Utah State soccer (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) opens its 2022 season this week, playing at Northern Arizona (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Sky) on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m., before hosting Idaho State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Sky) in its home opener on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 4 p.m.
Follow Along
Fans can follow the match at NAU via live stats online at www.utahstateaggies.com, and watch live with an ESPN+ subscription. Live stats and a free live video stream for the match against ISU will be available online at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Aggies in Season Openers
Utah State is a combined 11-13-2 all-time in season openers. However, USU is winless in each of its last four season openers on the road, going 0-3-1 over the last four years.
Same Same, But Different
Utah State's first two opponents, Northern Arizona and Idaho State, are the same first two opponents that the Aggies faced last season. However, USU opened on the road at ISU before hosting NAU in Logan.
Facing the Big Sky
Each of Utah State's first two opponents hail from the Big Sky Conference. The Aggies are a combined 55-26-8 in matches against Big Sky foes.
Rookie Year
• Utah State head coach Manny Martins' 13 victories in 2021 were the most by any first-year head coach in USU soccer history.
• Martins led the Aggies to their best non-conference start in school history with a 7-1-1 record going into league play in 2021.
Winning Early
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.
Unbeaten Shooters
Utah State was unbeaten in 2021 when recording more shots than its opponent, going 9-0-1 when carrying the advantage on shot attempts.
At Home on the Road
Utah State has opened on the road in each of the last five seasons.
Roster Connections
• NAU keeper Trinity Corcoran and USU defender Emma Becerra each attended Santiago High School in Corona, California.
• The Lumberjacks feature a pair of players from the state of Utah in freshmen Mar Andiarena and Karli Burton, who both played at Clearfield High School.
She's Going the Distance
Junior defender Kelsey Kaufusi has played every minute of every contest during her career, appearing in 3,031 overall minutes in 32 career games.
First From Abroad
Sophomore midfielder Rine Yonaha is the first international player in Utah State history.
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 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 ll-Mountain West selection in 2021.
Mountain West Picks
Utah State was picked fifth in the preseason Mountain West coaches poll.
Big Sky Picks
Northern Arizona was picked fourth in the preseason Big Sky coaches poll, while Idaho State was picked ninth.
Series Against Northern Arizona
Utah State is 5-3-0 all-time against the Lumberjacks, and have won five of the last six. USU is 1-2-0 in matches played in Flagstaff, capturing its only win in Arizona during the 2002 season, a 3-0 victory.
