PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland sophomore Benji Michel, who scored four goals during opening weekend, is the inaugural West Coast Conference Men's Soccer Player of the week. It's the first WCC weekly award for Michel.
Michel registered a hat trick during the first 26 minutes on Sunday as the Pilots rolled to a 6-0 win over the Fairfield Stags, with all three goals coming during a 10-minute span. The hat trick is the first at Merlo Field since UP's Alejandro Salazar accomplished the feat in 2003.
The first goal, which proved to be the game-winner, was in the 16th minute when he beat the Fairfield keeper to the ball and hit it into the back of the net.