BACK IN ACTION
No. 12 Utah State soccer (10-0-2, 1-0-1 MW) hosts its first home matches of Mountain West play this week at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field as the Aggies first take on reigning MW regular season champions San Diego State on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m., before facing New Mexico on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Noon.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Both of this week's matches can be streamed for free on the Mountain West Network. Fans can also follow along with statistics via Statbroadcast, with stream and stat links available at www.utahstateaggies.com. 
 
MAKING HISTORY
At an unbeaten 10-0-2 this year, Utah State is off to its best start in program history. The Aggies opened the season with eight-straight wins to match the team's longest winning streak ever, and its current 12-match unbeaten streak is the longest in program history, surpassing the previous streak of 11 set in 2012. 
 
CHAMPS VS CHAMPS
Thursday's match against San Diego State will pit the 2023 Mountain West regular season champion Aztecs against the 2023 Mountain West Tournament champion Aggies. 
 
IN THE POLLS
• After having never receiving a vote in the United Soccer Coaches Poll prior to the season, the Aggies have now spent six-straight weeks ranked, including climbing as high as No. 7 a few weeks back. This week, the Utah State checks in at No. 12. 
• USU's ranking of No. 7 on Sept. 17 was tied for the highest a USU team in any sport has ever been ranked, equaling the men's basketball team's No. 7 ranking in 1960. This is also the third-highest ranking ever by a Mountain West soccer team, and the highest since 2012. 
 • In the NCAA women's soccer RPI rankings, Utah State ranks No. 16 this week. Three other Mountain West teams (Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State) are in the top 100.  
 
AGGIE DOMINATION
Not only has Utah State gone unbeaten through 12 matches this year, the Aggies have out-scored opponents by a combined score of 36-7 with eight shutouts. This ranks as the fourth-best scoring differential in the nation. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Utah State opened Mountain West play with a 1-0-1 trip to California, first defeating San José State 4-0, then playing to a scoreless draw at Fresno State. Against the Spartans, the Aggies pounced early with two goals in the first seven minutes to take command. Four different USU players scored as the team registered 22 shots to SJSU's 10. In the scoreless draw against the Bulldogs, Utah State out-shot FSU 13-6 including seven shots in the final 20 minutes, but was unable to find the back of the net. 
 
AND THEN THERE WERE SIX
Including Utah State, just six undefeated teams remain in NCAA Division I this year, though none except for USU have 10 or more wins. At 10-0-2, the Aggies are joined by Michigan State (8-0-4), Arkansas (8-0-1), Iowa (9-0-3), Florida State (7-0-2) and Elon (8-0-1). 
 
RECORD WATCH
If she plays in both games this week, Utah State graduate defender Kylie Olsen is set to make program history as the most tenured Aggie soccer player ever. Olsen has played 87 matches, tied for second-most all-time and needs just one more appearance to match and two to surpass Kami Warner's (2017-21) record of 88 matches played. Graduate defender Alysia Butters can enter the top-10 this week as well, currently with 85 appearances to her name. 
 
SHUT 'EM DOWN
• While allowing just seven total goals this season, the Aggie defense has posted eight shutouts. Going back to last season, USU has held 16 of its past 24 opponents scoreless. 
• Going back to the 2022 season, 17 of the past 27 games against Mountain West opponents have been shutouts as well. 
 
CAN'T SCORE ON CORA
• Utah State graduate keeper Cora Brendle joined Utah State as a grad transfer after four extremely successful years at USC Upstate, and she is now making a legacy at USU as well. 
• After missing a few games early with an injury, Brendle has now made seven appearances and five starts with just two goals allowed. Her 0.333 GAA ranks 8th in the nation, while her 0.889 save percentage ranks 11th. 
 
UNSTOPPABLE AGGIE OFFENSE
• After scoring 28 total goals during last year's Mountain West championship season, it took Utah State just eight games to surpass that mark this year. 
• The Aggies have scored 36 goals entering this week, ranking as the fifth-highest season total in program history and just four shy of matching the record of 40 set in 2007.
• USU has scored multiple goals in all 10 of its wins.
• The team's 3.00 goals per game rank sixth in the NCAA this season. 
 
MANNY MARTINS MAGIC
Utah State head coach Manny Martins, the 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year, has built the Aggies into a powerhouse during his four years in Logan. As the head coach at USU, he has a 45-19-14 (.667) record, including a 20-9-6 (.657) mark in conference games. In the three years prior to his arrival, the team won just 16 total games. 
 
UP TO THE CHALLENGE
According to Massey Ratings, Utah State played the 23rd toughest non-conference schedule in the nation this year, making it through that stretch without a loss. The non-conference slate this year included seven games away from home, four games against 2023 NCAA Tournament teams, four games against in-state opponents and three games against Big 12 foes. 
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
• Against San José State in what was just the 11th game of the season, Utah State set a new program record for most assists in a season with its 35th helper of the year.
• 16 USU players have recorded assists this year, as the team has totaled 35. 
• While the Aggies are currently on a historic scoring pace, the goals have been distributed throughout the roster with 15 different players scoring at least once, 10 different players scoring at least twice and six different players scoring at least three times this year.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
As a team, Utah State ranks nationally in the top 10 in several major statistical categories, including: winning percentage (3rd - .917), goal differential (4th, +29), points per game (6th - 8.92), scoring offense (6th - 3.00), assists per game (8th - 2.92), and shutout percentage (10th - .667). 
 
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Through 12 games, Utah State is out-shooting its opponents by a combined 208-112, with a 111-42 advantage in shots on goal.
 
AGGIES VS AZTECS
Thursday's contest will be the 14th all-time between Utah State and San Diego State, with the Aztecs holding a 9-0-4 series lead. This is the only Mountain West team that USU has never won against. In last year's meeting in San Diego, the Aztecs earned a 2-1 win with a pair of goals in the final 30 minutes. In Logan, Utah State is 0-4-2 against SDSU. 
 
AGGIES VS LOBOS
Sunday's contest will be the 15th all-time meeting between Utah State and New Mexico. The Lobos hold an 8-3-3 series advantage, though USU earned a 2-0 win over UNM last season in Albuquerque behind a fourth minute goal from Kaylie Chambers and a 53rd minute goal from Alysia Butters. In Logan, Utah State is 1-3-1 against the Lobos.