PORTLAND, Ore. -- Following a 2025 season where the Portland Pilots Men's Soccer program had one of its best years in its history, the Pilots have added and retained even more talent heading into 2026.
 
"One of the strengths of this team is the depth," head coach Nick Carlin Voigt said. "We are going to have a lot of guys who can come off the bench and we have a deep team."
 
Last year, Portland posted a 14-2-4 overall record, good enough for the best winning percentage (.800) since 1988. The Pilots made it all the way to the Elite Eight for the second time in the last four years, making them one of just four programs in the country to do so.
 
A blistering start to the year boosted the Pilots into the top 10 from Sept. 9 onward. That stretch included the Pilots playing 13 games before notching their first loss. Portland made it to the No. 1 ranking in any poll since 1992.
 
"Last year we had a terrific season," Carlin-Voigt said. "We can always improve, we only lost two games and in those we had lots of chances to score but didn't. The game comes down to small details and small margins. We have a goal to be a championship team this year."
 
One of the reasons the Pilots were so successful was because of the dominant form they found at Merlo Field. Portland finished the year 12-1-1 at home propelling them to the most home wins in program history.
 
"We love playing at home, we love our fans behind us, Merlo is a great place," he said. "I believe it's the best place to be a student athlete in the country, and the best field, we have built a fortress."
 
Now as Carlin-Voigt and co. turn their sights to the fast-approaching 2026 season, they will have to find a way to improve a little bit more if they want to take one more step.
 
After the Pilots found so much success last year, this group of experienced players know what it takes to make it back to win or go home matches in December.
 
Nationally, the Pilots are expected to have another good season on the pitch. The United Soccer Coaches poll had the Pilots ranked No. 6 in the preseason rankings for the program's highest mark since 1996 and TopDrawerSoccer had Portland ranked No. 4 in its preseason poll, the highest in any poll since 1989.
 
One of the biggest reasons Portland soccer has been successful as its been is because of the culture that Carlin-Voigt has built up since he took over a decade ago
 
"(Carlin-Voigt) is always pushing me to become a better version of myself," senior midfielder Efe Aror said. "His ambition is so large, he wants what is best for us and the team."
 
Carlin-Voigt has always placed an emphasis on building a competitive tight knit culture that brings the best out of his players.
 
"The essence of college athletics is built around teams that work together," Carlin-Voigt said. "They play for each other, they play for the community."
 
This closely connected group has a lot of experience in big games following a deep playoff run last year. Combine the veteran core with a group playing for each other and it could be a dangerous combination.
 
"There is a large sense of family and brotherhood within the team," senior defender Nikos Clarke Tosczak said. "We all want what's best for each other, and the guys are all just amazing."
 
On the field Portland has shown offensive prowess among the best in the country. Diego Rosas led the country in assists and assists per game (0.75) last year, breaking the program record for assists in a season. He was an All-WCC First Team member, All-West Region First Team and won WCC Midfielder of the Year.
 
Led by Rosas, the Pilots were one of the best passing teams in the country finishing fourth in assists per game.
 
"Our philosophy is to attack," Carlin-Voigt said. "We want to tilt the game in our favor and be a team that can dominate. The majority of our attacking players are back, and we have added a lot of attacking players that can make a difference."
 
Joe Highfield and David Ajagbe were major pieces both on and off the pitch for the Pilots in 2025 and big reasons they made as deep of a run as they did.
 
Highfield led the Pilots in both goals (11) and points (27) in 2025 and is looking to take yet another step heading into 2026 after being drafted 11th overall by Houston in 2025. 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 earned First Team honors for the WCC and West Region while also earning All-American Third Team.
 
Meanwhile, Ajagbe was a steady force for the Pilots in the midfield earning All-WCC First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team. Ajagbe finished second on the Pilots in goals with 10 and tacked on four assists. Those totals helped Ajagbe finish third in the WCC in both goals and points while finishing 28^th and 37^th nationally in those categories.
 
While the offense has been Portland's calling card in recent years, the defense and goaltending showed up in a big way for the Pilots last year. Graduate goalkeeper Miguel-Angel Hernandez played in 19 games for the Pilots and finished first in the WCC and 22nd in the country in save percentage (0.797).
 
"He knows he has to continue to keep his head down and keep working hard," Carlin-Voigt said. "Just taking another step in terms of consistency, leadership and big time performances will be big for us."
 
With him between the pipes and a defensive core that is bringing in even more experienced talent, the Pilots hope a combination of electric offense and sound defense can help them compete in the conference and on a national scale.
 
"There is nothing out of reach for us this year, it will be an exciting season," Aror said. "We will be looking to lift each other up as a brotherhood and win as much as possible."
 
As a long offseason finally comes to an end for Portland Pilots Men's Soccer, the locker room and coaching staff are gearing up for a long season they hope ends in December.
 
"We have one of the strongest teams on paper," Aror said. "We can accomplish anything we put our mind to; there is nothing out of reach for us this year. It will be an exciting season."

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