The Portland Pilots men’s soccer squad capped a spectacular 2025 campaign with a 14‑2‑4 record, a .800 winning percentage that stands as the program’s best since 1988, and a second Elite Eight appearance in just four years.
A Record‑Breaking Campaign
The Pilots surged to a No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll after 13 straight games before their first defeat, the highest placement for the program since 1992. TopDrawerSoccer mirrored the feat, ranking Portland fourth in its preseason poll, the best showing since 1989.
Home dominance proved a cornerstone of the run, with the team posting a program‑record 12 victories at Merlo Field, turning the venue into a fortress that opponents found difficult to breach.
Stars of the Squad
Diego Rosas emerged as the nation’s assist leader, dishing out 0.75 assists per game and earning All‑WCC First Team honors, while forward Joe Highfield paced the attack with 11 goals and 27 points, garnering All‑American Third Team and WCC West Region First Team accolades.
Midfielder David Ajagbe contributed to the midfield’s stability, securing All‑WCC First Team and United Soccer Coaches All‑West Region Second Team recognitions, and goalkeeper Miguel‑Angel Hernandez posted a save percentage of .797, ranking first in the WCC and 22nd nationally.
Culture and Coaching
Under head coach Nick Carlin Voigt, the club cultivated a teamwork‑first ethos that emphasized attacking flair and tight margins of victory. The coaching staff’s blend of tactical acumen and player development created an environment where records were not just broken but re‑imagined.
Looking ahead, the Pilots enter 2026 with preseason rankings of No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 4 in TopDrawerSoccer, expectations that reflect both the program’s resurgence and the ambition to contend nationally and deepen their playoff run.