PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland Pilots standout Benji Michel has signed a homegrown contract with Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, and the junior forward will forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility to join the professional side. Michel has regularly been among the nation's leaders in goals scored while on The Bluff, and this year he was named an All-American.
Michel becomes the third Pilot in two years to head to MLS, joining Paul Christensen and Kris Reaves. Christensen was selected by Atlanta United FC in last year's MLS draft, and Reaves signed a homegrown contract with FC Dallas.