The Portland Pilots women's soccer squad traveled to St. George, Utah, where they faced the Utah Tech Trailblazers at Greater Zion Stadium on a crisp Tuesday evening.
Debutant fireworks
The game’s opening minutes belonged to Xayla Black, who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a strike that marked her first collegiate goal, putting the Pilots ahead 1‑0.
Just over twenty minutes later, Kyah Zurek added her name to the scoresheet, slotting home her inaugural collegiate goal to extend the lead to 2‑0 before halftime.
The second half saw Violet Rademacher continue the onslaught, finding the back of the net in the 50th minute to seal a 3‑0 victory and record her 14th career goal.
Between the goals, goalkeeper Sophia Hills was busy, making five saves that preserved the clean sheet and earned her the first shutout of the season, a milestone that also represented her 11th career shutout.
Statistically, the Pilots outshot their opponents 11‑12, with seven of those attempts on target, while Utah Tech managed five shots on frame, underscoring Portland’s attacking efficiency.
Road ahead
The win marks the start of a six‑match road trip that will continue with a showdown against Wake Forest on August 29 at 4 p.m., a test that could further gauge the team’s early‑season momentum.