2022 Schedule

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2022/5/18/womens-soccer-announces-schedule-for-2022-fall-season.aspx

I originally posted the schedule here, but after discovering a number of inaccuracies, decided it best to just post the link.  

Some games in BOLD are listed as a way games and vice versa, and Montana does not appear on the schedule, but I believe they at Merlo on August 28.

Give it a week, someone will discover the errors and fix them.

Okay, this one from a different source looks accurate:

The opener against UBC has been changed to a 4pm start.    

I was told sophomore Nyota Katembo has left the team and is now part of the soccer program at Arizona.

Raised in Canada, maybe she met a lot of Canadian snowbirds there this past winter...

DoubleDipper wrote:I was told sophomore Nyota Katembo has left the team and is now part of the soccer program at Arizona.

Raised in Canada, maybe she met a lot of Canadian snowbirds there this past winter...

Interesting transfer. I liked her as a player. Arizona has a quite new coach (Rebecca Moros, a former Thorn). They had a very poor year last year, but perhaps they will have a turn around. I will be interested to see how that transfer works out, both for player and for team.

Seems like the seasons begin earlier and earlier each year, and already it's time for an exhibition game at home against the U. of British Columbia tomorrow (Friday) at 4pm as part of a doubleheader. (I am told there will NOT be a Pilot Club for this game).

The always unscientific WCC coaches' poll predicts the Pilots will finish in 5th place this season.

BYU (eight) 80
Santa Clara (2) 72
Pepperdine 64
Gonzaga 59
Portland 46
Saint Mary's 43
San Francisco 32
Pacific 22
LMU 19
San Diego 13

Last season the Pilots finished 5th in the WCC with a record of 5-4.

DoubleDipper wrote:Seems like the seasons begin earlier and earlier each year, and already it's time for an exhibition game at home against the U. of British Columbia tomorrow (Friday) at 4pm as part of a doubleheader.  (I am told there will NOT be a Pilot Club for this game).

The always unscientific WCC coaches' poll predicts the Pilots will finish in 5th place this season.  

BYU (eight) 80
Santa Clara (2) 72
Pepperdine 64
Gonzaga 59
Portland 46
Saint Mary's 43
San Francisco 32
Pacific 22
LMU 19
San Diego 13

Last season the Pilots finished 5th in the WCC with a record of 5-4.

Believe it or not, the coach polls from the conferences probably are the best pre-season rankings you will be able to find. Not by a lot, by a little, but nevertheless the best.

Once regulars in the NCAA Tournament, the Pilots haven't made the postseason since 2013. But the program's legacy isn't lost on current players, who play their first counting match of 2022 when Utah visits Merlo Field on Thursday, Aug. 18

"I grew up going to all the games and (being a Pilot) was just my dream. I kind of just always knew I was going to go to Portland," Sawan said. "I just wanted to be a part of the group that would bring the soccer legacy back."

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/554720-443835-upbeat-portland-womens-soccer-looks-to-take-next-step

Today's 1pm match against Eastern Washington is preceded by lunch in the Pilot Club at noon...

The EWU and UP women's soccer teams have never played against one another before today.

Both teams tied their opponents on Thursday.  The Eagles and Beavers played to a 1-1 final in Corvallis and the Pilots vs. Utes match ended 2-2 at Merlo Field.

Twitter says 6-0 Pilots.

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2022/8/21/womens-soccer-portland-takes-down-eastern-wash-6-0-for-first-win.aspx

up7587 wrote:Twitter says 6-0 Pilots.

I think the fun part for fans and players alike was that all 6 goals came from different players and four of the goal scorers scored for the first time in their Pilot careers.

Yes, EWU tied OSU three days earlier, but they had nothing yesterday, putting just 1 shot on goal with ZERO corner kicks.

We should be able to get a better perspective of the Pilots ability when they travel to Pullman for a Thursday evening match against a WSU team that lost 2-1 to Michigan in Ann Arbor last Thursday.

(It was another hot one yesterday, and a number of PilotNation regulars took advantage of the shady side of Merlo while the students are still away).

DoubleDipper wrote:

up7587 wrote:Twitter says 6-0 Pilots.

(It was another hot one yesterday, and a number of PilotNation regulars took advantage of the shady side of Merlo while the students are still away).

Well, not the Student section.

Some of us went over to the student side to watch the 5-0 exhibition romp over UBC and were told to leave, because “it’s for students” even though there were NO student there as they aren’t back yet.

So we went to the other half of the stands on that side, which was considerably further from the action.

I’ll note they weren’t as vigilant in enforcing seating in the season ticket section when UW came to town to play our men.

Geezaldinho wrote:Some of us went over to the student side to watch the 5-0 exhibition romp over UBC and were told to leave, because “it’s for students” even though there were NO student there as they aren’t back yet.

Is Buzz still working? Thought he retired.

up7587 wrote:

Geezaldinho wrote:Some of us went over to the student side to watch the 5-0 exhibition romp over UBC and were told to leave, because “it’s for students” even though there were NO student there as they aren’t back yet.

Is Buzz still working?  Thought he retired.

He and Joe were at the UW game sitting in the season ticket stadium seats.

….I wonder  if they had sea…..?
yeah, they probably did.

My wife and I too got bumped from the student section -- but, there were some students there. On thinking about it, I concluded it was ok. These days, I think it is a security issue to not have non-students sitting where the students sit. It is a sad situation, but I think it is a smart policy.

On a happier note, the teams is playing some really attractive soccer so far. They are building from the back, through the midfield, and on to the forwards, but mixing it up occasionally with some longer balls. If this keeps up, we will be treated to some really fun games.

We have a big weekend coming up for the Pilots. Washington State has become a pretty serious power. If the Pilots could get a result -- a tie would be great and a win fantastic -- it would be very impressive. Montana is a strong opponent, though not at the level of WSU. There, I am hoping for a win.

Tomorrow, I will be glued to live stats (at least).

I’ve got no basis for offering opinions (it’s not like I can watch anything over here with the time difference), but 6-0 against a lesser opponent is a score I would have expected from the teams of the 2000s.

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:We have a big weekend coming up for the Pilots.  Washington State has become a pretty serious power.  If the Pilots could get a result -- a tie would be great and a win fantastic -- it would be very impressive.  

Final in Pullman: 0-0

An impressive performance by Bre Norris in goal.

Go Pilots.

The Announcer, Trevor somebody, pointed out the WSU has never beaten Portland. Their  record stands at 0-14-2.

The other tie was at Merlo in the 2012 tournament (2-2) and UP advanced 6-5 on PK’s with some heroics from Erin Dees.

Thanks for that, Geezer...

I was still remembering the heartbreak of WSU's second goal 10 years later, but after seeing the tape of UP's goals and Erin's saves that memory has disappeared.

Nice win over the Griz.

Bri Norris blocked a weakly taken PK attempt.

Then Keeley Dockter took a through ball from Sawan in on goal for a  shot which was blocked by the keeper left of goal. Dockter followed the rebound and scored.

The second goal was a pretty lofted ball over the keeper by Cally Togiai from top left of the box.

Third shutout in 4 games .
Enjoy.

Full game if you missed

It was so good to see what I consider a "proper" soccer match after witnessing Friday night's ridiculous foul-fest.

The Central Arkansas website stated:

Portland, a team that made the NCAA tournament last season, looked out of sorts and frustrated before a couple of set pieces went its way late.

But I think it was more the fans in the stands who were the ones who were frustrated (by the way the game was being played and officiated).

It was also good to see quite a few freshmen in the game today...much better team depth in Frenchie's 5th season as head coach.

DoubleDipper wrote:
It was also good to see quite a few freshmen in the game today...much better team depth in Frenchie's 5th season as head coach.

I agree. The passing and close control looked ragged at times, but this is a decent team that will win some games.

It seems like what they need to get back to contending for the top is one or two "game changers" of the quality that they had in the 1990s and 2000s. Not necessarily at the Christine or Megan level, but just really top players who can beat a defender and cause chaos in the defense ... and stick the ball in the net when they get a chance.