PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots capped a magical season by winning the 2016 West Coast Conference championship with a 1-0 win over the Saint Mary's Gaels in front of packed crowd at Merlo Field on Saturday night. 4,362 fans saw the Pilots win their first WCC title since 2002.
The win also clinches an NCAA playoff for the Pilots, who return to the post-season for the first time since 2009.
The Pilots (12-5-1, 6-1-0 WCC) entered the night controlling their own destiny as the home side needed a win to clinch the league title. And Portland's Matthew Coffey gave the Pilots an ideal start to the night when he buried the game's only goal into the top shelf in the sixth minute.