BACK IN ACTION
No. 11 Utah State soccer (12-0-2, 3-0-1 MW) continues Mountain West play this week as it hits the road for a pair of matches, first taking on Wyoming on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 3 p.m., before facing Colorado State on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m.
 
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. 
 
AND THEN THERE WERE THREE
Utah State enters the week leading the nation in winning percentage at .929, and is one of just three unbeaten teams remaining in the country, along with No. 5 Michigan State (9-0-4) and No. 9 Iowa (10-0-3). No Mountain West team has ever finished a season undefeated or with just a single loss, and no team has gone undefeated in MW play since 2012. 
 
IN THE POLLS
• After having never receiving a vote in the United Soccer Coaches Poll prior to the season, the Aggies have now spent seven-straight weeks ranked. This week, the Utah State checks in at No. 11.
• 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. 13 this week. Two other Mountain West teams (Boise State and Colorado State) are in the top 100.  
 
AGGIE DOMINATION
Not only has Utah State gone unbeaten through 14 matches this year, the Aggies have out-scored opponents by a combined score of 42-8 with nine shutouts. This ranks as the third-best scoring differential in the nation. 
 
TITLE GAME REMATCH
• Sunday's game between Utah State and Colorado State will be a rematch of last season's Mountain West Tournament championship match. The Aggies came out on top to capture their first-ever MW title as a 78th minute goal from then-freshman forward Kate Christian made the difference. USU out-shot CSU in the game 13-5. 
• When the teams met in Logan last year it was also a 1-0 win for the Aggies, who used a highlight reel goal from defender Kylie Olsen in the final 30 seconds of the match. 
 
AGGIE IRONWOMAN
With the 89th appearance of her career coming against New Mexico on Oct. 6, graduate defender Kylie Olsen became the most tenured Aggie of all time, breaking the program record for appearances in a career. The previous record was held by Kami Warner, who played 88 matches from 2017-21. 
 
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
• With plenty of games left to play, this year's Aggie squad has already etched its name in the record books in several different categories. 
• 1st all-time with 42 goals (previous record was 40 in 2007)
• 1st all-time with 41 assists (previous record was 34 in 2021 and 2007)
• 1st all-time with 125 points (previous record was 114 in 2007)
• 2nd all-time with a 0.57 GAA (record is 0.55 in 2012)
• T-7th all-time with 9 shutouts (record is 11 in 2011 and 2013)
 
SHUT 'EM DOWN
• While allowing just eight total goals this season, the Aggie defense has posted nine shutouts. Going back to last season, USU has held 17 of its past 26 opponents scoreless. 
• Going back to the 2022 season, 18 of the past 29 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 nine appearances and seven starts with just three goals allowed. Her 0.375 GAA ranks 8th in the nation, while her 0.875 save percentage ranks 13th. 
 
WEEKLY HONORS
After helping the Aggies to a pair of dominant defensive performances last week, senior defender Kaitlyn Richins was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week. She played 173 of a possible 180 minutes on the USU defensive back line, limiting a pair of opponents to just a combined 11 total shots, including holding New Mexico to just three. The only goal allowed by USU on the week was an 89th minute penalty kick by San Diego State. Richins was the fifth Aggie player to earn DPOW honors this year. 
 
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 47-19-14 (.675) record, including a 22-9-6 (.676) mark in conference games. In the three years prior to his arrival, the team won just 16 total games. 
• Martins' career winning percentage of .675 ranks second-best in Mountain West Conference history, behind only BYU's Jennifer Rockwood's .739 from 1999-2010.
 
MEET 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
• One major key to Utah State's high-powered offense is the number of players who can score. USU currently leads the nation with 18 different players recording goals this year. 11 different players have scored at least twice and seven players have scored at least three times this year.
• 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.
• 17 USU players have recorded assists this year, as the team has totaled 41. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS
As a team, Utah State ranks nationally in the top 10 in several major statistical categories, including: winning percentage (1st - .929), goal differential (3rd, +34), points per game (6th - 8.93), scoring offense (6th - 3.00), assists per game (7th - 2.93), and shots on goal per game (8th - 9.43). 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Utah State posted a 2-0 week at home against Mountain West opponents last week, defeating reigning MW champions San Diego State 5-1, then beating New Mexico 1-0. Against the Aztecs, USU was aided by a brace from sophomore midfielder Brooklyn Smith while the defense held strong, only allowing a goal on an 89th-minute PK. Against the Lobos, USU held a 25-3 shots advantage, but it was a PK that made the difference as senior midfielder Rine Yonaha scored following a handball in the box. 
 
AGGIES VS COWGIRLS
Thursday's contest will be the 21st all-time between Utah State and Wyoming, with the Aggies holding a 10-8-2 series lead. USU has won three of the past four meetings, including a 2-1 victory last season in Logan with Aggie goals from Kylie Olsen and Kaylie Chambers. In Laramie, Utah State is 2-6-0 against Wyoming. 
 
AGGIES VS RAMS
Sunday's contest will be the 15th all-time meeting between Utah State and Colorado. The Aggies hold a 9-4-1 series advantage, including a pair of 1-0 wins last season. In Fort Collins, Utah State is 2-3-1 against the Rams.