PORTLAND, Ore. - The Top-25 clash for the 2026 West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship was an instant classic as top-seeded and No. 6 nationally ranked Portland held off a furious rally from second-seeded and No. 19 ranked San Diego for a 3-2 victory at Merlo Field on Saturday.
The Pilots scored three times in a span of 11:23 midway through the match for a 3-0 lead, only for the Toreros to battle back within 3-2 in the 79th minute. San Diego (11-5-3) rattled off six more shots in the final 10 minutes, but could not find an equalizer as Portland (13-3-2) completed a perfect WCC campaign and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
The opening 45 was mostly even until the closing moments as the Pilots scored twice inside the final 63 seconds of the half to flip the match.
The crossbar proved to be unkind to the Toreros in the contest, the first time with 1:03 left in the first half when a high cross caromed off goalkeeper Lucca Adams’ hands and the bar directly to Alex Waggoner inside the six-yard box for an easy tap-in goal.
Portland doubled the margin just six seconds before intermission when Olayinka Ogunleye’s header found the back of the net.
San Diego had a chance to pull one back early in the second half, but Steven Ramirez glanced a penalty kick off the crossbar in the 53rd minute to remain two goals down. Waggoner added his second of the match with a header in the 56th minute to give the Pilots what appeared to be an insurmountable 3-0 advantage.
The Toreros pulled one back in the 77th on a beautiful build-on from the back, culminating in Ramirez slamming one home from eight yards. Ricky Moreno's left-footed volley found the lower right corner in the 79th get USD within a goal.
San Diego continued to create chances, but WCC Goalkeeper of the Year Miguel-Angel Hernandez made two of his six saves in the closing minutes to seal the victory for Portland.
The NCAA Selection Show will air live on NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. ET, with the NCAA Tournament beginning Nov. 19 and culminating at the College Cup final on Dec. 14.
2026 WCC MEN'S SOCCER ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Hudson Tate, Denver
Bryce Willoughby, Denver
Brayden Beason, San Francisco
Matthew Duggan, San Francisco
Taj Eagleston, San Diego
Steven Ramirez, San Diego
Oliver Rhoades, San Diego
Joe Highfield, Portland
Olayinka Ogunleye, Portland
Diego Rosas, Portland
Alex Waggoner, Portland (MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER)