BACK IN ACTION
Utah State soccer (1-1-0, 0-0-0 MW) continues its 2023 campaign this week with a pair of matches, first hosting in-state foe Utah (1-0-1, 0-0-0 Pac-12) on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m., before traveling to Lubbock, Texas, for its first road trip of the season to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0-1, 0-0-0 Big 12) on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. (MT).
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along with both matches via live stats online at www.utahstateaggies.com. The Utah match will be streamed for free on Mountain West Network, available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch, while the Texas Tech match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and Utah have faced off 24 times, making the Utes USU's most-faced opponent in program history. The sides have met in all but three of the seasons since the inception of Utah State's program in 1996, with Utah holding a 19-5 advantage with wins in each of the past six meetings.
• Sunday's match will be just the second all-time meeting between USU and Texas Tech, the previous being a 3-2 neutral site win for the Aggies in 2009.
A HISTORIC OPENER
Utah State opened the 2023 campaign on a strong note last Thursday, defeating Weber State 5-1. This was the team's first opening-day win since 2017, and was the most goals ever scored in a season-opener by a USU team.
DIAMOND NAMED FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
After a two-goal performance against Weber State which made her the first Utah State player to ever score a brace in her collegiate debut, midfielder Summer Diamond was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week.
CHASING RECORDS
• Graduate keeper Diera Walton is on the precipice of several major career records in net for Utah State. She currently sits just one save shy of tying the program's all-time record.
• 30 minutes into the team's season opener vs Weber State, Walton passed Molli Merrill (2008-11) in career minutes played in net. Only six currently active goalkeepers in NCAA Division I have logged more minutes.
FRESHMAN FIREPOWER
• Utah State has relied early this season on contributions from newcomers, as six freshmen have already logged time in both matches for the Aggies.
• Three of USU's five goals this year have come from freshmen, including two from Summer Diamond and one from forward Abby Schofield.
IN THE POLLS
Utah State was picked fifth in the preseason Mountain West coaches poll for the second-straight season. Utah was picked 10th in the Pac-12 preseason poll, while Texas Tech was tabbed to finish 12th in the Big 12.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Chuck and Gloria Bell Field has been one of the Mountain West's most consistent home field advantages in recent years. Under coach Manny Martins, the Aggies have lost just four home games, posting a 15-4-4 record.
EARLY COACHING SUCCESS
• Coach Martins' 21 combined victories in 2021 and 2022 were the most in the first two seasons by any head coach in USU soccer history.
• Martins has a combined record of 22-12-11. His .611 winning percentage ranks second among active Mountain West coaches, narrowly behind New Mexico's Heather Dyche (.624).
WHAT'S RETURNING
• Utah State returns seven players that appeared in each of the Aggies' 21 matches a season ago, including senior midfielder London Miller-Smith, senior midfielder Alex Day, senior defender Kelsey Kaufusi, senior defender Kylie Olsen, junior forward Bizzy Arevalo, junior defender Addy Symonds-Weichers and sophomore forward Tess Werts.
• Miller-Smith is the top returner for Utah State in both points and goals, logging 10 points and four goals for the Aggies a season ago.
• Day is the top returning facilitator for USU, ranking second on the team last season with three assists.
NEW FACES
• Utah State welcomes 11 newcomers to this year's squad, with 10 freshmen and one transfer.
• Incoming freshmen include Shay Kercher-Pratt (Broomfield, Colorado), Solena Sellers (Highland, Utah), Brooklyn Smith (South Jordan, Utah), Summer Diamond (Uintah, Utah), Presley Ray (Highland, Utah), Abby Schofield (West Point, Utah), Kayla Sato (Mililani, Hawaii), Kasie Vigil (Gilbert, Arizona), Kate Christian (Kennewick, Washington) and Gracie East (South Ogden, Utah).
• Jocelyn Bybee is the team's lone transfer, joining the Aggies after four years at UVU.
