PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland freshmen Benji Michel and Rey Ortiz both scored two goals, Eddie Sanchez had a pair of assists and goalkeeper Paul Christensen claims his third consecutive shutout as the Pilots rolled to a 4-0 win over the San Diego Toreros on a cool and rainy Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. The win is the seventh in a row for Portland, which is the longest winning streak since 1995 when the Pilots also won seven straight.
 
The first-place Pilots improve to 5-0-0 in the WCC, which matches the legendary 1988 Portland squad for the best start to a conference schedule. Portland at 11-3-1 overall also has the program's best record after 15 games since 1995.
 
"I am so proud of the way our guys competed and played today," said Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. "We continue to take steps forward and played a dominate game against a well-coached San Diego team."

Sanchez set up the game's first goal in the 11th minute by gaining possession near the half-way line and sending a perfect ball forward to Michel, who made a well-timed run. Michel then had only the keeper to beat, and he took a touch wide before burying his first goal of the afternoon into the back of the net.
 
17 minutes later, the duo connected again, but this time Sanchez deftly avoided three Toreros before sending another stellar ball forward. Michel did the rest, again beating the keeper with a powerful shot for goal number two. Sanchez notches his team-high seventh assist on the year, while Michel now has a league-best 10 goals this season.
 
After withstanding some pressure from the Toreros to begin the second half, Ortiz added some insurance with his first collegiate goal. Erik Edwardson dribbled into the box, reached the end line and sent in a low cross towards the penalty spot. That's where Ortiz finished past the keeper Thomas Olsen to make it a 3-0 lead.

And then in the 89th minute, Ortiz capped the scoring for the Pilots when he converted a penalty.
 
Christensen and the Pilots haven't conceded a goal in more than 270 consecutive minutes, and Portland now has five shutouts overall on the year. Christensen made three saves against the Toreros.
 
The Pilots compiled 15 shots on Sunday, forcing Olsen into making five saves, and Michel registers his third game-winner of the fall.

"This process continues to be about our entire team and that was on full display today with our depth and ability to rotate players," Carlin-Voigt added. "In college soccer when you play Friday-Sunday games, every guy in the program is vitally important and your depth becomes critical this time of year. We now will regroup and prepare to play the third ranked team in the country in Denver before traveling to play a very talented Pacific team on Sunday."
 
The Pilots next step out of conference to face the Denver Pioneers on Thursday night in Denver. The Pioneers, who are still unbeaten on the year, are ranked fourth in the country, and kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific).
 
Portland then heads to Stockton, Calif., for a WCC showdown with Pacific on Sunday.