PORTLAND, Ore. 96 Saint Mary’s College of California men’s soccer team suffered a 5-0 defeat against the Portland Pilots on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Merlo Field, ending a five-match unbeaten streak in West Coast Conference play.
Portland opened the scoring in the fifth minute and maintained a 1-0 lead at halftime. The Pilots extended their advantage early in the second half with two goals in the first 10 minutes to take a 3-0 lead.
Although down by three goals, Saint Mary’s generated some scoring opportunities. Midfielder Rafael Suarez had a left-footed shot saved near the post in the 59th minute, and defender Carl Emil Lauridsen narrowly missed with a curling shot following a free-kick chance minutes later. Portland then secured the game with two late goals, concluding the match 5-0.
Sophomore goalkeeper Tommy Davis made his fourth start of the season and recorded a career-high five saves while facing 23 shots. Suarez led the Gaels offensively with two shots on goal, playing the full 90 minutes. Defender Eemil Laamanen logged his team-leading tenth full match of the season and leads with 981 minutes played.
Looking ahead, Saint Mary’s will continue their Pacific Northwest road trip with a game against Seattle U on Saturday, October 3, at 7 p.m., with live streaming available on ESPN+.
CSB Take
The loss to Portland marks a setback for Saint Mary’s men’s soccer after a strong unbeaten run. Goalkeeper Tommy Davis showed resilience with a career-high five saves, providing a positive note despite the scoreline. The Gaels will need to regroup quickly to compete effectively in their upcoming West Coast Conference match against Seattle U and maintain momentum for the remainder of the season.
Source: Original report
