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The Pilots line up for the pregame against Wisconsin.

Men's Soccer

No. 24 Pilots Welcome No. 17 Roos to Merlo Field for Ranked Matchup

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Men's Soccer, ranked 24th in the nation, is ready for their first ranked matchup of the season against the Kansas City Roos. The two teams are set to play on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. here at Merlo Field.
 
Tickets for Friday's game are available at PortlandPilots.com/Tickets. A live stream is also available on ESPN+. Check PortlandPilots.com for links to the live stream and live stats.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: #17/19/RV Kansas City Roos (2-0-2, 0-0-0 Summit)
Day: Friday
Date: Sept. 5, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Place: Portland, Ore.
Pitch: Merlo Field
Video: ESPN+
Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. UMKC
Overall Series: 0-0-0
H: 0-0-0 • A: 0-0-0 • N: 0-0-0
Last: N/A
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The Pilots are a perfect 4-0 on the year, outscoring opponents 17-0 in these first four games. They are now ranked 24th nationally.
  • They most recently earned a road win over the Wisconsin Badgers 1-0, their eighth win over a Big Ten team and 18th against a Power Four team since Nick Carlin-Voigt took over as head coach in 2016. They also beat the Siena Saints last week 4-0.
  • David Ajagbe scored the game-winning goal for the Pilots against the Badgers. Highfield scored two goals against the Saints and Waggoner added another.
  • The Pilots lead the nation in 10 different categories, including goals (17), assists (21), points (55), goals-against average (.000), shutout percentage (1.000), save percentage (1.000), points per game (13.75), goal differential (17) and assists per game (5.25)
  • Several players are near the top of the nation statistically.
  • Diego Rosas is tied with 10 players for first in the nation in assists at four. He posted two assists against Siena on Friday.
  • David Ajagbe and Nicholas Dunbar also sit at second in the conference and 13th nationally in assists at three. Ajagbe's seven points rank second in the WCC and 18th nationally.
  • Joe Highfield is one of the top scorers in the nation, sitting at third in points (11), fifth in goals (four) and 11th in assists (three).
  • Miguel-Angel Hernandez has yet to allow a goal in his three starts for Portland. He's one of 14 players to not allow a goal.
  • Portland is one of five teams to have started the season 4-0-0 and are the only team in the nation to have started 4-0-0 with four straight shutouts.
  • Portland's 4-0 start is the first time since 1988. It's also the first time they've posted four straight shutouts to start a season since that year.
  • The Pilots hold a 14-game unbeaten streak that stretches back to last season.
  • 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 92-46-21 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 ROOS
  • The Kansas City Roos are 2-0-2 on the year, most recently tying the Saint Mary's Gaels 1-1 and beating the Northern Illinois Huskies 2-1.
  • They are currently receiving votes in the latest Top 25 poll from United Soccer Coaches. They are 17th in the College Soccer News Poll and 19th in TopDrawerSoccer's poll.
  • The Roos were 14-5-3 overall and 5-2-1 in Summit league play. They won the Summit League Championship over the Denver Pioneers and then advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
  • The Roos were picked second in the Summit League Preseason Poll, with Bryson Gosch and Jeremy Francou making the preseason team.
  • Gosch tallied 1,776 minutes last year, earning honorable mention as well as All-Tournament honors. He scored the equalizing goal in the Summit League Championship against Denver.
  • Francou scored four goals last year for Kansas City, including a goal in their first-round tournament game against the Saint Louis Bilikens.
  • Ryan Pore is in his sixth year at the helm of the Roos. He is 35-33-22 in his six seasons with Kansas City.
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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