The first time Luis Robles and Miguel Guante met?

"It wasn't friendly," Robles said. "He seriously thought he was the coolest thing."

The first time they played soccer together?

"He had to do these goalkeeper drills if I scored on him," Guante said. "I made him do somersaults."

In a room together, Robles and Guante banter like the old -- and competitive -- friends they are. On the field, the two are part of the foundation and leadership for a young University of Portland team finding its way.

The Pilots open the West Coast Conference season at 7 tonight against San Diego (4-0-2) and play at 2:30 p.m. Sunday against Loyola Marymount (2-2-2 entering tonight's WCC game against Gonzaga) at Merlo Field.

Portland (2-3-1) is coming off a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin but still is adjusting, trying different lineups and learning to score consistently.

"We have a lot of good chemistry," said Robles, a redshirt junior in his third season starting in goal. "As soon as it gets going, we're definitely going to be a strong team."

As upperclassmen, Robles and Guante, a senior midfielder, know they are part of the transition, through their experience on the field and helping young players as former Pilots players helped them.

It's a natural progression for best friends who have competed together and against each other since high school.

Their backgrounds were in some ways identical. Both of their fathers are Puerto Rican, and Guante and Robles share the same middle name: Angel. Both were born into military families and spent their childhoods in Germany. For a while, their fathers worked in the same office in Stuttgart, although the families never connected then.

Robles and his family moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., when he was 8. Although he loved baseball -- it remains his passion -- Robles began playing soccer to be with his friends and, at 12, began playing in goal.

"It was that or be cut," he said.

Guante and his family moved to Fort Huachaca, Ariz., when he was in the seventh grade. Guante already was an accomplished soccer player and was asked to try out for two clubs: the one Robles played for and another, with older players.

Robles remembered his coach telling him about this good new player from Germany. When Robles was in Germany, he'd had a close friend named Miguel, whose father was Puerto Rican, and Robles was excited that he was going to be reunited with his buddy.

"Then I found out it wasn't that kid," Robles said. "But it was right before state cup, and we needed a player like him."

Robles thought Guante was arrogant. Guante thought Robles and his team were unfriendly. The two glared at each other.

Guante joined the other club team.

But the animosity turned to friendship when the two began attending Buena High School.

"It wasn't until we were sophomores that we played together," Robles said. "We played on the same club team, the same regional team. We have the same personality. We're both easygoing."

Robles added, laughing: "So I allowed Miguel to be my friend."

Guante played defense on his high school and club teams, and the two learned to communicate -- and trust -- almost without speaking.

"With Miguel, I felt I never had to worry about my right side," Robles said.

Each was an Arizona high school player of the year, Robles as a junior, Guante as a senior.

When it came to college, the only common school on their lists was Portland.

Robles committed first, drawn by the opportunity of working with Portland director of soccer Bill Irwin and the program's success in producing future pros. Guante was leaning toward Boston College.

"I'd try to throw Portland his way, but I don't think he'd ever say, 'Luis was a major factor,' " Robles said.

The two have been roommates since they arrived on the Bluff. But they didn't start their careers together.

Robles redshirted his first year. Guante started immediately, initially at right back until he was moved to the midfield last season.

Robles was miserable on the sideline.

"I can definitely remember coming back from trips, and he'd be really down," Guante said. "He wouldn't even ask how games went."

On the back line, the 5-foot-9 Guante keyed a stifling defense that allowed 18 goals in 2002 and 25 in 2003. At midfield, his speed and technical skill make him dangerous on the attack.

Robles has an 0.96 goals against average. As a team captain, he's learning to be more vocal on the field.

Both have goals of playing professionally. Guante spent a couple of weeks in the summer training with former teammate Heath Pearce and his Danish club, FC Nordsjaelland. The experience was educational and inspirational, Guante said.

But first there's the conference season and a campaign for the NCAA playoffs. And there are the regular duels with Robles -- video football and soccer games -- and the teasing over favorite pro teams.

Robles roots for Real Madrid -- only because Guante is a Barcelona follower.

"We really enjoy winning, especially when we beat each other," Guante said. "But, you know, when it comes to picking teams, Luis is always my first pick."