LOGAN, Utah – No. 12 Utah State soccer (11-0-2, 2-0-1 MW) earned its first win in program history over San Diego State Thursday evening at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field, taking down the defending Mountain West regular season champs 5-1.
After a quiet start to the match, the Aggies struck first in the 22nd minute when a perfect cross from near the corner by junior forward
Tess Werts found freshman forward
Mia Mullenmeister at the opposite post for the tap-in score. USU followed that up with a beauty of a goal off the left foot of sophomore forward
Brooklyn Smith and into the top right corner of the net in the 59th minute. This was the first goal of Smith's career, but she wasn't done as she followed with another in the 59th minute, this time from outside the 18-yard box, to pick up a brace and make it 3-0.
In the 64th minute, Werts got in on the scoring action with a goal of her own, capitalizing on a well-placed pass from sophomore forward
Kate Christian to extend the lead. The final Aggie goal of the night came in the 84th minute, when a corner led to an opportunity for sophomore forward
Presley Ray, who scored what was also the first goal of her collegiate career.
The lone Aztec goal of the night came in the 89th minute when a handball in the box resulted in a penalty kick goal.
SCORING SUMMARY
21:21 -
Mia Mullenmeister (USU)
Assist:
Tess Werts
35:07 -
Brooklyn Smith (USU)
Assist:
Whitney Lopez
58:27 -
Brooklyn Smith (USU)
Assist:
Alysia Butters
63:56 -
Tess Werts (USU)
Assist:
Kate Christian
83:11 -
Presley Ray (USU)
Assists:
Rachel Reitz,
Kayla Sato
28:22 - Emma Gaines-Ramos (SDSU)
PENALTY KICK GOAL
UTAH STATE HEAD COACH MANNY MARTINS
"I'm super proud of the group. In the last game, I thought our opponent presented some challenges that forced us to do a little bit of introspection and grow a little bit, but we hit the reset button and today we showed energy. It was fantastic. We had players coming in that haven't played a ton of minutes and they're coming in and scoring goals and having assists. I could not be more proud of our group today."
MATCH NOTES
- This is the first win in program history over San Diego State. Entering the match, USU was 0-9-4 all-time against the Aztecs, the only Mountain West team the Aggies had never beaten.
- With the win, Utah State extends its unbeaten streak to 13, the longest streak of lossless matches in program history.
- This was the second game with five-plus goals for Utah State this season, but the first time doing so against a Mountain West opponent since a 5-0 win over Air Force on March 19, 2020.
- This was the first time since August 29, 2021 that a team has scored five or more goals in a game against San Diego State.
- Utah State has now outscored opponents by a combined total of 41-8 this season, with a 9-1 goal differential against Mountain West opponents.
- San Diego State won the Mountain West regular season title in 2023.
- Two different Aggie players, Brooklyn Smith and Presley Ray, scored the first goals of their collegiate careers tonight. This brings the total number of goal scorers for USU this year to 17.
- Brooklyn Smith was the second USU player to record a brace this season, along with Kaylie Chambers who did so against Pacific.
- Mia Mullenmeister's goal was the third of both her season and career.
- Tess Werts' goal was her team-best sixth of the season and the 10th of her career.
- Utah State took 26 shots while limiting SDSU to eight, including a 15-3 advantage in shots on frame.
- Mia Mullenmeister led the team with four shots, all four of which were on goal.
- 25 different Aggie players saw time in the match, while 13 different players recorded shots.
- Graduate Cora Brendle played all 90 minutes in goal, recording two saves.
UP NEXT
Utah State (11-0-2, 2-0-1 MW) will be back in action on Sunday, Oct. 6, when it hosts New Mexico at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets now
here. Adult season tickets are available for $45, while youth can gain access to all games by joining the Junior Aggie Kids Club for $25. All seating at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field is general admission. Seating in the stadium bleachers is first come, first served. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for grass and berm seating.
FOLLOW
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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