PORTLAND, Ore. – If there's one thing that Portland Pilots women's soccer head coach Michelle French emphasizes, it's putting oneself in a position to "be in it." Whether that's on a micro level play-by-play, on a bigger scale game-by-game or in the grand picture of a whole season, everything the Pilots do is done with the expectation that they're giving themselves a chance.
 
It's the throughline that has helped the Pilots put together a solid stretch of soccer the last few years. Portland's had four straight seasons of at least nine wins or more for the first time since the early 2010s, establishing themselves as one of the top defenses in the West Coast Conference in the process. They've developed high-level players and even made their return to the NCAA Tournament back in 2022. By several markers, they've put themselves "in it."
 
Last season, the Pilots finished seventh in a revamped WCC that added Oregon State and Washington State. After finishing 9-5-6 overall and 4-3-3 in WCC play, the Pilots are looking to catapult themselves back towards the top of the WCC. In a conference where any team any given year can make a splash, they want to be the ones dictating their destiny. It's no longer about just putting themselves in the mix – it's about capitalizing on it once there.
 
"If we're in the middle of the pack and have an opportunity those last couple weekends to be in the top three, that's the first goal," French said. "We want to be in a position to aim to win it."
 
Putting oneself in position in those final weekends requires plenty of work in the build-up. For a Pilot team that features a swath of newcomers as well as returners with bigger roles to play, the challenge is simple – how do they give themselves the best chance of success? The answer lies in building on their identity while continuing to evolve their style.
 
Anticipation, newness and excitement. Those are the three words that French used to describe her feelings about the 2025 season. Those three things stem mostly in anticipation of a fresh roster, featuring returning faces with enhanced roles and plenty of newcomers looking to make their mark.
 
Of the 27 Pilots on the roster for 2025, 11 of them are newcomers, with eight freshmen and three transfers. Of the 16 returners, only five played more than 1,000 minutes in 2024. With only one returning player having earned All-WCC honors last year – Jillian McBride was named to the All-WCC Freshman Team – there's plenty of opportunity for Pilots new and old to distinguish themselves.
 
"In comparison to the last couple of years, we have more new players, not only new to the program, but new to roles where they're going to be getting more in-game experience," French said. "So while we have returners that have previously started, we also have players who have been on the roster and now have more of an opportunity to step into a more prominent role on the field.
 
A newer team offers the chance to ingrain the culture already put in place while evolving it for a new squad. French and the staff have worked tirelessly to establish their identity defensively, and it's paid off. They've finished no lower than second in the WCC in goals-against average each of the last three seasons, finishing second in the conference again last year at .850 goals a game allowed. They've set the expectation that they'll compete in any game with stout defense.
 
"That for me comes from Clive," French said, echoing the wisdom of her old college coach Clive Charles, who helped transform Portland soccer into a national powerhouse, including winning a national championship in 2002. "It's that old saying of 'Well, if you don't give up a goal, at least you're still in the game.' We've been really fortunate with both the collective defending and our goalkeeper situation, where we've been able to lean on the strength of our defending for several seasons."
 
The evolution comes on the other side of the ball. Offensively, there was improvement in 2024. They scored 36 goals on the year, the most by a Pilot team since 2013. But for French, it's about consistently executing game-in and game-out regardless of opponent, capitalizing in the final third when the opportunity presents itself.
 
"We had a couple of games last year where we scored a lot of goals," French said. "But the games where it takes that extra focus, that extra detail, that extra commitment, to finish that one chance that you get in a game, realizing that all of the work that you did on the training ground should give you the confidence to put that one chance away."
 
For French, it's not about just creating more scoring chances either – it's about maximizing each individual opportunity and being efficient with their chances. Based on early training results, French is excited about what she's seen so far from this new squad.
 
"We find a way to be exciting every year," French said. "But with this year, when I watch this team play, I see a lot more combination play. I see a lot more support and movement off the ball, see a lot more soccer IQ present in terms of players across the board, and I see unselfishness, and that can breathe a lot of life into the style of play that we're looking to put out on the field."
 
The 2025 schedule is packed with matches will test the Pilots. Three teams on Portland's schedule are ranked in the Top 25 to begin the year, with USC (No. 5), UCLA (No. 8) and Santa Clara (No. 16) all sitting among the best. Pepperdine also received votes in the preseason poll. Along with that, Utah State qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year and was one of the most productive teams in college soccer, scoring 62 goals on the year. In total, four teams on Portland's schedule qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year.
 
Combine with that an expanded WCC schedule that welcomes Seattle U into the conference, and you have the makings of an exciting slate of games. As often happens, conference play is of utmost importance.
 
French pointed out that last season, heading into the final weekend of conference play, seven different teams had a chance to win the WCC. In a conference that tight, every opportunity counts.
 
"The parity withing our conference, to have seven teams that could win on the final weekend is insanity," French said. "So you always have a chance, no matter what happens the first game, no matter what happens the third game… every game you're given an opportunity to put yourself in a position to be in it at the end of the season. We have to fight to make the most of those opportunities, so we can get to where we want to be come the end of the season."

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