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Pilots prove golden in semifinal win
Pilots will play San Diego for WCC title Saturday
University of Portland students celebrated long into the evening Wednesday night as the Pilots needed overtime to beat San Francisco 2-1 at Merlo Field.
PORTLAND - The University of Portland men's soccer team started its playoff run in style Wednesday night, beating San Francisco 2-1 in overtime in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference tournament at Merlo Field.
The goal came late in the first overtime period off a cross that glanced against a USF player and into the visitors' own goal, securing the Pilots a spot against rival San Diego in the final Saturday at 7 p.m.
Portland scored midway through the first half, but gave up the tying goal when a penalty was called in the box with four minutes left in the match and the Dons' converted the penalty kick.
The Pilots have now won 11 consecutive matches - the longest streak in the nation, which helped them move up to a No. 6 ranking in the latest coaches poll this weekend.
Fans, mostly students in the crowd of 2,143, celebrated with the team on the field after the match.
Portland improved to 12-3-2, including wins in all eight of its conference matches. The Pilots beat San Diego on the road, 5-4, on Oct. 10 in a match that featured four goals by David Ajagbe.
San Diego beat Denver 2-1 in the other WCC tournament semifinal at Merlo Field Wednesday.
Regardless of Saturday's outcome, the Pilots are certain to play in the 48-team NCAA tournament, but a win would likely make it certain all of their matches would be at Merlo Field just as they were last season when they reached the Elite Eight.
Cliff Pfenning
Cliff is a lifelong resident of Oregon and has four decades of experience as a writer, photographer, videographer, broadcaster and now producer. He's a grad of Benson High in Portland and the University of Oregon. His writing background includes stints at The Oregonian, The Register-Guard, The News-Review in Roseburg, The Portland Tribune, The Portland Observer as well as regular contributions to The Medford Mail-Tribune and Willamette Week. He was set to be a content provider for Action Sports Cable Network if it had began operations in 2000. He also has taught sports broadcasting through the high school program at KBPS in Portland.
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