SAN BRUNO, Calif. No. 8 national seed Portland battles Grand Canyon in the third round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday at 7 p.m. from Portland as the Pilots look to continue their memorable season in 2025. 

The Pilots, who at one point this season were ranked No. 1 in the country, have the benefit of not having to leave Portland until the College Cup, if they advance to that point. Thanks to Hofstra knocking off No. 1 seed Vermont, if Portland defeats Grand Canyon, the Pilots would face the winner of Hofstra and No. 16 seed Furman at Portland in the national quaterfinals with a trip to Cary, N.C., and the College Cup on the line. 

Portland is 1-1 all-time against Grand Canyon. The Antelopes won the first meeting in 2015 at Portland before the Pilots earned a win at Grand Canyon the following year in 2016. The Pilots have never played Hofstra before and are 0-0-1 vs. Furman. 

Portland has not lost at home this season, including a victory over 2025 West Coast Conference champion San Diego. After enjoying a first-round bye, the Pilots battled to a draw with Denver in the second round, advancing in penalty kicks, last Sunday. With the victory, Portland advanced to the third round for the first time since 2022 and for the sixth time in program history. In 2022, Portland advanced to the national quarterfinals before losing at Pitt, 1-0. 

Portland (13-1-4, 6-1-2) was the only team in the country that is a perfect 11-0-0 at home during the regular season, and also the only team in the country with 10 or more wins at home with no losses or ties. Additionally, Portland was one of eight teams with one loss or fewer. The 13 wins are the most since 1995 and best winning percentage since 1988, two seasons that resulted in trips to the national semifinals. 

The 2025 postseason is the 20th in program history for Portland. The Pilots have appeared in the national semifinals twice (1988, 1995). The last time a West Coast Conference team advanced to the College Cup was Santa Clara in 2003. The conference owns five national championships, four by San Francisco and one by Santa Clara. 

The West Coast Conference enjoyed a banner year with three teams earning bids into the NCAA Tournament in Portland, San Diego and Oregon State. In addition, for the first time in conference history, two West Coast Conference teams garnered national seeds and first round byes. San Diego was the No. 9 seed, losing to Grand Canyon in the second round. Oregon State hosted Washington in the first round, but lost to the Huskies in double overtime.