SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Portland Pilots Men's Soccer was picked to finish third in the 2025 West Coast Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, with Efetobo Aror and Joe Highfield being selected to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
 
Aror returns to Portland after being selected in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft last December. The former WCC Freshman of the Year is a crucial fixture in the Pilots' midfield, recording a goal and an assist in 10 games last season. His goal was a game-winner against the Oregon State Beavers in the final game of the regular season that helped preserve a 10-game unbeaten streak to end the year.
 
Highfield earned All-WCC First Team and All-WCC Freshman Team honors last year after scoring a team-leading seven goals and adding three assists in 18 games. His seven goals were tied for fourth in the conference and his four goals and three assists against WCC opponents ranked second. Highfield was the first Pilot to make both the first team and the freshman team since Benji Michel in 2016.
 
The San Diego Toreros was picked to win the conference this season with 81 points and nine first-place votes, followed by the Oregon State Beavers at 67 points and one first-place vote. Portland followed the Beavers with 58 points while the San Francisco Dons and newcomer-Seattle U Redhawks slotted in at fourth with 56 points each.
 
Behind the Dons and the Redhawks are the LMU Lions in sixth place with 43 points. The Santa Clara Broncos sit in seventh on the poll at 35 points while the Saint Mary's Gaels and Pacific Tigers are eighth and ninth respectively with 22 and 21 points each. Gonzaga rounds out the WCC poll at 11 points.
 
The Pilots will play one more exhibition match against the Washington Huskies on Friday, Aug. 15 here at Merlo Field, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Following that, the Pilots open the regular season here at Merlo Field against the Central Arkansas Bears, hosting them on Friday, Aug. 22 also at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
 
2025 West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
?1. San Diego - 81 points (9)
?2. Oregon State - 67 points (1)
?3. Portland - 58 points 
?T-4. San Francisco - 56 points 
T-4. Seattle - 56 points
?6. LMU - 43 points
7. Santa Clara – 35 points
?8. Saint Mary's - 22 points
?9. Pacific - 21 points
?10. Gonzaga - 11 points
 
2025 West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Team
Efetobo Aror, Portland
Vicente Ayala, San Diego
Cesar Bahena, San Diego
Luca Baltzer, Pacific
Arnau Farnos, Oregon State
Joe Highfield, Portland
Samy Kanaan, San Diego
Edgar Leon, Seattle
David Raphael, San Francisco
Fabian Straudi, Oregon State
Ethan Warne, San Diego 

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