Pilots v Oregon State, Friday 8/21 @ 7:00 pm @ Merlo Field

The Pilots have their opening game of the season this coming Friday, August 21, at 7:00 pm at Merlo Field.

I took a look at Oregon State's roster from last year as compared to this year's; and at their scoring for/against stats from last year.

On rosters, the Beavers graduated only one player and have had four players leave the program. That group cumulatively represented only 6 games started and 19 games played in. In other words, they lost almost nothing to graduation and players leaving. They have added 7 players including, most notably, a player from the Mexico National Team and two players from Canada's U17 National Team. Of the players added, one is a forward (but not one of the three players with the greatest accolades), two are midfielders, three are defenders, and one is a GK.

Here are the interesting stats: Last year, over the entire season, the Beavers scored 3 goals and had 2 assists. They gave up 40 goals and 32 assists.

I predicted a low scoring game for the exhibition between the Pilots and the Ducks (although leaving room for the possibility the Ducks would have a weak defense). My main prediction was correct. For the Oregon State game, I'm again predicting a low scoring game although I believe the Pilots' scoring potential is significantly better than the Beavers'.

Like the Pilots, the Beavers were incredibly young last year. Several key players transferred, and the talent they had never put it together. Linus definitely had a rebuilding project on his hands. It will be an interesting game to see how far both teams have come with a year of experience. No prediction on the score, but I'm betting the Pilots come out on top.

With the excitement building for tonight's season opening game against OSU, it was announced that many of last season's problems on the pitch could be traced to ANEMIA!!!

In another of Nick Daschel's fine reports, Coach Smith describes how two-thirds of last year's squad was suffering the effects of anemia.  

http://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/index.ssf/2015/08/portland_pilots_hope_anemia_wa.html

For college kids, and their often poor choice of diet, anemia is not uncommon, and the strenuous physical activities of college athletes can make them even more prone to anemia......I'm just a bit surprised this is not something every athletic trainer is aware of and guards against in their athletes.

Prediction:
UP 2, OSU 0

Tough loss for the Pilots, but a lot of positives to take from the game. Good ball movement, good spacing, good possession, a number of good chances. Pedersen looks like a great addition and one that can get a shot off at any time with either foot, while still having field vision to get the ball to teammates.

Hats off to the Beavers goalkeeper. She kept them in the game and gave them a chance to win. Erin Dees is providing color commentary this year and made the comment, Geist had faced 126 shots last year. To put that in perspective, Erin's said during 4 years on the bluff she faced 175 shots. Kind of makes the outcome a little easier to take.

The replay of the game is available on the Pilots website under the Pilots video header. Erin Dees does the color commentary this year and she is very good.

One thing they said on the broadcast was that Pederson had only been in the U.S. For a week.