SAN BRUNO, Calif. - West Coast Conference men's soccer looks to keep its momentum rolling into conference play this week after a successful non-conference schedule that ended with Portland and San Diego both ranked in the top 11 nationally. Portland checks in at No. 2 nationally, its highest national ranking since 1992, and defending West Coast Conference champion San Diego entering the week ranked No. 11.
The Pilots were one of three teams in Division I yet to allow a goal before a 3-2 win over Denver last Friday. Portland remains unbeaten at 6-0-1. Both San Diego and San Francisco only lost once each during non-conference play, as well.
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In The Rankings
In addition to two teams ranked in the top 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, the West Coast Conference also currently boasts three teams in the top 24 in the latest RPI rankings - No. 8 Portland, No. 13 San Diego and No. 24 Oregon State.
This Week
Prior to the start of non-conference play, Oregon State heads to Northern California to play No. 3 Stanford at 7 p.m. tonight.
Five matches highlight the start of conference play on Saturday. The conference opener is set for 1 p.m. when Saint Mary's hosts Seattle U. Pacific battles LMU in Stockton at 4 p.m.
In the three night matches, Portland looks to remain unbeaten when the Pilots host Gonzaga at 7 p.m. USD treks to the Bay Area to battle Santa Clara as the Toreros looks to remain highly-ranked. San Francisco hosts Oregon State at 7:30 p.m.
Stat Leaders
Portland's defensive dominance after now allowing a goal through the Pilots' first six games has propelled Portland to rank tied for third in the country in goal differential at +19.
Portland ranks No. 4 in points per game, while LMU checks in at 24th in that category. Individually, Seattle U's Yeider Zuluaga ranks tied for 15th (1.88), Joe Highfield from the Pilots ranks tied for 17th in points per game (1.86) with Oregon State's Arnau Farnos right behind tied for 22nd (1.67).
Highfield, Zuluaga and Santa Clara's Niv Berkovitz are tied for 18th in the country and first in the West Coast Conference with five goals each.