Since Nick Carlin-Voigt took over as head coach of the Portland Pilots Men's Soccer program in 2016, they have made the NCAA Playoffs six times including two quarterfinals appearances. That success stems from decades of groundwork laid by some of the biggest names in Pilots history like Clive Charles, Jim Tursi, Kasey Keller, Scott Benedetti and Conor Casey.
 
Since the program was founded in 1977, the tradition that comes with UP Men's Soccer is one of the strongest in the country.
 
"We understand what the 1977 team built," head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt said. "When Clive came in (in 1986), he showed the unique, incredible ability to connect with players. We want to carry on our shoulders what they did before us and that is a big privilege and responsibility."
 
For the 2026 season, coach Carlin-Voigt has been able to keep and acquire a total of five MLS SuperDraft picks on his roster making them one of the most talented teams in the country. The tradition and culture that Carlin-Voigt among others has built has been a big reason why so many talented players want to be in Soccer City U.S.A.
 
"(Carlin-Voigt) is always pushing me to become a better version of myself," senior midfielder Efe Aror said. "He wants the best for us and the best for the team; he is a guiding figure on our team."
 
Aror is one of the draft picks that is staying on The Bluff. Taken 12th overall by the Colorado Rapids in 2025, Aror is returning for his fourth and final season after starting his career with the Pilots back in 2023.
 
Aror is one of numerous Pilots who have been drafted over the last couple years that will return to Portland for the 2026 season. Other recent draft picks include Joe Highfield (11th in 2026 by the Houston Dynamo), Nikos Clarke-Tosczak (19th in 2026 by Sporting KC), Isaac Emojong from Utah Valley (31st in 2026 by D.C. United) and Ola Ogunleye from Louisville (66th in 2026 by FC Dallas).  
Like Aror, Highfield and Clarke-Tosczak are returning to a Pilots squad that made the Elite Eight last year before falling to Furman. Emojong and Ogunleye are fresh faces to a group that were ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
 
"This is a good competitive team," Ogunleye said. "We are a really close group and excited for the season."
 
The tradition that Carlin-Voigt has implemented is based around a phrase "the standard is the standard," meaning no matter what other factors are surrounding the team, the expectations will not change.
 
"Keeping a really high standard on the field and off of it," Highfield said. "Keeping our spaces clean, our locker rooms clean, taking pride in the little things. Being inclusive towards everyone on the team, welcoming everyone on the team, the new guys, and being one big group of brothers."
 
The soccer program hit its stride once Clive Charles took the reins in 1986. Charles guided the Pilots to six playoff berths in his first eight seasons and over the course of his 17-year career, 10 of those concluded in the playoffs. In 1988 and 1995 the Pilots made it all the way to the College Cup.
 
Since Charles set foot on The Bluff, the expectation and standard Portland Men's Soccer has been held to is much higher. Carlin-Voigt has done a great job continuing Charles legacy by not letting those factors slip.
 
Because of the tradition, culture and expectations that come with the Portland Soccer program it is a great fit for some of the best talent in the country who expect to win.
 
"The locker room, culture and atmosphere I saw at the games I went to was something I haven't seen before," Aror said. "That drew me toward this environment and this culture."
 
Carlin-Voigt took over in 2016 and from the day he took over it has been much of the same. Some of the most talented players in the country want to come to The Bluff and stay there after being drafted.
 
Benji Michel and Rey Ortiz are two prime examples of Carlin-Voigt finding talent and being able to keep them around for the entirety of their college careers. Both made their debut in 2016, just like Carlin-Voigt and over the next few years grew into some of the best the university has had to offer.
 
Michel played three years for the Pilots before signing with his hometown Orlando City SC. Michel finished 12th in Pilots history with 31 goals while forgoing his final year of eligibility. Ortiz was drafted by FC Cincinnati following an impressive career at Portland which saw him finish 7th in school history with 24 assists.
 
In more recent years the rate of Pilots draft picks has kicked up a notch. Portland has produced seven draft picks over the past three drafts including Buba Fofanah, Jacob Babalai, Kevin Bonilla, Nick Fernandez, Efe Aror, Nikos Clarke-Tosczak and Joe Highfield.
 
Carlin-Voigt has shown he can identify talent that is able to play at the next level and because of how well the program is run, they will stick around. This has led to a snowball effect of talent sticking around and helping the Pilots make the postseason in 2023 and 2025.
 
Those expectations and the talent on the Pilots roster lead to high hopes not just from the fans but the players as well.
 
"We can accomplish anything we put our minds to," Aror said. "There's nothing out of reach for us this year, it will be an exciting season."
 

Aror isn't the only one who thinks the foundation the program is built on can help get the team through some hard stretches of the season.
 
"There is a large sense of family and brotherhood within the team," Clarke-Tosczak said. "We all want what's best for each other."
 
This all ties back to the roots of the program. The culture and tradition are strong enough to pull players back from MLS opportunities as well as pulling in players from other programs who are some of the best in the transfer portal.
 
Highfield and Clarke-Tosczak are the most recent examples of Pilots being drafted in the first round and what kind of impact they can have on a program. 2026 was the first year in program history the Pilots had two players drafted in the first round.
 
Clarke-Tosczak led the Pilots in minutes with 1,643 games and tallying four assists. Highfield led the Pilots in scoring with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points. He was second in the WCC in both goals and points, ranking 19^th and 18^th nationally in those categories.
 
Carlin-Voigt has meticulously nurtured this culture and tradition both on and off the field. By pushing his players to be better people and players people want to come to this program.
 
 
"He's very supportive as a coach, and he's a good coach," Highfield said. "He pushes you really, hard to points where you didn't really think that you had in you, and he unlocks a lot of your potential that you didn't really realize you had there."
 
The presence of Portland soccer hasn't been felt only on the field. The Pilots have made it an emphasis in recent years to connect with youth soccer players in the area and connect with the local fan base.
 
"We have a good impact in our community," Highfield said. "I think putting on a good show on the field for them and hoping to motivate them by how I play and how I can carry myself on and off the field, hoping that people just take after me and find the love for the school that I have."
 
While Portland has such a rich history of legends in the program it is ultimately up to those still around to keep that tradition alive every day.
 
"Our job is to understand the past, and respect the past," Carlin-Voigt said. "Ultimately we need to live in the present, build a future and hold the core values of the program true today."

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