Photos I 2010 Schedule
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The 19th-ranked Portland Pilots men’s soccer team began its quest to return to the post-season with the first official practice of the 2010 season at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex on Wednesday morning. The Pilots are fresh off a visit to the third round of the 2009 NCAA Playoffs, which was farther than any other West Coast Conference team.
15 returning letterwinners welcomed nine newcomers to the Merlo Field pitch on Wednesday, with the season and home-opener just 16 days away.
All-conference senior goalkeeper Austin Guerrero is one of seven returning starters for the Pilots, who are ranked 19th in the NSCAA Coaches Poll and 23rd in the College Soccer News rankings. Guerrero enters his senior season fourth in UP program history in career saves per game (4.06), fifth in total saves (256), sixth in shutouts (16.0) and seventh in goals against average (1.17).
The Pilots will be without all-conference midfielder Collen Warner and all-conference defender Logan Emory for the first time in four years, but UP has a wealth of talent returning to help fill the gaps. Senior midfielder and All-WCC First Team selection Jarad vanSchaik (6 goals, 8 assists) and senior forward Ryan Luke (7g, 2a) return, as does All-WCC junior defender Ryan Kawulok.
Director of Soccer and head coach Bill Irwin, who directed Portland to a 12-6-5 overall record last fall, returns for his eighth season at the helm of the Pilots and his 24th year overall on The Bluff.
Before Portland opens the regular season, the Pilots will host the Oregon State Beavers in an exhibition match on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Merlo Field.
UP’s first regular season contest is against Northern Illinois and is set for Friday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Merlo Field. The match with Northern Illinois is part of the 2010 Nike Invitational, which will also feature Washington and Evansville.
