KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Portland Pilots attackers Joe Highfield, David Ajagbe and Isaac Emojong were both named to the 2026 United Soccer Coaches Attackers to Watch List.
With their names making the cut, the Pilots now have four student-athletes named to a United Soccer Coaches Watch List this season. Miguel-Angel Hernandez was named to the goalkeepers watch list while Diego Rosas made the midfielders list.
Highfield shined in his second year of action, scoring 11 goals with five assists to lead the Pilots in both goals and points (27). His goal and points total ranked 19
th and 18
th in the nation respectively, with his four game-winning goals ranking 16
th nationally. Highfield's 18 goals in two seasons are the most by any Pilot in their first two years of play since Benji Michel. He earned All-WCC First Team garners and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region and All-American Recognition, making the first team and third team for those two teams respectively.
Ajagbe, meanwhile, had the most goals by a Pilot in their first year on The Bluff since Michel in 2016, scoring 10 while adding four assists. He was third in the WCC in both goals and points (24) and ranked 28
th and 37
th nationally in the two categories. His five game-winning goals led the conference and was sixth in the nation. Ajagbe earned All-WCC First Team honors as well as United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team recognition.
Emojong enters his first year on The Bluff with some preseason recognition. With the Utah Valley Wolveries, Emojong was an All-WAC Second Team selection and an All-West Region Second Team selection after scoring six goals with two assists in 15 games with the Wolverines.
Coming off a stellar 2025 campaign, the Pilots enter the 2026 season ranked sixth nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, their highest preseason ranking in any preseason poll since 1996. Portland will play three exhibition matches and scrimmages, starting with the Purple-White Scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. here at Merlo Field. The scrimmage is free to the public, but no concessions will be provided. They will also play the Seattle U Redhawks and Oregon State Beavers in exhibitions on the road on Aug. 11 and Aug. 14 respectively.
The regular season opens on Friday, Aug. 21 against the California Golden Bears. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Merlo Field. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
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