BACK IN ACTION
Utah State soccer (2-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) continues its 2024 campaign this weekend with its home opener at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field. The Aggies will take on Big 12 foe Texas Tech (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Big 12) on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Noon.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along with this week's game via Mountain West Network stream or live stats, with stream and 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.  
 
STARTING STRONG
The 2024 campaign got off to a strong start for Utah State with a pair of shutout wins in Hawaii to win the Outrigger Kickoff Tournament. USU first earned a 4-0 win over 2023 NCAA Tournament squad Pepperdine, then took down Hawai'i 3-0. This is Utah State's first 2-0 start since 2017 and first time ever opening a season with back-to-back wins away from home. 
 
EARLY HONORS
• Five Aggies were named to the Outrigger Kickoff All-Tournament Team, while graduate defender Kylie Olsen was named the Most Valuable Player. Along with Olsen, other players honored included graduate midfielder Alex Day, senior midfielder Kaitlyn Richins, senior forward Bizzy Arevalo and sophomore goalkeeper Shay Kercher-Pratt. 
• Olsen was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for her performance. On the week, she tallied a goal and two assists, while taking two shots and anchoring the Utah State back line. This is the first DPOW award of her career. 
 
AGGIES IN HOME OPENERS
Utah State is undefeated in home openers under head coach Manny Martins with a 4-0 record. All-time, the Aggies are 19-9 in home openers, with wins in 14 of the past 16. Last season, the team opened the year with a 5-1 win over Weber State at Bell Field.  
 
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Through two games, Utah State is out-shooting its opponents by a combined 40-11. USU out-shot Pepperdine 19-5, then had a 21-6 advantage against Hawai'i. In the first half of each game, Utah State had 10 shots to just one for its opponents. In shots on goal, the Aggies have out-paced opponents 19-5. 
 
STARTING STRONG
For the first time in program history, Utah State is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. The Aggies were the only MW team to receive votes, totaling 11 points in the first week's poll to sit just four spots outside of the rankings. Additionally, USU sits atop the Pacific Region rankings. 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
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 RED RAIDERS
• In 2023, Texas Tech finished the season 16-2-5 with an unbeaten 8-0-2 mark in conference play to win the conference regular season title before earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. There, it made a run to the third round of the tournament before losing to North Carolina. The Red Raiders opened this year ranked No. 8 in the coaches poll.  
• The Red Raiders returned seven starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's squad, including leading scorer Ashleigh Williams (14 goals) and assist leader Macy Blackburn (11 assists). 
 
Series History
Sunday's contest will be the third all-time between Utah State and Texas Tech. USU won a 3-2 neutral site matchup in 2009, but the Red Raiders won last year's meeting in Lubbock 3-0.