PORTLAND, Ore. --- After a scoreless first half, the Pilots turned up the pressure after the break and junior Benji Michel scored the game-winner in the 57th minute as the Pilots toppled the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 1-0 on the opening night of the Nike Portland Invitational on Friday at Merlo Field. It's the third goal in three games for Michel.
The goal came after Gio Magana-Rivera won possession just outside the 18-yard box and played a perfect through ball to the feet of Michel. The forward then took a touch before slotting one into the right corner of the net to hand the home side the 1-nil lead.