2018 Schedule!
Date Posted: 5/18/2018
Date Posted: 4/25/2018
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots men's soccer team will begin the 2018 season with eight straight home games, and they'll play at Merlo Field a total of 12 times overall next fall as they face another challenging schedule. The 2018 schedule features seven teams that have been to the NCAA Postseason during the past three years, and the Pilots will embark on a road trip to perennial power Coastal Carolina.
"We are very excited for the 2018 schedule," said Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. "We have been hard at work this spring developing our returning players, while recruiting new players who fit in well to our culture. Once again we play one of the toughest schedules in the country. I know we will grow during the season as each game will present a different challenge."
After a few exhibition games, the Pilots officially open the 2018 season at home on Friday, Aug. 24 when Sacramento State visits north Portland. The Hornets have been the NCAA Tournament twice recently, and the game is part of UP's Freshman Orientation, which includes the always popular Bite on The Bluff in the Chiles Center Plaza, adjacent to Merlo Field.
The Pilots conclude opening weekend at home against Syracuse on Sunday, Aug. 26. This will be the first meeting ever between the Pilots and the ACC side, who reached the playoffs in 2016.
The next week brings the annual Nike Invitational to Merlo Field, which will feature matches against a pair of California schools. First is a tilt with UC Santa Barbara on Friday night (Aug. 31), before Cal Poly comes to campus for a game on Monday night (Sept. 3). UCSB has a storied history as the Gauchos won the 2006 NCAA Championships, and they've been to the postseason 12 times during the past 14 years.
The Cal Poly Mustangs claim three visits to the NCAA's, with the most recent trip coming in 2015.
The following weekend brings two more home contests as the Pilots will face northwest rival Washington and American. This will be the first meeting in three years for the Pilots and Huskies, who have played each other 48 times in a series that dates back to 1977. UW has been to the playoffs 23 times overall, which includes five visits in the last six years. The game is slated for Friday, August 14.
The game with America on Sunday, Sept. 16, is the first meeting ever with the Eagles, who have won the Patriot League title six times and have gone to the NCAA Tournament eight times. In 1985, the Eagles reached the national title game against UCLA, and the two teams set an NCAA record by going to eight overtimes.
On Friday, Sept. 21, the Pilots re-new their rivalry with Oregon State, who will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Terry Boss. Most recently Boss was the associate head coach at Virginia, and he was previously an assistant on the OSU staff. The Beavers last went to the NCAA's in 2014, and this will mark in the 28th meeting all-time with the Pilots.
The Pilots then play their first game of the season beyond the state of Oregon when they travel to Conway, South Carolina, for a non-conference match with Coast Carolina on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The Chanticleers have been regulars in the NCAA Playoffs, which includes a current streak of eight straight post-season visits. Last fall Coastal Carolina reached the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Portland's final non-conference home game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 28, against the Northern Illinois Huskies. This will be the fourth meeting ever with Northern Illinois, who play in the Mid-American Conference and have received a berth to the NCAA Tournament three times.
"We will face some of the elite programs from the ACC, Pac 12, Big West while traveling across country to play perennial NCAA power Coastal Carolina," noted Carlin-Voigt. "Our demanding schedule will help us prepare for the rigorous West Coast Conference, which has been so competitive the last few years with multiple teams getting into the NCAA tournament."
The Pilots open the West Coast Conference with a road trip to Spokane, Wash., to face the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 6. Portland then returns home to host Loyola Marymount on Friday, Oct. 12, before welcoming San Diego to The Bluff two days later.
The Pilots follow their home weekend with a visit to the Bay Area for WCC games with San Francisco (Oct. 26) and Santa Clara (Oct. 28). USF is the reigning WCC champions, and Santa Clara has won 12 league titles overall.
Portland then plays their third straight road WCC contest when they travel to Stockton, Calif., to play the Pacific Tigers (Nov. 3), who are coming off two straight visits to the NCAA Second Round.
Senior Day is scheduled for the following Saturday (Nov. 10) as the Pilots conclude the regular season against Saint Mary's at Merlo Field.
The Pilots return most of their offense this season, including 2017 All-WCC First Team and All-West Region Team selections Benji Michel and Rey Ortiz. Michel led the WCC with 10 goals last season, and his 22 points were second only to Ortiz's 25. Ortiz ranked second nationally last fall in assists per game (0.76), he was third in total assists with 13, and he missed matching the program's single-season assist record by one. Portland, which went from worst-to-first in 2016 to claim the WCC title and nab a berth to the NCAA Playoffs, will be adding the country's No. 3 recruiting class to an already loaded roster.
"While we will be younger than the last few years I know our players will be hungry for success," Carlin-Voigt said. "While it will be impossible to replace seniors and captains who have moved on to the MLS it will allow new players a chance to develop and step up."
Also on the Pilots' schedule are a pair of exhibition games at home against the University of British Columbia (Aug. 15) and away at Seattle (Aug. 18). Portland also has an exhibition home date slated for Sunday, Aug. 12, with an opponent yet to be determined.
Season tickets and flex plans are on sale now, so visit portlandpilots.com/tickets or call 503-943-GoUP (4687) to reserve your spot today.
UP is also offering unique "Fan Experiences" throughout the 2018 fall soccer season. The "Fan Experiences" include halftime youth games, meeting the Pilots players and coaches, creating a high-five tunnel for the Pilots, and much more. For more information on these fan experiences or to book a group and take advantage of the unique opportunities, please call or text 503-943-GoUP (4687).
"After playing the second hardest strength of schedule in the WCC last year we are confident this year's challenge will be no different, except we will have more home games at Merlo Field," added Carlin-Voigt. "We haven't had this exciting and challenging of a home schedule in years and I know our players and fans will be ready for the fall. We look forward to the community and students getting excited about our team and supporting us the entire year."