PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots announced on Friday another addition for the 2025 season in defender Michael Dunne, a transfer from the North Carolina Tar Heels.
"Michael Dunne is a local Oregon product and we always want the best and the brightest on our roster from the Pacific Northwest," Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt said. "Michael started at the Portland Timbers Academy and has experience with the second team playing in MLS Next Pro. In the youth game we saw Michael as a leader and top trainer who loved to compete. He's spent the last year in the ACC and has decided to return home to compete for the Pilots. As he adapts to the demands and depth of our team we are hopeful he can find his top form. Welcome to The Bluff, Michael!"
Dunne is an Oregon native who spent his freshman season with the Tar Heels, who went 9-4-5 last season to host an NCAA Tournament first round game. Dunne played in just one game for the Tar Heels this season against Eastern Tennessee State. Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Dunne was a part of the Portland Timbers academy and also played with Portland Timbers 2 at the MLS Next Pro level, primarily as a center back. Dunne earned an invitation to the U.S. U-17 National Team Camp back in 2021, but had to withdraw due to injury.
This past season, the Pilots finished at 7-4-7 overall and 4-0-4 in WCC play, ending the year on a 10-game unbeaten streak that was the longest on the West Coast and the third longest in the country. They earned four wins over teams that finished in the top 35 in RPI this season as well. They have achieved a top 10 ranking nationally in each of the last three seasons and led the country in goals scored between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The Pilots have also had 12 players move on to play in MLS since Nick Carlin-Voigt took over as head coach in 2016. Eight players have been drafted, with Paul Christensen, Rey Ortiz, Kevin Bonilla, Jacob Babalai and Buba Fofanah all being taken in the MLS SuperDraft. Efetobo Aror and Nick Fernandez were taken in the first and second round in this year's SuperDraft as well, with Fernandez signing with the San Jose Earthquakes in February. Benji Michel and Kris Reaves each signed homegrown contracts with Orlando SC and FC Dallas respectively back in 2018 while Delentz Pierre and Brandon Cambridge each signed with Real Salt Lake and Charlotte FC in 2022 and Tommy Musto signed with LAFC in 2024.
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