Pilots move into Sweet 16

‍

With defending champion Vermont's loss last weekend, the University of Portland men's soccer team has a clear path to the NCAA Final Four that goes through Merlo Field starting Saturday night.

The Pilots play host to Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. with a win leading to a home game in the quarterfinals since the team would be the highest remaining seed in its quarter of the NCAA field.

This is where the Pilots have played to in a season that saw the program ranked No. 1 for the first time, and earn the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament - one spot ahead of West Coast Conference rival San Diego, which won the conference title.

It is only the second time the program is playing host to a game in the round of 16.

Portland (13-1-4) won its opening playoff game over Denver in a penalty-kick shootout Sunday afternoon, which led to its game with Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon (14-3-5), which is unseeded, beat UCLA in a PK shootout to reach its game at San Diego and then beat the Toreros 2-1 Sunday.

In the other Sweet 16 game in the UP quarter of the 48-team playoff bracket, No. 16 Furman plays host to Hofstra, which beat No. 1 Vermont 3-2 Sunday.

A Portland win Saturday would earn a home game Dec. 5 or 6 regardless of the outcome of the other Sweet 16 game.

‍

‍

‍