LOS ANGELES — Portland defeated LMU 2-1 on Saturday with a second-half surge that proved decisive in front of 303 spectators. The Pilots, riding a four-game winning streak, improved to 10-3-6 overall with the road victory, while the Lions fell to 5-7-5 after their second consecutive loss.
Cameron Bourne gave LMU an early advantage in the 5th minute, assisted by Kylie Dobbs, as the home team controlled the opening stages. Portland's defense settled after that initial setback, and the match remained tightly contested through the first half with neither team generating significant scoring opportunities.
The breakthrough came early in the second half when Violet Rademacher equalized for Portland in the 39th minute, shifting momentum decisively toward the visitors. The goal energized the Pilots, who began dictating play and creating more dangerous chances as LMU struggled to maintain possession.
Mao Ito delivered the decisive strike in the 57th minute, assisted by Ruby Settle, giving Portland a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The goal capped a dominant stretch for the visitors, who controlled the tempo and limited LMU's counterattacking opportunities in the final stages.
Portland's offensive pressure was evident in the statistics. The Pilots generated 13 shot attempts compared to LMU's 10, while outshooting the Lions 6-2 on target. Portland also dominated the corner kick battle 4-1, reflecting their sustained pressure throughout the match.
LMU mounted a late rally but could not find the equalizer. Despite several attempts in the final minutes, including a blocked shot from Callan Harrington in the 85th minute, the Lions could not breach Portland's defense. Caitlyn McCulloch received a yellow card for dissent late in the match as frustration mounted for the home side.
Portland's goalkeeper made one crucial save, while LMU's keeper recorded four stops in a losing effort. The defensive battle intensified as the match progressed, with both teams committing fouls to disrupt attacking rhythm.
The victory extends Portland's winning streak to four matches and demonstrates the Pilots' ability to win on the road against competitive opponents. LMU, meanwhile, must regroup after consecutive defeats that have complicated their tournament resume during the critical final stretch of the regular season.