PORTLAND, Ore. --- It was a successful return to The Bluff for goalkeeper Kasey Keller as he finished with one save in 45 minutes of action to help the Seattle Sounders FC defeat the Portland Pilots 4-1 in an exhibition soccer game Friday night at Merlo Field. Nate Jaqua, another former UP standout, scored the game’s first goal on a header in the fourth minute.

Junior Logan Emory scored Portland’s lone goal with the Pilots trailing 2-0 in the second half. Sophomore Vlastimir Davidovic began the play on a free kick from 25 yards out. Davidovic cracked a shot that drilled the cross bar and back towards the top of the box. After a few moments, Emory buried the loose ball inside the left post to pull the Pilots within 2-1.

The Sounders, a Major League Soccer expansion team in its first year of competition, responded with two more goals to put the game out of reach. First, Fredy Montero went top shelf with a penalty kick in the 71st minute. Brad Evans then finished on a short cross from Roger Levesque to make it 4-1 in the 75th minute.

The festive night began with a warm reception from the Merlo Field faithful for two of Portland’s most successful men’s soccer alums. While at UP, Keller (1988-91) was a three-time All-America and was named the collegiate goalkeeper of the year in 1991. He is still the school’s all-time leader in career shutouts (43.0) and goals-against average (0.64). Keller is the U.S. National Team’s all-time leader for goalkeepers in caps (102), wins (53), shutouts (47) and World Cup qualifying appearances (31). He played more than 300 matches in three of the world’s top leagues: England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga.

Jaqua (2000-02) was a two-time All-America for the Pilots. He scored 29 career goals and handed out 22 career assists. His 80 career points rank 10th all-time at UP, while his 12 game-winners are third most. Following his UP career, Jaqua has enjoyed a successful run in Major League Soccer. An MLS All-Star with the Chicago Fire in 2006, Jaqua helped the Fire win the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup championship. He has made three appearances with the U.S. National Team.

Jaqua got the scoring started when he rose up for a header on a cross from Sanna Nyassi. Jaqua finished from six yards out.

Then in the 32nd minute, Jeff Clark scored on header off of rebound to give Seattle a 2-nil lead. Patrick Ianni, who picked up an assist on the play, took the original shot, which was saved by Portland sophomore keeper Austin Guerrero.

The Pilots totaled one shot in the first half and five shots on the night. Keller stopped UP’s only attempt during the first 45 minutes, a low hard shot by Frankie Lopez, who went near post from the left flank.

Chris Eylander spelled Keller in the second half and finished with one save.

Guerrero went the distance between the pipes for Portland. He made six saves on 20 shots.

The Pilots are set to host one more exhibition match this spring. On March 27, the Portland Timbers are scheduled to visit Merlo Field.