BACK IN ACTION
Utah State soccer (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) opens its 2024 campaign this week with a pair of games in Waipahu, Hawaii, at the Outrigger Kickoff. The Aggies will first face off against West Coast Conference foe Pepperdine (0-0-0, 0-0-0 WCC) on Thursday, Aug. 15, at 8:30 p.m. (MT), before taking on Hawai'i on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m. Both games will be played at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along via live stats for both of this week's matches online, with stat links available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
THE CHAMPS ARE BACK
The 2023 campaign was a historic one for Utah State, as the Aggies earned their first-ever Mountain West title and the third trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history after winning the MW Tournament. Going 14-8-1 overall and 9-2-0 in league play, the Aggies tallied the second-most wins in a season in program history while setting a program record for conference wins.
AGGIES IN SEASON OPENERS
Utah State is 12-13-3 all-time in season openers, but is undefeated in season openers under head coach Manny Martins with a 1-0-2 record. Last season, the Aggies opened the year with a 5-1 home win over Weber State. This will be the first time since 2012 that USU has opened a season with a neutral site contest.
MOUNTAIN WEST HONORS
• Several Aggies earned Mountain West postseason honors last year. Among those returning are first team selection Kaylie Chambers, second team selection Kylie Olsen and all-newcomer team selection Summer Diamond.
• Manny Martins was named both the Mountain West and the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region Coach of the Year. He's just the second USU coach to earn conference coach of the year honors, and the first to do so in the Mountain West.
WATCH OUT
• Three Aggies were named to the 2024 Mountain West Soccer Watch List - senior defender Addy Weichers, junior midfielder Kaylie Chambers and sophomore midfielder Summer Diamond. The watch list replaces the preseason all-conference team that the league used in previous years.
• Additionally, Utah State was picked second in the MW preseason coaches poll, behind San Diego State. The Aggies received 107 points and two first-place votes.
ALOHA!
This week's trip will be a homecoming for three Utah State players who hail from the Aloha State, all three from the island of O'ahu. Sophomore defender Kayla Sato is from Mililani, while freshman midfielder Faith Hines is from Kapolei and freshman midfielder Ally Yoshimura is from Honolulu.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Under coach Manny Martins, USU has established a reputation as one of the nation's top defenses, allowing less than a goal per game all three seasons. Last year, the Aggies posted 10 shutouts and allowed multiple goals on just three occasions all season. In 13 games against Mountain West opponents, Utah State allowed just a combined six goals.
VETERAN PRESENCE
USU boasts one of the league's most experienced squads, returning 15 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's team, including six players who started at least 20 games in 2023.
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
• Utah State welcomes in 11 newcomers to this year's team, including three transfers and eight freshmen.
• Transfers include graduate keepers Cora Brendle (USC Upstate) and Ava Gotchy (Green Bay) and junior defender/midfielder Isabella Velazco (Santa Monica College).
• Freshmen include Natalie Hadlock (Eagle Mountain, Utah), Ellie Hendrix (St. George, Utah), Faith Hines (Kapolei, Hawaii), Austin Miller (Providence, Utah), Mia Mullenmeister (Mitchell, S.D.), Rachel Reitz (Lynnwood, Wash.), Kaeda Wilson (Sandy, Utah) and Ally Yoshimura (Honolulu, Hawaii).
SCOUTING THE WAVES
• In 2023, Pepperdine finished the season 9-5-5 with a 6-2 mark in conference play to finish second in the WCC before earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where it fell in the first round to No. 2 Stanford.
• The Waves return seven starters and 16 letterwinners from last year's squad, including leading scorer Tori Waldeck (11 goals) and goalie Taylor Rath.
SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WAHINE
• In 2023, Hawai'i finished the season 5-8-3 with a 4-5-1 mark in conference play to finish seventh in the Big West.
• The Rainbow Wahine return 10 starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's squad, including leading scorer Amber Mitchell (7 goals) and assist leader Cate Sheahan (5 assists).
SERIES HISTORY
• Thursday's contest will be the first ever meeting between Utah State and Pepperdine.
• Against Hawai'i, Utah State leads the all-time series 5-3-0, with the most recent meeting coming in 2011. However, the Rainbow Wahine have won two of the three games of the series played in Hawaii.
