USU Game Notes | ISU Live Stats | NAU Live Stats

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) opens its 2021 season this week, playing at Idaho State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Sky) on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., before hosting Northern Arizona (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) in its home opener on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 3 p.m.

Follow Along
Fans can follow both matches with live stats and a live video feed for the match against NAU online at www.utahstateaggies.com. The match at Idaho State can be seen on ESPN+.

Aggies in Season Openers
Utah State is a combined 11-13-1 all-time in season openers. The Aggies will be looking to snap a three-match losing streak in season openers as USU has lost each of the last three season openers on the road.

Streaking Aggies
Utah State closed the 2020 campaign on a three-match winning streak and won four of its last five games of the season. In fact, USU went unbeaten over the final five matches of the season.

Home Cooking
Utah State will play six of its first eight matches in Logan and a total of 11 matches at home this season. The 11 games mark the most home matches for the Aggies since the 2012 season, when Utah State also hosted 11 opponents in Logan.

Head Coaching Debut
First-year head coach Manny Martins, only the fourth head coach in USU soccer history, will look to become the second coach in program history to capture a victory in his head coaching debut.

Big Sky Start
Each of Utah State's first four opponents hail from the Big Sky Conference. The Aggies are a combined 52-26-7 in matches against Big Sky foes.

Hat Trick Heroes
• Utah State has recorded more hat tricks in its history against Idaho State than any other opponent. USU has logged three hat tricks against the Bengals.

• Junior forward Sara Taylor is the most recent Aggie to record a hat trick against Idaho State, scoring three goals against ISU in 2018.

Assisting ISU
Utah State's single-match record in assists was also recorded against Idaho State, as Jayne Robison-Merrill recorded three assists against the Bengals in 2015.

Utah Ties
• Idaho State's roster includes four players from the state of Utah, including freshman keeper McKayla Wetsel (Cedar Hills), freshman midfielder Annyka Scherschligt (Midvale), freshman midfielder Jordyn Roth (American Fork) and freshman forward Virginia Wallace (West Point).

• Wetsel was teammates with USU redshirt-freshman defender Addy Symonds at Lone Peak High School, coached by former Aggie Shantel (Flanary) Jolley.

Home Openers
• Utah State is 16-9-0 in home openers and has won each of the last two, including a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Weber State in 2019.

• Utah State's match against Northern Arizona will mark the 10th time the Aggies have hosted a Big Sky opponent in their home opener. Overall, USU is 7-2-0 against Big Sky foes in home openers.

• The match against NAU will mark the third time that the Aggies have hosted the Lumberjacks in their home opener. Utah State posted a 2-0 victory over NAU in 2009 and lost to the Lumberjacks 3-2 during the 1997 season.

Returning Leaders
• Utah State returns its top scorers from last year in senior forward Marli Niederhauser and Cardozo, who each logged three goals last season. 

• Utah State also returns its top facilitators in Cardozo and senior midfielder Kami Warner, who each recorded four assists to tie for the team lead.

• Cardozo also led the Aggies a season ago in total shots, recording 26 during the shortened spring season.

• Junior keeper Diera Walton led the Aggies with 49 saves and has started in goal in 28 consecutive matches for Utah State.

Series Against Idaho State
Utah State is 11-6-1 all-time against the Bengals and has won six of the last seven. The Aggies are 3-4-1 in matches played in Pocatello and have won two of the last three on the road. 

Series Against Northern Arizona
Utah State is 4-3-0 all-time against the Lumberjacks, but have not played NAU since the 2009 season. The Aggies have won four of the last five against Northern Arizona, including each of the last two matches in Logan.