PORTLAND, Ore. – There's one theme that popped up again and again when talking to the 2022 Portland Pilots women's soccer team: Freedom. Freedom of expression, freedom of play, freedom to be yourself – it's something that was emphasized over and over again by head coach Michelle French and others on the team. The emphasis is always on building a culture that encourages freedom both on and off the field.
That doesn't mean the Pilots don't come in with a general plan. They usually want to play solid, possession-based soccer, building from the back, working diagonally and creating opportunities at the goal.