Utah State soccer (5-3-5, 2-1-1 MW) returns home to continue Mountain West action by hosting Colorado College (4-4-3, 1-1-2 MW) on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m. (MT) and Air Force (4-5-2, 1-2-1 MW) and Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. (MT).
 
vs Colorado College | Watch Live | Live Stats
vs Air Force | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Both matches will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network and available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch. Live stats will also be made available through utahstateaggies.com.
 
AGGIES VERSUS TIGERS
This will be the 13th meeting all-time between Utah State and Colorado College. The Tigers lead the series, 4-3-5, although the Aggies lead, 2-1-2, in matches played in Logan. Each of the previous two meetings, both in Colorado Springs, resulted in 1-1 ties. USU's last victory in the series came at home 2019.
 
AGGIES VERSUS FALCONS
This will be the 14th meeting all-time between Utah State and Air Force. The Aggies lead the series, 7-3-3, and are 3-1-1 versus the Falcons in Logan. USU's only home loss in the series came in 2019. Utah State has gone 2-0-1 in the past three matchups, outscoring Air Force 7-0 in that span.
 
POINTILLISM
Utah State has 20 different players that have logged at least one point this season. The Aggies have recorded 20 goals from 11 different players and 21 assists from 16 different players so far this season. Kaylie Chambers, London Miller, Sammie Murdock and Sara Taylor currently lead the team with three goals apiece while junior Alex Day leads the team with three assists. Chambers also leads the team with eight total points.
 
COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING
Utah State currently ranks first in the Mountain West in shots on goal per game (7.27), total shots on goal (191), total shots (191) and total assists (21). The Aggies also rank second in average margin (+0.47), total points (63) and goals allowed per game (1.00). Individually, junior Alex Day is tied for the conference lead with three assists while senior Sara Taylor and junior London Miller are currently tied for sixth in the conference with 13 shots on goal each.
 
UNBEATEN STARTS
Utah State has started each of its last two years under head coach Manny Martins with an unbeaten streak. This season, the Aggies started on a five-game unbeaten streak, going 2-0-3. Last year, USU opened the year with a tie before putting together six-straight victories. In all, Utah State is 10-3-5 (.694) in non-conference action under Martins.
 
BOOKENDERS
Utah State has scored five goals this season within the first 10 minutes of a match. On the other end of the spectrum, the Aggies have recorded seven goals this season in the final 17 minutes of play.
 
SHAKE IT UP
Utah State's match versus Wyoming marked the first time this season where the Aggies repeated a starting lineup. USU has used 12 different starting lineups this season with 22 players recording at least one start.
 
SEEING YELLOW
The Aggies were shown four yellow cards in its 2-1 win over UNLV, the most yellow cards given to Utah State in a single match since being shown four cards versus Cal State Fullerton in 2017. In its match versus Grand Canyon, head coach Manny Martins received his first yellow card as a member of a collegiate coaching staff.
 
OUT OF THE GATES
Utah State has scored the opening goal in nine matches so far on the year, the most among Mountain West teams this season, and has gone 5-1-3 in those games. Last year, Utah State captured 11 of its 13 victories last season when recording the first goal of the match. The Aggies were 11-1-0 in 2021 when putting the first lights on the board.
 
WHOSE HOUSE?
Utah State ranks as the top team in the Mountain West for home attendance. The Aggies have averaged 842 fans at five home matches this season. USU has gone 3-0-2 at home to start the year and has an active eight-match home unbeaten streak. In all, the Aggies are 12-2-2 at home under head coach Manny Martins.
 
QUICK RESPONSES
Utah State retook the lead a mere two minutes from when Northern Arizona tied the match at 1-1 in the season opener. The Aggies did one better and took a 2-1 lead over Grand Canyon less than one minute after the Lopes had equalized at 1-1.
 
CHASING RECORDS
Utah State senior keeper Diera Walton is in pursuit of several career records this season.
    USU Career Minutes (GK)
    2.         Ali Griffin                                 2005-08           5526
    3.         Diera Walton                          2019-pres.      5300
    4.         Megan Mills                            2001-04           5211
    5.         Jeanne Woller                         2012-15           5098
 
    USU Career Saves
    1.         Megan Mills                            2001-04           273
    2.         Diera Walton                          2019-pres.      252
    3.         Michaela (Miller) Hawes         1997-2000       249
    4.         Jeannie Woller                        2012-15           246

    USU Career GAA
    1.         Ashlyn Mulford                        2009-12           0.69
    2.         Natalie Stoven                         2013-16           0.79
    3.         Molli Merrill                              2008-11           0.90
    4.         Diera Walton                          2019-pres.      0.97
 
    USU Career Shutouts
    1.         Ali Griffin                                 2005-08           22
    2.         Molli Merrill                              2008-11           21
    3.         Diera Walton                          2019-pres.      18
    4.         Jeannie Woller                        2012-15           17
 
WEDDING BELLS
• A pair of Aggies were married during the offseason as senior defender/forward Kelsey Salvesen-Harmer tied the knot with her husband (Zachary) in May, while London Miller married her husband (Isaac Smith) in December of 2021.
 
• In all, Utah State has four married players on its roster: Sara Taylor (Jake), Kaufusi (Nathan), Miller (Isaac Smith) and Salvesen-Harmer (Zachary).
 
RETURNED MISSIONARIES
Utah State's roster includes three players that served 18-month missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nicole Hadlock (Ecuador), Salvesen-Harmer (Roseville, California) and Sid Barlow (Paraguay).
 
WHAT'S RETURNING
• Utah State returns nine players that appeared in each of the Aggies' 22 matches a season ago, including senior winger Sara Taylor, senior forward Sammie Murdock, senior forward Nicole Hadlock, Kaufusi, junior midfield/defender Alysia Butters, junior midfielder Alex Day, junior defender Kylie Olsen, sophomore defender Addy Symonds and senior goalkeeper Diera Walton.
 
• Taylor and Murdock are the top goal scorers returning for Utah State, as each logged six goals for the Aggies a season ago.
 
• Taylor is the top returner when it comes to points and assists, finishing second on the team in 2021 with 17 points and five assists.
 
BACK FOR MORE AWARDS
• Kaufusi was named third-team all-Pacific Region by the United Soccer Coaches, while also picking up Mountain West All-Tournament Team honors.
 
• Symonds was named one of the top-100 freshmen in the nation during the 2021 season by TopDrawerSoccer.com, as well as being named to the MW all-newcomer team.
 
• Walton was a second-team all-Mountain West selection in 2021.
 
MOUNTAIN WEST PICKS
Utah State was picked fifth in the preseason Mountain West coaches poll. Colorado College and Air Force were each picked to finish 11th and 12th, respectively.
 
 - USU -