Talk about making an entrance.

Portland’s Joe Highfield scored a goal 34 seconds after he was inserted into the lineup, the only goal in the Pilots’ 1-0 win over Grand Canyon in an NCAA men’s soccer third round playoff Saturday night at Merlo Field.

The goal came during the 80 th minute of the match.

No. 8 seed Portland (15-1-3) advances to the NCAA quarterfinals, where it plays the winner of Sunday’s Hofstra-Furman game Friday or Saturday at Merlo Field. The winner of that game earns a berth in the College Cup, Dec. 12-15 at Cary, N.C.

This is Portland’s second trip to the quarterfinals in four years.

Highfield, typically a starter, was sidelined after spraining his ankle during a midweek practice. But with time running out and the game scoreless, the Pilots turned to Highfield.

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