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NCAA women Sinclair breaks tie with two goals, leading Portland past Longhorns 3-1. Christine Sinclair is on a scoring tear for Portland, finding net in five straight matches. -- University of Portland web site photo -- PORTLAND, Ore. (Monday, September 20, 2004) -- Junior striker Christine Sinclair scored a pair of goals in an 11-minute span in the second half, breaking a tie and powering No. 5 Portland to a 3-1 decision over 17th-ranked Texas before 1,018 at Merlo Field tonight. Sinclair leads the Pilots (7-1) with 10 goals after finding net twice for the second straight outing. UP has won all five meetings in the series with the Longhorns (4-3). "We talked to Christine at the half about being a bit more aggressive on offense," Portland coach Garrett Smith said. "She is such an unselfish player and always tries to make the right play, but sometimes we need her to put her head down and look to score. She definitely made the most of every opportunity in the second half." After not attempting a shot in the first half, Sinclair answered with a superb individual effort in the 56th minute. She made a run to the right end-line, cut back and attempted a sharp-angled shot to the near post. Longhorn goalkeeper Dana Hall made the save, but could not control possession, with Sinclair beating a pair of UT defenders to the loose ball. Sinclair sneaked a shot between Hall and the right post for a 2-1 lead. Sinclair struck again in the 67th minute after sophomore forward Jennifer Tuttle flicked her a well-placed lead pass. Sinclair outran the defense and went in one-on-one with Hall, finishing into the lower right corner as the keeper advanced to make it 3-1. "The defender was caught between me and her (Sinclair), so I tried to loft it over her head," said Tuttle of her second assist of the evening. "It was similar to the first goal, where I took one touch and sent ball over the top." Sinclair, a star with Canada's national team, has scored in the last five Pilots contests, recording multiple goals in four of the games. Sinclair's game-winner was her fifth of the season and 22nd of her career, moving her in a tie for second-place with Tiffeny Milbrett. Shannon MacMillan tops the list with 26. Caitlan Kennedy tied the game for Texas early in the second half. -- University of Texas web site photo -- Freshman striker Natalie Budge was the recipient of a nifty pass from Tuttle in the 40th minute, touching twice before finding the net's left corner with her left foot for a 1-0 lead. Texas equalized at 1-1 in the 48th minute when freshman midfielder Caitlin Kennedy stole a ball from the Pilot defense at midfield, ran down the left flank and unleashed a 25-yard shot into the top right corner of the net. Portland held a 15-10 shots advantage. Pilots keeper Cori Alexander made two saves, while Hall stopped four shots for the Longhorns. ©Copyright 2004 SoccerTimes.com. All Rights Reserved