BACK IN ACTION
No. 19 Utah State soccer (3-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) continues its 2024 campaign this weekend with a pair of in-state games against unbeaten Big 12 foes. The Aggies will first travel to Salt Lake City to take on Utah (1-0-1, 0-0-0 Big 12) on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m., at Ute Field. The team then faces BYU (1-0-2, 0-0-0 Big 12) in a top 25 matchup in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Both of this week's matches will be streamed with a subscription on ESPN+. Fans can also follow along with games via Statbroadcast, with stream and stat links available at www.utahstateaggies.com. 
 
A PERFECT START
Utah State is off to an undefeated 3-0 start for the first time since 2013, with two of those three wins coming over 2023 NCAA Tournament teams. The Aggies have yet to allow a goal this season, out-scoring opponents by a combined score of 9-0. USU has started with a better record just one time in program history, when it began the 2011 season 8-0. 
 
IN THE POLLS
For the first time in program history, Utah State is nationally ranked after checking in at No. 19 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll this week. The Aggies also sit at No. 24 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings, and are the top team in the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region rankings for the second-straight week. No other Mountain West team appeared in poll, though two of its next three opponents did (No. 16 BYU, RV Utah Valley). 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Utah State took down reigning Big 12 champion Texas Tech at home on Sunday, earning a 2-0 victory. USU used a 15th minute goal from freshman forward/midfielder Austin Miller and a 27th minute goal from junior forward Tess Werts to take an early lead and remained in control the rest of the way. 
 
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.  
 
WEEKLY HONORS
• A pair of Aggies earned recognition from the Mountain West after helping the team to a 2-0 win over Texas Tech last week. 
• Sophomore keeper Shay Kercher-Pratt was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week after making six saves and playing all 90 minutes while earning a clean sheet.
• Freshman forward/midfielder Austin Miller was named the MW Freshman of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in the 15th minute. This was her first career goal in what was her first career start. 
 
BEEHIVE STATE BATTLES
Four of Utah State's next five opponents are from the Beehive State. All-time against in-state foes, the Aggies hold a 28-42-3 combined record. Under head coach Manny Martins, USU is 5-4-1 against those teams. Utah State has 17 players on its roster from the state of Utah. 
 
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 four 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. 
 
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS - PT. II
• This year, Utah State has yet to allow a goal despite playing two teams that finished in the top-50 in scoring offense last season. 
• USU has limited opponents to just 11 shots on goal this year and just 26 total shots.
• Going back to last season, nine of the past 11 games have been shutout wins for the Aggies. 
 
SCORING SPARK
With nine goals already this season, Utah State has surpassed last season's non-conference goal total of eight. USU has also matched last season's total of games with three or more goals (2). 
 
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Through three games, Utah State is out-shooting its opponents by a combined 52-26, with a 25-11 advantage in shots on goal. In just the first half of games, USU has 28 shots to its opponents eight.
 
AGGIES AGAINST THE BIG 12
USU in currently in a stretch of three-straight games against Big 12 opponents. All-time against current Big 12 teams, Utah State is 10-43-1, though three of those wins have been in the past three years under head coach Manny Martins. 
 
SCOUTING THE UTES
• Utah is off to a 1-0-1 start to the season after defeating Gonzaga 2-1 and playing to a 1-1 draw with Grand Canyon. Both games were played at home. 
• Last season, the Utes went 6-8-6 overall with a 2-6-3 league record. Utah returned nine letterwinners from last year's squad, including leading scorer Katie O'Kane (8 goals) and starting goalkeeper Kasey Wardle.  
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Wednesday's contest will be the 21st all-time between Utah State and Utah, with the Utes holding a 20-5 series advantage. Utah has won seven-straight matchups in the series, including a 1-0 win last year in Logan. The Aggies' last win came in 2015.  
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
• BYU started the year 1-0-2 with a 1-0 win over No. 19 Wisconsin, a 1-1 draw with No. 23 Saint Louis and a 1-1 draw with Long Beach State. It will face UCLA on the road on Wednesday before hosting USU on Saturday. 
• Last season, the Cougars went 20-3-3 overall with a 7-0-3 league record to finish second in the Big 12 before making a run to the NCAA Tournament Final Four. BYU lost nine starters and 13 letterwinners from last year's squad. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Utah State is 2-14-1 all-time against BYU, though all three non-losses have come under head coach Manny Martins, who is 2-1-1 against the Cougars. Last season, USU earned a 1-0 win over BYU in Logan, then the Cougars defeated Utah State 2-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Provo. 
 
UP NEXT 
Utah State wraps up its three-game in-state road trip next week, traveling to Orem, Utah, to take on Utah Valley on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.