PORTLAND, Ore. – Saint Mary's Women's Soccer were bested by the Portland Pilots on Wednesday evening, as Portland utilized their crosses to sneak two goals past the Gaels strong defense.
 
DEFENSIVE DUTIES
Portland was on the front foot early, stringing together crisp passes from the opening whistle. The Gaels defense was quickly forced into action, as Taylor Poland poked a shot over her goal just six minutes into the game. 
 
Multiple Gaels contributed to keeping Portland out of the goal, as Isabella Santavicca saved made a crucial goal line clearance five minutes in after a Pilots header glanced across the box and towards the corner of the net. Santavicca calmly popped the ball up into the air before booting it out and away from the Gaels net. 
 
NEAR MISSES
The Gaels offense grew into the half, and their best chance at taking the lead came just 10 minutes in, as Emily Jensen cut inside and laced a right footed shoot across goal. The Pilots keeper did well to push the ball away, but Nayeli Diaz was there to collect the rebound. 
 
She stole the ball back, before passing the ball to Jensen, who was wide open at the top of the box. Jensen connected well, but just guided the ball an inch wide of the post.
 
Dangerous set pieces were the Gaels foe in the first half, and Portland were rewarded for their persistence in the 36^th minute, as a Pilots free kick from the left side of the field proved to be a problem for the Gaels. 
 
The cross came in, bouncing around the six-yard box, before finding the feet of a Portland defender who smashed the shot into the net, giving the Pilots a 1-0 lead. 
 
 
SNEAKY SET PIECES
The Gaels started the second half energetically, but despite linking a handful of positive passes, they were unable to get around the Pilots back line. 
 
Set pieces once again got the better of Saint Mary's as Portland pressured the Gaels eight minutes into the half. This time, a Pilots winger curved in a beautiful cross that was expertly headed past Taylor Poland, giving the Pilots a 2-0 lead. 
 
Taylor Poland stayed busy, making a great fingertip save in the 56^th minute, her third save of the match. Saint Mary's struggled to build the offensive momentum to start the second half, as the Pilots searched for more goals. 
 
Corners played a big factor in Wednesday's game, as the Pilots had nine corners, while the Gaels had none. 
 
The Gaels best chance of the second half came in the 68^th minute, as Isabella Santavicca swung in a cross that found the head of Camryn Cruz. The freshman connected with the header, but glanced the shot just a foot wide of the right goal post. 
 
Tessa Salvestrin had a great chance in the 83^rd minute that worried the Pilots keeper, but it proved to be a comfortable save, as Saint Mary's continued to scrap for a goal.

Positive chances came for the Gaels late in the match, but it proved to be too little too late. 
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will battle conference foe Gonzaga on Saturday October 29 at 7:00 pm in Spokane.