Box Score
SEATTLE, Wash. --- The No. 4 Portland Pilots scored three unanswered goals in a 3-1 victory over the Syracuse Orange Sunday afternoon at Husky Soccer Stadium and were declared the winners of the 2010 Husky/Nike Invitational. Portland senior Elli Reed was named the tournament's Defensive MVP after logging two assists and helping the Pilots surrender just one goal.
Sophie Schmidt had a goal and an assist and both Taylor Brooke and Micaela Capelle scored goals for the second straight game as the Pilots improve to 6-0-0 on the season.
The Orange (1-3-2) jumped out to the early lead in the 22nd minute on a 25-yard free kick by Megan Bellingham. Her quality attempt found the top right of the goal to put Portland behind for the first time this season.
The deficit was short-lived as Schmidt scored her second goal of the 2010 season in the 29th minute. With the Pilots consistently in the attacking third of the field, Danielle Foxhoven finally found some space in the penalty area and touched a pass to Schmidt in the six-yard box. She clinically finished to even the score.
Despite a 13-2 advantage in shot attempts in the first period for the Pilots, the game went to halftime tied at 1-1.
Brooke scored the eventual game-winner in the 56th minute finishing a nice sequence started by senior defender Elli Reed. Reed beat the defense down the left sideline and raced to the endline. She sent her service across the goal mouth and Brooke was at the far post unmarked. She took a touch and then finished low and to the right just inside of the near post. The assist was the second in as many games and third of the season for Reed.
Capelle capped the scoring with her team-high fourth goal in the 69th minute. Schmidt sent a thru ball up the middle that Capelle ran on to and beat Orange goalkeeper Brittany Anghel in a one-on-one situation.
The Pilots gained a 19-4 advantage in shots and 3-1 edge in corner kicks for the game. Anghel made five stops for Syracuse, while Portland freshman goalkeeper Erin Dees recorded one save.
“We are glad to come away with two wins,” Portland head coach Garrett Smith said. “We are happy to be 6-0 and excited to get back to Portland for a couple of important home games next weekend.”
The Pilots will host the Nike Portland Invitational next weekend at Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. Competing teams will be Portland, Washington, Rutgers and Penn State. UW will face Penn State on Friday, Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. followed by UP and Rutgers at 7 p.m. Sunday starts with UW and Rutgers at noon, followed by the Pilots and Penn State at 2:30 p.m.
