Portland Pilots
Overall Rank: #21
Conference Rank: #3 West Coast
Portland Team Page
Portland, one of Women's College Soccer's storied programs, is coming off of a second round appearance in the school's 20th NCAA Tournament trip. The Pilots are so successful that they have made 20 tournaments since 1986, the school's first NCAA Division I season. The impressive part about last year's successful season is that the Pilots only had one senior on the roster, so a lot of experience returns in 2013.
2012 Record: 11-5-5, 5-1-2
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Garrett Smith
Strengths:
Portland brings back nine starters from last year's team, including its top five scorers. Amanda Frisbie returns after knocking in 12 goals and assisting on nine others. Both Frisbie's' totals were tops on the team. Kaila Cameli, who was second on the team with eight scores also returns. Frisbie and Cameli are two of eight seniors on the 2013 Portand roster. Michelle Cruz had five goals and six assists and Micaela Capelle had four goals, as did Rebekah Kurle. Kendall Johnson, one of the nation’s top defenders also returns for her senior season. Last year's two top goalies, Nichole Downing and Erin Dees, also return. Dees, last year's starter, played over 1,700 minutes last season, while making 77 saves. Downing didn't allow a goal in nearly 299 minutes of play.
Weaknesses:
There aren't many, if any, areas where the Pilots can say they're weak. Returning nine starters and 17 letter winners will do that. Of those who departed, the Pilots will miss Kendall Johnson the most. Johnson had three goals and five assists last season.
Final Projection:
With so much talent and experience returning, the Pilots are well on track to their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance. Unlike other teams, Portland has multiple players who can both score and set their teammates up for goals as well. As if the team needed more talent, Portland brought in an impressive recruiting class, ranked fifth in the country. Five members are rated as four-star recruits and made the College Sports Madness top recruits list. Ariel Viera comes in after scoring 116 goals in four high school seasons, the second highest total in Oregon prep history. The Pilots hold an impressive 212-27-12 record in 22 seasons at Merlo Field. This year the Pilots welcome strong teams such as Marquette, Wake Forest, Missouri and Central Michigan to Portland. Other nonconference games include matches at Oregon, Stanford, Washington and San Diego State.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Amanda Frisbie, Senior, F, 12
Assists: Amanda Frisbie, Senior, F, 9
Shots: Amanda Frisbie, Senior, F, 93
Saves: Erin Dees, Senior, 77
Madness 2014 NWSL Draft Rankings:
#7 Kendall Johnson
#29 Amanda Frisbie
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#41 Elizabeth Boon
#52 Allison Wetherington
#63 Danica Evans
#82 Madison Hall
#135 Mikayla Elmer
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
