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Efetobo Aror celebrates his goal against Denver.

Men's Soccer

No. 2 Pilots Host Zags to Open WCC Play

PORTLAND, Ore. – West Coast Conference play begins this Saturday, Sept. 27 when the No. 2 Portland Pilots welcome the Gonzaga Bulldogs to Merlo Field. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m.
 
It's also homecoming week here on The Bluff, with a pregame barbeque and tailgate taking place around 5 p.m. at the Chiles Center Plaza. For tickets to Saturday's game as well as live stats and video options, check PortlandPilots.com. 
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: Gonzaga Bulldogs (3-3-1, 0-0-0 WCC)
Day: Saturday
Date: Sept. 27, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Place: Portland, Ore.
Pitch: Merlo Field
Video: ESPN+
Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. GONZ
Overall Series: 33-13-6
H: 17-6-2  •  A: 15-7-4  •  N: 1-0-0
Last: POR 2, @GONZ 1 (2024)
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The Porland Pilots are 6-0-1 heading into WCC play, their best record through seven games since 1988. It's also the first time they've gone unbeaten through seven games since 2022.
  • Their most recent victory was a 3-2 win over the Denver Pioneers, their fourth straight unbeaten result against the Pioneers and their second straight win.
  • Efetobo Aror, Joe Highfield and David Ajagbe all scored in the match. It's the first goal for Aror, the fifth for Highfield and the fourth for Ajagbe.
  • Highfield's 12 goals through two seasons are the most by a Pilot in his first two seasons of play since Benji Michel (2016-17). He was named the WCC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Denver.
  • Ajagbe's goal gives him two game-winners on the year, tied for the most in the conference and 16th nationally.
  • With the win, the Pilots moved to second in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. It's the highest ranking ever for the Pilots in the coaches poll and the highest ranking overall for Portland since they were ranked first in 1992.
  • The Pilots also now hold a 17-game unbeaten streak that is the longest for Portland since the 1988 season and the second longest in the nation.
  • Portland leads the WCC in 15 different categories, including points (66), goals (21), assists (24), goals-against average (.333), shutout percentage (.857), points per game (9.43), save percentage (.833), goals per game (3.00), assists per game (3.43) and goal differential (19).
  • Of those stats, they are in the top 10 nationally in goals (10th), assists (seventh), points (eighth), shutout percentage (third), goals-against average (sixth), goals per game (second), points per game (third), assists per game (fourth) and goal differential (third).
  • Portland's plus-19 goal differential is their best in a fall season through seven games since the 1988 season.
  • Individually, numerous Pilots have shined this year.
  • Highfield is tied for first in the conference in goals and second in total points (13). He is 24th and 21st nationally respectively in those categories.
  • Diego Rosas has five assists on the year, tied for first in the conference and 12th nationally. His five assists are the most for a Pilot through seven games since Kevin Bonilla in 2023.
  • Miguel-Angel Hernandez has posted five shutouts in six appearances, the most in the WCC and tied for sixth nationally. His goals-against average 0.333 is second in the conference and 11th nationally as well.
  • Ajagbe's four goals are tied for the second most in the WCC and his two game-winning goals are tied for first as well.
  • 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 95-46-22 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 BULLDOGS
  • The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 3-3-1 on the season, most recently beating CSU Bakersfield on the road for a 2-0 win.
  • Last season, they were 6-10-2 overall and winless in WCC play. The Pilots won 2-1 in their matchup last year.
  • Gonzaga was picked to finish 10th in the WCC this season.
  • Chris McCaughey was named interim coach for the Zags this season. He's been with the Zags as a coach since 2023.
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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