| When it comes to school soccer programs, | | | | Prior to the start of the current season, the |
| Portland University - a private catholic | | | | Pilots men's team was polled to finish |
| university found in Portland, Oregon - has | | | | tied-fourth in the season in the West Coast |
| one of the best. Founded in 1901, Portland | | | | Conference in the 2007 WCC preseason coaches |
| University is the sister school to the | | | | poll, and their performances during the |
| better-known University of Notre Dame, and | | | | season so far suggest that they will at least |
| has been actively promoting its soccer | | | | achieve that position. |
| program for 21 years. | | | | |
| | | | There is also an active women's soccer |
| In the time the soccer program has been in | | | | program at Portland, which was established in |
| operation it has produced some notable | | | | 1989, when men's coach Clive Charles was |
| players. One of the Alumni, 37-year-old Kasey | | | | appointed to run the women's team. In 1992 |
| Keller - the USA national team's all-time | | | | Charles pulled off a rare feat when he got |
| leader for the position of goalkeeper - is | | | | both his men's and women's teams to the NCAA |
| currently active within the English Premier | | | | play-offs. His teams finished the season as |
| League, playing for fashionable London club | | | | number one ranked men's team and number three |
| Fulham. Another former Pilot, 22-year-old | | | | ranked women's team, helping to cement |
| Heath Pearce signed for German Bundesliga | | | | Charles reputation as a top-class coach. The |
| team Hansa Rostock before the start of the | | | | women's team were winners of the NCAA Women's |
| 2007 season; following in the footsteps of | | | | soccer championship in 2005 and are currently |
| two other former Pilots Conor Casey and Steve | | | | ranked third in the four major soccer polls; |
| Cherundolo who also played in Germany. Other | | | | The National Soccer Coaches Association of |
| players have made their mark in professional | | | | America (NSSAA), Soccer America, Soccer Buzz |
| teams in the USA, Denmark and Greece. | | | | and SoccerTimes all place the Pilots behind |
| | | | Santa Clara and Stanford. |
| But it's not just the Portland players who | | | | |
| have made an impact; Clive Charles was | | | | If you are a soccer fan and you are tempted |
| appointed Pilots head coach in 1986, and | | | | to come to watch either of the Pilots soccer |
| after ten years of leading the team and | | | | teams in action, look to secure a room at a |
| earning the respect of the soccer world | | | | hotel in Portland well in advance as around |
| became the US Olympic team coach in 1996. | | | | game days they tend to get full of family, |
| | | | friends and fans! |