LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Utah State soccer, once again, proved that quality over quantity will get the job done as the Aggies posted a 2-0 victory at UNLV on Sunday afternoon to open its conference slate 2-0-0 for the first time since 2016.

Utah State (9-1-1, 2-0-0) recorded just four shots to the Rebels' 12, but were incredibly accurate with three shots on goal. UNLV (7-4-0, 0-2-0) also logged three shots on goal, but USU junior keeper Diera Walton kept all three out of the net to pick up her league-leading fourth shutout of the season. The clean sheet also increased her career total to 14 and moved her into a tie for fourth place in the Utah State record books, matching Megan Mills' 14 career shutouts from 2001-04.

Senior forward Jordan Foraker opened the scoring for Utah State in the 22nd minute after collecting a pass from senior midfielder Ashley Cardozo. Foraker struck the ball from the corner of the 18-yard box and powered the shot into the top of the net to give the Aggies the 1-0 advantage.

Senior forward Sammie Murdock then sealed the victory for the Aggies in the waning minutes of the second half when another pass from Cardozo found Murdock's feet and was then tucked away into the top corner of the net in the 87th minute. With her two assists on the afternoon, Cardozo increased her season total to nine, which is tied for second in a single season in Utah State history, matching the nine assists that Kendra Pemberton recorded during the 2011 campaign. 

Senior midfielder Kami Warner was the only other Aggie to record a shot during the match, leading Utah State with two, including one on frame.

Utah State's shutout was all the more impressive as the Aggies started four underclassmen on the backline in freshman Addi Coon, redshirt freshman Addy Symonds and sophomores Kelsey Steed-Kaufusi and Kylie Olsen. Both Olsen and Steed-Kaufusi played the entire 90 minutes for the Aggies.

Utah State remains on the road for its next two matches, traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a contest against New Mexico on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. The trip wraps up in California, when the Aggies play at San Diego State on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. (MT).

Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter, @USUSoccer, on Facebook at /USUSoccer and on Instagram, @USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

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