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The Pilots celebrate a perfect 8-0-0 record in WCC play.
2
Winner Portland POR (11-3-2, 8-0-0)
0
San Francisco USF (6-7-4, 2-3-3)
Winner
Portland POR
(11-3-2, 8-0-0)
2
Final
0
San Francisco USF
(6-7-4, 2-3-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Portland POR 1 1 2
San Francisco USF 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

No. 7 Pilots Complete Perfect Conference Season With 2-0 win Over Dons

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The No. 7 Portland Pilots closed the regular season in dominant fashion, defeating the San Francisco Dons 2-0. The Pilots finish the regular season 11-3-2 and 8-0-0 in WCC play.

Portland's perfect record in conference play with no ties is a first for the program since 1988. Their the first WCC program to go undefeated with no ties since 2019 and the first to ever do it with eight victories. Portland's eight wins in WCC play are the most since 2012 by any WCC side. This is their seventh shutout this season and their fourth in WCC play.

Joe Highfield and Christian Mendoza were the two goal scorers for the Pilots. It was Highfield's 11th goal of the year and Mendoza's second. Highfield has 33 points now on the year, the most by any Pilot since Connor Casey had 53 points in 1999. He's the first Pilot to have back-to-back seasons of 11 goals or more since Scott Benedetti in 1986 and 1987. Diego Rosas had the assist on Mendoza's goal, giving him the most career assists by any player in NCAA Division I since 2012 and the third most since 1998.

How it Happened

Highfield took advantage of a mistake by the San Francisco keeper to get his goal. In the 25th minute, the Dons tried to clear the ball, but flubbed the kick. Highfield took advantage, gained possession and made an easy shot towards goal. The Pilots took a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Portland got their second goal in the 54th minute. The Pilots had the breakaway, led by Rosas, who put a shot on frame. Mendoza was right there on the follow, putting the game away for Portland.

Game Notes
  • Highfield's goal was his 11th of the year and his eighth in WCC play. Highfield is the first Pilot to have back-to-back seasons of 11 goals since Scott Benedetti (1986-87).
  • Highfield's 33 points are the most by any Pilot sine Connor Casey's 53 in 1999.
  • This is the fourth game-winning goal of the year for Highfield. He now has nine for his career, tied for eighth all-time.
  • Mendoza's goal is his second of the season.
  • Rosas earned his 12th assist of the season. No Pilot has ever posted at least 12 assists in back-to-back seasons.
  • Rosas is one of four players since 1998 to have at least 39 assists for their career.
  • This is the seventh shutout of the season for the Pilots and the fourth in WCC play. The last time they posted four shutout victories in WCC play was 2022.
  • Miguel-Angel Hernandez has seven shutouts in goal for Portland this year and 20 for his career. He's one of seven Pilot goalkeepers ever to have 20 shutouts in their career
  • This is the first time the Pilots have posted a perfect 8-0-0 record in WCC play in program history and the first time they've gone undefeated with zero losses in conference play since 1988.
  • This is the first time ever a WCC team has gone a perfect 8-0-0 in WCC play and the first time a team has won eight games in conference play since 2012.
  • This is the 10th win in a row for Portland, the longest streak in the nation and the longest for Portland since 1988. 
Up Next

The Pilots are hosting the inaugural WCC Men's Soccer Championships after clinching the WCC regular season title earlier this season. They will host the San Diego Toreros, Denver Pioneers and San Francisco Dons at Merlo Field Nov. 11-14, with the semifinals matches set for Nov. 11 and the championship on Saturday, Nov. 14. San Diego and Denver will play at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and the Pilots and Dons at 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com/WCC to grab your tickets today.
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