Men’s soccer was ranked No. 1 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll on Sept. 30. This is their fifth straight week in the top 25 and highest ever ranking by the coaches top 25 poll.
The Pilots were last ranked No. 1 by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America in 1992, the official collegiate soccer poll until 1995. They are also the first West Coast Conference (WCC) team since Santa Clara in 1999 to be ranked first overall.
The squad was named No. 2 in the previous week’s poll, but rose in the rankings following their 3-0 victory against Gonzaga on Sept. 27. They now start with a 1-0-0 record in conference play.
Their 8-0-1 start to the season is their best record through eight matches since 1988, and their undefeated streak of 19 games, dating back to last season, is currently the second longest in the nation.
The Pilots lead the nation in goals per game and assists per game, while ranking second in goal differential, shutout percentage and total assists.
Redshirt sophomore forward Joe Highfield is tied for first in the WCC with six goals, while junior forward Diego Rosas leads the conference with seven assists.
Multiple Pilots have won weekly WCC honors, including Highfield and redshirt junior goalkeeper Miguel-Angel Hernandez. Junior defender Nikos Clarke-Tosczak is the newest addition to this list, winning WCC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29. Clark-Tosczak was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Men’s Team of the Week on Sept. 30, the first Pilot this season to earn the honor.
Going forward, the Pilots play only WCC matches until the end of the season. They will have an away match at LMU on Oct. 4 before returning to Portland to play No. 15 San Diego on Oct. 10.
Kaeden Souki is the Sports Editor for The Beacon, he can be reached at souki28@up.edu.
