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PORTLAND, Ore. \u2013 The No. 2 Portland Pilots host the FIU Panthers on Tuesday, Sept. 30 for their final nonconference matchup. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m.
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\nTickets are available for Tuesday’s game at PortlandPilots.com\/Tickets. You can find a live stream and stats at PortlandPIlots.com as well.
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\nMATCH INFORMATION
\nOpponent:\u00a0FIU Panthers (4-3-2, 2-1-0 American)
\nDay:\u00a0Tuesday
\nDate:\u00a0Sept. 30, 2025
\nTime:\u00a07 PM
\nPlace:\u00a0Portland, Ore.
\nPitch:\u00a0Merlo Field
\nVideo:\u00a0ESPN+<\/a>
\nStats:\u00a0PortlandPilots.com<\/a>
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\nABOUT THE PILOTS<\/p>\n
\n\tThe second-ranked Portland Pilots began WCC play with a bang, routing the Gonzaga Bulldogs 3-0.
\n\tThe win was Portland’s 18th unbeaten result in a row dating back to last season. It’s the second-longest streak in the nation behind just Vermont and is also the longest in program history since 1988.
\n\tJoe Highfield, Diego Rosas and David Ajagbe all scored on the day. With was the sixth goal of the year for Highfield, the first for Rosas and fifth for Ajagbe.
\n\tHighfield’s six goals give him 13 through his first two seasons with the Pilots. It’s the most goals by a Pilot through his first two years since Benji Michel (2016-17).
\n\tRosas \u2013 the 11th Pilot to score this year \u2013 had both a goal and an assist on Saturday, the second goal of his career and 18th as a Pilot. It’s the most assists through three seasons for a Pilot since Sebastian Nava (2021-23), and his six assists total are the most through eight games since Kevin Bonilla in 2023.
\n\tThe Pilots also posted their seventh clean sheet of the season, the most shutouts through just the first eight games for Portland in program history.
\n\tNikos Clarke-Tosczak \u2013 who started and played 84 minutes for Portland’s defense \u2013 earned an assist in the game as well, helping him earn WCC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
\n\tThe Pilots are currently ranked second in the nation by United Soccer Coaches. It’s their highest ranking ever in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, and it’s the first time they’ve been ranked first in any poll since 1992.
\n\tPortland leads the nation in assists (30), points per game (9.75), assists per game (3.75) and goals per game (3.00) and is also second in shutout percentage (.875) and goal differential (22), third in goals-against average (.286), fourth in points (78) and 10th in goals (24). They also lead the WCC in 15 total categories, including all the previously listed stats.
\n\tTheir plus-22 goal differential is the highest for Portland through eight games since 1999.
\n\tHighfield’s six goals and 13 total points are tied for first in the WCC. He is 13th nationally in total points and 15th in goals.
\n\tWith six assists, Rosas ranks second nationally and first in the WCC. He is also third in assists per game at 0.75.
\n\tAjagbe also slides into the top five in the WCC in scoring, with his five goals ranking third in the conference and his 11 points fourth.
\n\tMiguel-Angel Hernandez has been rock solid defensively, leading the WCC in goals-against average (.286) and shutouts (six). He is fourth and third nationally in both of those categories.
\n\tHernandez has allowed just two goals on the year, making him one of four goalkeepers with more than 600 minutes played to have allowed two goals or fewer. He’s one of just nine goalkeepers to have posted at least six clean sheets.
\n\tThis year, they were picked to finish third in the 2025 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll, with forward Joe Highfield and midfielder Efetobo Aror each making the preseason team.
\n\tHighfield was the first Pilot to make the All-WCC First Team and the All-WCC Freshman Team in the same season since Benji Michel in 2016, scoring seven goals and adding three assists. His four goals and three assists against WCC opponents were the second most in the conference.
\n\tAror was drafted in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft this past year by the Colorado Rapids but chose to return. The WCC Freshman of the Year in 2023, he played in 10 matches with six starts, recording a goal and assist.
\n\tAror, along with Pilot newcomer David Ajagbe, was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 players in the preseason, slotting in at 52nd. Ajagbe ranks 99th on the list.
\n\tAjagbe scored seven goals and added two assists with the Ohio State Buckeyes last season, who earned the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament last year. Ajagbe\u00a0made the All-Big Ten Freshman team and the TopDrawerSoccer\u00a0Freshman Best XI Second\u00a0Team.
\n\tLast season, the Pilots were a dynamic offensive team, ranking second in the WCC in goals per game (1.78), total assists (44), total points (108), points per game (6.00) and assists per game (2.44). Their 2.44 assists per game ranked ninth nationally while their assist total ranked 14th.
\n\tThe Pilots also were in the top 50 nationally in points per game, (21st), total points (27th), goals per game (44th) and total goals (32, 46th).
\n\tThe Pilots return 16 players from last year’s roster while welcoming 16 newcomers. The incoming class ranks fifth nationally on TopDrawerSoccer.
\n\tOf the 16 returners, Portland returns three players who earned All-WCC honors: Highfield, Miguel-Angel Hernandez (Second Team) and Diego Rosas (Honorable Mention).
\n\tHernandez played in seven matches last year, posting shutouts in three of those matches.\u00a0
\n\tRosas led the Pilots in assists in his second season with the Pilots, posting eight assists. He was the third Pilot since 2017 to post at least three assists in a game, doing so against the LMU Lions.
\n\tNick Carlin-Voigt enters his 10th\u00a0year as head coach of the Pilots. He has posted a 97-46-22 record during his tenure, having led Portland to the NCAA Tournament five times during that span.
\n\tCarlin-Voigt was at the helm when the Pilots advanced to the Elite Eight in 2022, their first appearance that deep in the tournament since 1995.
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\nABOUT THE PANTHERS<\/p>\n
\n\tThe FIU Panthers are 4-3-2 on the season with a 2-1 record in American Athletic Conference play. They most recently fell 2-0 to the Florida Atlantic Owls.
\n\tLast season, they finished an even 6-6-6 across the board and 2-2-3 in the American. They advanced to the American Championship Tournament finals, but ultimately fell to Charlotte.
\n\tThe Panthers were picked to finish second in the conference and had three players make the Preseason All-Conference team: Jo\u00e3o Dom\u00edngues, Eduardo Mustre and Owen Travis.
\n\tDom\u00edngues played and started all 18 matches last season, earning three assists. The Portuguese product has played nine games with eight starts and has posted two assists this year.
\n\tMustre has played just five matches with three starts this year but has posted two goals in those games. He was the 2024 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after posting 11 goals and two assists his junior year in 2023.
\n\tTravis has played and started eight matches this year for the Panthers, tallying an assist in a match against the South Carolina Gamecoks. While he redshirted in 2024, in 2023 he led the Panthers in minutes (1,698) and was an AAC All-Conference Second Team selections.
\n\tKyle Russell is in his sixth year as head coach of the Panthers. The 2021 C-USA Coach of the Year is 49-27-17 in his time with the Panthers and has twice made the NCAA Tournament.
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\nGet Your Tickets Now!
\nSecure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting\u00a0PortlandPilots.com\/Tickets<\/a>\u00a0or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. \u00a0For group and fan experience package information, email\u00a0pilotsboxoffice@up.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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