (35), fourth in goals per game (2.70), fifth in goal differential (23) and shutout percentage (.700), sixth in total points (89) and goals-against average (.444) and ninth in goals (27). They are first in the WCC in all those categories.
  • Rosas is second in the nation in assists with eight and first in the conference. He is the fastest Pilot to 20 assists in their career (44 games) since Nate Jaqua (2000-02, 43 games).
  • Joe Highfield and David Ajagbe are tied for the team lead in goals at six each. They are second in the conference and 22nd nationally.
  • The duo is also third and fourth in the conference in points respectively, with Highfield sitting at 15 points and Ajagbe 14 points.
  • Ajagbe's six goals are the most by a Pilot in their first 10 games since Eddie Sanchez in 2013. His three game-winners ranks second in the conference and seventh nationally.
  • Highfield's 13 goals through two seasons are the most by a Pilot in their first two seasons since Benji Michel (2016-17).
  • 12 different Pilots have scored this season, the most in the WCC.
  • Miguel-Angel Hernandez leads the WCC in both save percentage (.789) and shutouts (6) and ranks second in goals-against average (.444). He is eighth in shutouts and ninth in GAA nationally.
  • Portland posted shutouts in seven of their first eight matches, a first for the program. Portland's seven shutouts through 10 matches are the most since 1988 for the program.
  • 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 98-46-23 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 TOREROS
  • The San Diego Toreros, who are ranked 12th in the nation, are 7-1-3 on the year and 1-0-1 in WCC play.
  • Last year, they were the WCC Champions with a 15-3-2 record overall and 7-1 record in conference. The Toreros have won the title three seasons in a row.
  • The Pilots handed the Toreros their only loss of the year last season in conference, taking them down 2-0 on the road. The Torero's were ranked third in the nation at the time, giving Portland their first win over a top three team in the rankings since their win over No. 1 Indiana in 2000.
  • San Diego made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season, losing to the eventual national champions in the Vermont Catamounts.
  • San Diego was picked to win the WCC in the annual WCC Preseason Poll, with Vincent Ayala, Cesar Bahena, Samy Kanaan and Ethan Warne all making the All-WCC Preseason Team.
  • Three of those four players – Bahena, Kanaan and Warne – earned All-WCC First Team honors last year.
  • Brian Quinn is in his eighth season as head coach of the Toreros. He's gone 65-43-23 in his time with the Toreros and is the two-time WCC Coach of the Year.
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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