In a fast paced, physical game in front of nearly 1,200 fans on Friday, the Portland Pilots outlasted the CSUN matadors 3-1 to improve to 4-2-1 on the season.
Goals from a Pilot newcomer — freshman defender Delentz Pierre — and sophomore forward Alejandro Pereira and senior midfielder Rey Ortiz proved to be the difference between victory and defeat.
Pierre scored his first collegiate goal in the 22nd minute during a corner kick delivered from freshman Pilot midfielder Jacobo Reyes.
“It was a corner kick. We had practiced all week,” Pierre said. “I ran my run and ended up having a flick towards the back post and it was a goal.”
It marks the second impressive win in a week's time after beating University of Wisconsin on the road on Sept. 15. The solid defense in both wins could signal that Portland is hitting their stride on that end. The Pilots only allowed one goal to a CSUN team with two players among the top 10 NCAA goal leaders this season in senior Johnny Rodriguez and junior Daniel Trejo. The Matadors also have the nation’s leader in assists, redshirt senior Julio Rubio.
“They have really good attacking players, the number one scoring team in the country,” Pilot Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt said. “For our guys to only give up one goal is a testament to our guys”.
The Pilots now have a break in action before picking it back up on Sept. 29 in Seattle, Washington when they take on the University of Washington.
Jamison White is a sports reporter at The Beacon. He can be reached at whitej20@up.edu.
