PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots continued their hot streak with a 3-2 win over the Denver Pioneers. Portland improves to 7-3-2 on the year and 4-0-0 in WCC play.
Alex Waggoner scored the first brace of his career and the third by a Pilot this season. He has four goals on the season. David Ajagbe's goal was his ninth of the year and his fifth in the last two games, and his seven game-winning goals for his career are tied for 12th in program history.
Portland has now won their last six contests and their first four conference contests. This is their longest win streak since 2016 and their first time going 4-0 in WCC play since 2022. The Pilots have scored 17 goals and hold a plus-11 goal differential. That goal total is the highest through the first four WCC matches in program history and the goal differential the best since 1992.
How it Happened
Portland played strong in the first half, outshooting the Pioneers eight to three and creating numerous chances in the box. But the Pioneers would strike first, drawing a foul in the box to create a PK opportunity in the 37
th minute. The Pioneers scored, making it 1-0 Denver at the half.
Portland bounced back in the second half with a goal from Waggoner in the 51
st minute. Ajagbe intercepted the pass from Denver and found Waggoner on the move. Waggoner let it fly and nailed it from well outside the box, tying things up at one.
Waggoner struck again soon after, drawing a penalty kick in the 53
rd minute and then making the subsequent kick to make it 2-1 Pilots. But Denver scored next, leveling things in the 62
nd minute off a corner kick.
That tie didn't last long. 20 seconds later, Ogunleye airmailed a header to Emojong, who pushed it forward to Ajagbe. Ajagbe finished it off to make it 3-2 Pilots, which would prove to be the final.
Game Notes
- Waggoner led the Pilots with a brace. It was the first brace of his career, putting him at four goals for the year.
- Ajagbe's goal was his ninth of the year and his fifth in two games. It's his second straight game-winning goal.
- Ajagbe's got 19 goals for his Pilot career and 26 total. With seven game-winning goals, Ajagbe is now tied for 12th in program history.
- Ajagbe, Ogunleye and Emojong all had assists on the day. It was the second for Ajagbe, the first for Ogunleye and the sixth for Emojong.
- Ogunleye's assist is his first in a Pilot uniform.
- This is Portland's sixth straight victory, their longest winning streak since 2016.
- The Pilots are unbeaten in their last six matches against the Pioneers as well with three regulation wins and a fourth in penalty kicks.
- Portland is 4-0-0 in WCC play for the first time since 2022.
- Portland's 17 goals in the first four conference games are a first in program history.
- Portland's plus-11 goal differential in WCC play is the best since 1992.
Up Next
Portland hits the road for a showdown against their Pacific Northwest rival, the Seattle U Redhawks. The two teams play on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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