A two-day trip to Portland included the first win of the season for the Phoenix boys' soccer team.

Last  year's state runner-up in the 4A classification, the Pirates are taking on a rugged pre-season schedule to prepare for a run at the Skyline Conference championship. Three of their first four opponents have been 5A schools with another on the way Thursday when Crater visits Phoenix.

Phoenix downed Hillsboro 1-0 on Saturday in the Portland area. Playing  on short rest, the Pirates got the lone goal of the match from Antonio Camargo in the first half. Dominic Gutierrez hustled to set the stage for an assist by Cielo Marlia-Larsen to Camargo.for the goal.

The Pirates opened the road trip to a 2-1 loss a perennial 3A state power Catlin-Gabel. Victor Peral found the net off a pile-up around the goal for the PHS score.

Phoenix was back on the field Tuesday night, visiting rival Ashland in a non-league friendly. The host Grizzlies opened a 2-0 lead in the first half on the way to a 3-1 win. Hector Ramos-Peral netted the Phoenix goal while defenders Dominic Crenshaw and Juan Vargas played a solid match on the backline. David Reyes turned back seven shots in goal.