Men’s soccer will advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament after defeating the Grand Canyon Lopes 1-0 on Nov. 29.
The match’s intensity was back-and-forth, with a yellow card from each squad. Grand Canyon amassed 12 fouls and Portland earned 10. With five shots on goal — including a missed penalty kick from junior forward Anton Hjalmarsson — the Pilots struggled to capitalize for much of the game.
The match remained a hard-fought stalemate until the 79th minute, when redshirt sophomore Joe Highfield scored off an assist from junior forward Diego Rosas. Rosas notched his 15th assist on the season, setting a new program single-season record.
Highfield was a game-time decision, spending the majority of the match on the bench due to ankle discomfort sustained in a recent practice. Highfield scored within a minute of substituting for Hjalmarsson.
In the quarterfinal, Portland will remain at home to face Furman on Dec. 5. There will be free entry for students.
Kaeden Souki is the Sports Editor for The Beacon, he can be reached souki28@up.edu.
