Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots got three goals from three different players to earn a 3-1 win over the 21st-ranked St. Louis Billikens at the Nike Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. Virginia defeated Washington in the earlier game 2-1 in overtime to claim the tournament title.
UVA also defeated Portland on Friday, while St. Louis topped Washington to open the invitational.
Virginia swept the tournament’s individual awards as Tony Tchani was named the tourney’s offensive MVP, while Ross LaBauex took home defensive MVP honors.
On Sunday, Warner scored Portland’s first goal of the season and gave the Pilots a 1-0 lead on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. Warner went low left on the PK as SLU goalkeeper Ross Kaufman dove in the opposite direction. The penalty kick was awarded to Portland after Warner was taken down in the box after making a run down the right side of the field.
Portland then wasted little time to make it a two-goal difference early in the second half. On a corner kick, sophomore Ryan Kawulok finished with a header right in front of the frame. Freshman Ricardo Carillo picked up his first career assist after placing the corner kick perfectly at the head of Kawulok.
The Billikens had a great chance to cut the score in half with about 10 minutes left in the game. Off a corner, Michael Robson sent a header through traffic towards the UP goal. But a leaping Austin Guerrero, Portland’s junior goalkeeper, was able to punch it out of the 18-yard box.
Moments later, UP was called for a foul inside the box, giving St. Louis a penalty kick. James Jaramillo then easily found the back of the net on the PK to make it a 2-1 game in the 81st minute.
Portland had the answer barely a minute later to push the lead back to two goals as junior forward Ryan Luke cracked one past Kaufman. The play was set up by sophomore Michael Nielsen, who made a run down the left side of the field before finding Warner with a square ball. Warner then re-directed the pass and left it for Luke behind him. Luke finished from the top of the box to make it 3-1.
The Billikens claimed 10-6 edge in shots, while Guerrero made five saves. Kaufman made two stops.
The Pilots next take the field at the Vermont Classic in Burlington, Vt. Portland opens play against host Vermont at 1:00 p.m. (Pacific) on Friday, Sept. 11, before facing New Hampshire at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.
