USU Game Notes | Watch Live | Live Stats
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer (1-0-1, 0-0-0 MW) continues its 2022 season this week as it hosts Illinois State (0-2-0) on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 5 p.m., and Grand Canyon (1-1-0) on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m.
Follow Along
Live stats and a free live video stream for both matches will be available online at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Party Like Its 2020
Utah State's five goals in its 5-0 win over Idaho State were the most goals scored in a single match by the Aggies since the 2020 season, also a 5-0 win over Air Force.
You Get a Point, You Get a Point, Everybody Gets a Point
• Utah State has 10 different players that have logged at least one point over the first two matches this season.
• Utah State's seven goals this season have come from five different players with senior forward Jordan Foraker leading the way with two.
Speaking of Seven Goals
Utah State has recorded seven assists on its seven goals from seven different players, leading the Mountain West alongside San Diego State in that category.
Dos Own Goals
Utah State has seen a pair of own goals in its opening two matches as it scored an own goal against Northern Arizona in the season opener, before Idaho State scored an own goal against the Aggies in the home opener last Sunday.
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.
• Utah State has recorded the first goal in each of its opening two matches this season.
Precise Strikes
Utah State has recorded one more shot than its opponents so far this year, logging 28 to the opposition's 27. However, the Aggies have much greater precision as their shots on goal percentage stands at 25 percent, compared to a 7-percent clip by opposing teams.
Mountain West Freshman of the Week
Utah State redshirt freshman midfielder Kaitlyn Richins was named the MW Freshman of the Week after helping the Aggies to an unbeaten record to open the 2022 season. Richins started in each game last week and logged a goal and an assist in USU's 5-0 win over Idaho State.
Shake It Up
Utah State has used a different starting XI in each game this season with 13 players finding their way into the starting lineup. Changes have been made at the attacking midfield spot and with the center forward.
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.
Missouri Valley Picks
Illinois State was picked ninth out of 11 teams in the annual preseason Missouri Valley coaches poll.
Series Against Illinois State
Utah State has only face Illinois State once in program history, a 2-1 victory for the Redbirds in Normal, Illinois, during the 2019 season. Current volunteer assistant coach Amber Marshall scored the lone goal for the Aggies during the match.
