PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 4 Portland Pilots continued their unbeaten start with a win against the Denver Pioneers 3-2 Friday, improving to 6-0-1 on the season.
 
Efetobo Aror, Joe Highfield and David Ajagbe all scored on the night. It's the first goal for Aror, the fifth for Highfield and fourth for Ajagbe. Their 6-0-1 record is the best to start the year for Portland since 1988 and it's the first time they've gone unbeaten through seven games since 2022.
 
How it Happened


 
Portland opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a goal from Efetobo Aror. The midfielder collected it off the volley and sent it soaring to the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead. It's Aror's first goal of the year.
 
The Pilots followed that up with a goal in the 27^th minute courtesy of Joe Highfield. Diego Rosas sent it into the box off the corner, with Highfield rising for the header and the score, his fifth of the year. The Pilots led 2-0 at the half.
 
Portland closed out the scoring in the 55^th minute. David Ajagbe took the cross from Angel Martinez and fired it into the keeper. Denver mishandled the ball, leading to the goal. Denver scored twice in the final six minutes, but Portland held on for the 3-2 victory.


 
Game Notes

• Aror scored his first goal of the season for Portland. He's the 10^th Pilot to score a goal this season.
• Highfield scored his fifth goal of the season, a team high. His 12 goals through the first two seasons are the most by a Pilot in their first two seasons since Benji Michel in 2016-17.
• Ajagbe scored his fourth goal of the year.
• Portland won possession in the match 63% to 37%. 
• Their 6-0-1 start is the best by the Pilots since the 1988 season. It's the first time they've gone unbeaten in the first seven games since 2022.
• Portland's plus-19 goal differential through seven games is the best since the 2020/21 spring season and the best in a fall season since 1988.
• Portland holds a 17-game unbeaten streak that stretches back to last season. It's the longest for the Pilots since 1988 and currently one of the longest in the nation.
• The Pilots are unbeaten in their last four matches against Denver (2-0-2) and have scored seven goals in their last two home matches against the Pioneers.

Portland Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt on the Victory

"Tonight we played in a dominant fashion and controlled the entire first half and tilted the game in our direction. There were some incredible phases of play where we were moving and adjusting to open up spaces so we could attack them in many different ways. Denver is a well-coached team and we made it difficult for them to find much tempo or control. We pressed very well together and didn't give up much when they went direct. We exhibited a dominant personality in the match, won our duels, moved well into open spaces. I don't think they had a shot on goal for the first 45 minutes. After going up 3-0 we still kept pushing for another but ended the game very poorly and incredibly disappointed to concede twice in the last five minutes. We will learn from the drop in standards and grow from the way we closed the game, which was simply unacceptable for how well we played for large stretches of the the match.

"End of the day, good to learn tough lessons when the result is still in your favor and that's part of our process of becoming a better team. We know we have a long ways to go and will take it all in stride as we work to unlock our full potential. Lastly, thanks to the community who came out and supported our group. We will need your support and energy the rest of the way!"
 
Up Next
 
The Pilots are back home to open conference play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The two teams will play on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.

---

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.

Donate Today 
Fans interested in making a contribution to University of Portland Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift helps our over 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level – on and off the field - in the rapidly changing world of intercollegiate athletics. All gifts to Pilot Athletics are 100% tax deductible.

Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.