Pilots v Oregon, Exhibition 8/15 @ 7:00 pm

I've been looking over the Ducks and Pilots rosters, in terms of what they've lost from last year.  It makes for a pretty interesting prelude to tomorrow's exhibition game:

Oregon

Oregon last year scored 16 goals and had 12 assists.  Due to graduation, they have lost 8 goals and 7 assists. They gave up 21 goals.

They graduated 9 seniors from a roster of 29.  Of these, eight were starters:  their GK, 3 defenders, 2 mid-fielders, and 2 forwards.

I don't know whether they have had any transfers out.

Portland

The Pilots last year scored 20 goals and had 21 assists.  Due to graduation and transfers, they have lost 9 goals and 5 assists. They gave up 24 goals.

They graduated 3 seniors from a roster of 19 and they have lost some players to transfer, notably Danica Evans.

Of the players gone, three were starters.  Of these starters: 1 forward, 1 mid-fielder, and 1 forward/mid-fielder.  I'm not counting Taylor Luty as a starter, as DeHaan appeared to be the starting GK by the end of the season.

Game Prediction

I'm not going to predict the game outcome, as my predictive abilities are poor.  But, I see a low scoring game unless the Oregon defense turns out to be porous, which is a possibility.

I have to say that I'm very excited to see our new young players.  I have a feeling this may be the beginning of something good -- maybe not this year, but soon.

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:
I have to say that I'm very excited to see our new young players.  I have a feeling this may be the beginning of something good -- maybe not this year, but soon.

Remember what happened three years after the last time the Pilots missed the tournament?

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women’s soccer team will host the Oregon Ducks in an exhibition game at Merlo Field on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Pilot Box Office inside the Chiles Center or by calling 503-943-7525.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door one hour in advance, and season ticket holders can also pick up their season tickets inside the main entrance to Merlo Field.

Former UP standout and Portland Thorns midfielder Kendall Johnson will be signing autographs pregame, along with her Thorns teammate Emily Menges. The pair will be stationed in the main Merlo Field plaza.

The Pilots are set to open the regular season at home against Oregon State on Friday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. Portland then heads on the road the following weekend for matches at Marquette (Aug. 28) and at Notre Dame (Aug. 30).

The Pilots return 13 letterwinners and seven starters from 2014, while adding a group of six newcomers this season. Portland is looking to return to the playoffs in 2015 after advancing to the post-season during 21 of the past 23 seasons. Portland won the NCAA National Championship in 2002 and in 2005, and the Pilots will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of that 2005 title this season.

Junior midfielder Allison Wetherington was voted to the 2015 Preseason All-West Coast Conference Team after garnering first-team all-league last year. Also earning all-league honors in 2014 were seniors Haylee DeGrood and Noelle La Prevotte and juniors Ellie Boon and Hanna de Haan, who each nabbed All-WCC Honorable Mention accolades.

A pretty even game tonight. Both teams had some opportunities. I thought the Pilots had a few more "better" opportunities than the Ducks. Definitely some potential for the team if they can find a finisher. Did Luty transfer? I may have missed that one.

The freshmen acquitted themselves pretty well in their first action as collegians.