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PORTLAND, Ore. — The youthful Portland State women's soccer team got pricked as it battled the crosstown Portland Pilots for the city of roses Friday, as the Pilots dominated the match en route to a 6-0 victory over the Vikings on Merlo field.
 
The Pilots (2-0-0) put the Vikings (0-2-0) in a tough spot early in the match, as they scored two goals within two minutes of each other to put the Vikings down 2-0 after only seven minutes of play. The Pilots added a third goal in the 14th minute to make it 3-0, and then tacked on another in the 31st minute to make it a four-goal match by halftime.
 
The Pilots scored two more goals near the start of the second half, as Hannah Griffiths Boston scored back-to-back goals in the 54th and 56th minutes, completing a hat trick for the junior, and putting the finishing touches on the Pilots' win.
 
"We were the less seasoned group which showed in us giving up four free kicks and two PKs that resulted in goals," PSU head coach Laura Schott said after the match. "We cannot panic and foul as a result of being young or inexperienced. Fouls put the game out of reach for us almost from the onset."
 
The Vikings found their way into the match a bit more in the second half, as the team created more chances after the break. Freshman midfielder Liv Jillings put a shot on the Pilots' goal in the 60th minute, while sophomore midfielder/forward Krystal de Ramos had a good look but skyed a ball over the Pilots' goal in the 89th minute.
 
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Ashton Blanksma was a bright spot for the Vikings in the second half, after she subbed on at the break. Blanksma made three saves in the half, while only one of the two goals she allowed in the half came on a penalty kick.
 
Blanksma and redshirt sophomore Abbie Faingold have been splitting time in goal so far this season. The pair have played alternating halves so far, with Faingold playing the first half against the Pilots, after Blanksma started the first half of the Vikings' season opener against CSUN last Friday.
 
Blanksma and Faingold represent the youthful side of the Vikings' roster, which ran up against a more experienced team in the Pilots Friday. The Vikings played 16 of their 18 underclassmen against the Pilots on Friday, with only true freshmen goalkeepers Hanalyn Sypher and Shannon Peth missing the match. Additionally, the Vikings started four freshmen against the Pilots, a week after they started five freshmen in their season opener against CSUN.
 
"A lot of our minutes were played by people who are in their first or second collegiate game," Schott said. "It didn't feel good to lose like that, but the players have a great opportunity ahead of them to improve and become a great team."
 
The Vikings will continue to rely on their youth as the season progresses with the team's next match coming Friday, Sept. 2, against Fresno State. The Vikings will host the Bulldogs at Hillsboro Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. (PT).
 
Match Notes: The Vikings fell to 0-7-0 all-time against the Pilots…The Pilots have outscored the Vikings 31-0 in the all-time series between the two teams…Friday's match was the first regular-season meeting between the two Division I Portland schools since 2010.