Box Score I Photos
Steven Hosseinmardi scored UP's second goal with :02 left in the first half
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Sophomore Frankie Lopez scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 64th minute to send the Pilots to a 3-2 win over the first-place San Diego Toreros at Merlo Field on Sunday. It’s the second straight game with a winning goal for Lopez, who matches the league-high with 12 strikes this fall.
It’s also the second straight win for the Pilots, who move to 8-9-2 overall on the season and to 5-6-0 in the West Coast Conference. The loss knocks the Toreros out of first place in the conference. USD now stands at 6-9-3 and 6-4-0 in the WCC.
Sunday was the final regular season home game for Portland, which honored its five graduating seniors with a pre-game ceremony. Steven Hosseinmardi, Bryan Irwin, Patrick Jurney, Brayton Knapp and Leland Wright were all making their final regular season appearance at Merlo Field. Hosseinmardi and Knapp celebrated the day in style, picking up a goal and an assist, respectively.
The game didn’t lack intensity as a total of 35 shots were taken on the day. USD got on the board first with a goal in the seventh minute. J.D. Penilton went top shelf with a header off a feed from Corey Norris. Norris set up Penilton with a soft, floating service that was perfectly placed in front of the UP net.
The Pilots wasted little time to respond as junior Collen Warner tallied the equalizer not even two minutes later. Knapp sent a pass to Warner right up the middle of the field, just outside the box. Warner then finished with a low shot just inside the right post from 20 yards out. It’s Warner’s fifth goal this fall and the second assist for Knapp.
Then just when it appeared the two teams would enter the break knotted at 1-1, Hosseinmardi gave Portland the lead with his first strike this season. Hosseinmardi took a feed from Warner and cracked a shot towards the far post from the right flank. The shot grazed the post on its way into the back of the net, handing Portland the one-goal lead with just two seconds remaining in the first half. Warner picked up his second assist for the weekend and his conference-leading eighth overall.
With Portland still leading 2-1 in the 54th minute, San Diego’s Tim Grey picked up his second yellow card of the game, meaning the Toreros would have to play a man-down the rest of the way.
The Pilots were then able to take advantage in brilliant fashion as Lopez nailed a signature strike from distance. Lopez had possession on the left flank, outran a defender and buried a frozen rope in the top-right corner of the net from 25 yards out. USD keeper Kelin Briones never stood a chance as the Pilots took a 3-1 lead.
The Toreros made things interesting with a goal from Andrew Feld in the 67th minute, but the Pilots and sophomore keeper Austin Guerrero would hold on for the win.
Guerrero finished with three saves on 20 San Diego shots. Briones countered with four stops on 15 attempts from Portland.
The Pilots finished with a slight 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
Portland next concludes the regular season with a match at Saint Mary’s on Friday. The Pilots and Gaels are set to kick-off at 2:00 p.m. in Moraga, Calif.