LOGAN, Utah — The Utah State soccer team (1-0, 0-0 MWC) opened its 2023 campaign on a strong note Thursday evening at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field, defeating Weber State, 5-1.
In what was the highest-scoring season opener in Utah State program history and the team's first opening day win since 2017, the Aggies were led in the scoring column by freshman midfielder Summer Diamond. The Uintah, Utah, native recorded a pair of goals, becoming the first player in program history to register a brace in a season opener.
It took Diamond just a few minutes to score the first goal of her collegiate career, capitalizing on a corner kick that made its way into the net at the 3:29 mark of the first half.
The Aggies continued to control the pace of play throughout much of the first half, when a foul in the 26th minute set up a USU penalty kick. Senior midfielder London Miller-Smith found the back of the net on the PK for the fifth goal of her career.
The Wildcats found their lone goal of the contest in the 32nd minute, but that was answered shortly thereafter as senior defender Kelsey Kaufusi found Diamond on a high-arching feed from near midfield for her second goal of the contest.
After taking a 3-1 lead into the break, USU wasted no time tacking on to that advantage out of the locker room, as junior forward Tenzi Knowles got on the board less than a minute into the half on a feed from sophomore midfielder Kaylie Chambers and Kaufusi, who picked up her second helper of the afternoon.
USU's final goal of the afternoon came in the 67th minute when sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Richins weaved through several Wildcat defenders in the box to find freshman forward Abby Schofield for the finish, as Schofield became the second true freshman to score in the debut.
In total, the Aggies tallied 12 shots, including eight on goal, while holding Weber State to seven shots, three on goal. In net for Utah State, graduate Diera Walton started and played 67 minutes, registering two saves. She was replaced late in the contest by sophomore McKenzie Hunninghake, who played the final 23 minutes.
Utah State will be back in action this weekend as it hosts No. 21 Saint Louis on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field. The match will be streamed on Mountain West Network, with stream and stat links available on utahstateaggies.com.
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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