BACK IN ACTION
No. 9 Utah State soccer (7-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) continues its 2024 campaign as it plays its last of four matches against in-state opponents. The Aggies will travel to Ogden, Utah, to face Weber State (1-5-3, 0-0-0 Big Sky) on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m., at Wildcat Soccer Field.
FOLLOW ALONG
Sunday's match can be streamed with a subscription on ESPN+. Fans can also follow along with statistics via Statbroadcast, with stream and stat links available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
BEEHIVE STATE BATTLES
Utah State is looking to complete its four-match tour of Utah with a sweep over in-state foes, after having defeated Utah (2-0), BYU (2-1) and Utah Valley (3-0). All-time against opponents from the Beehive State, the Aggies hold a 31-42-3 combined record. Under head coach
Manny Martins, USU is 8-4-1 against those teams. Utah State has 17 players on its roster from the state of Utah.
IN THE POLLS
• After making its program debut in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, The Aggies have climbed all the way into the top 10 this week, checking in at No. 9. Prior to this season, USU had never received a single vote in the poll.
• This is the first USU team regardless of sport to climb as high as No. 9 in an NCAA poll since men's basketball in 1971. The Aggies are also the first Mountain West soccer team to appear in the top 10 since 2012.
• Pepperdine, who USU defeated 4-0, is No. 18 this week. Utah Valley, who USU defeated 3-0, is receiving votes in this week's poll.
A PERFECT START
Utah State is off to an undefeated 7-0 start for the first time since 2011, needing just one more win to match both its best start and longest winning streak in program history.
AGGIE DOMINATION
Not only has Utah State won each of its seven matches this year, the Aggies have out-scored opponents by a combined score of 25-4 with five shutouts. According to Massey Ratings, Utah State has played the 14th toughest schedule in the nation.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah State had an offensive explosion in its last contest, defeating Pacific 9-3 on Sept. 8. The Aggies came just one goal shy of a program record for goals in a game, while tying the program record for shots in a game with 41 as they won the shots battle 41-5 with 29 of those shots coming on frame. A program record eight different players scored in the contest.
SCORING SPARK
After scoring 28 total goals during last year's Mountain West championship season, Utah State already has 25 goals this season, with still three non-conference games to go. USU has scored multiple goals in all seven games, the longest multi-goal streak in program history. The team's 3.57 goals per game rank No. 5 in the NCAA this season.
BY THE NUMBERS
• As a team, Utah State ranks nationally in the top 10 in several major statistical categories, including: winning percentage (1st - 1.000), points per game (4th - 11.00), goal differential (4th - +21), assists per game (5th - 3.86), scoring offense (5th - 3.57) and shots on goal per game (6th - 11.29).
• Individually several Aggies are among the nation's leaders as well. Sophomore keeper
Shay Kercher-Pratt ranks 11th in shutouts with 4. Senior forward
Bizzy Arevalo ranks 13th nationally in assists with 5. Junior forward
Tess Werts ranks 14th nationally with a 0.733 shot accuracy this year.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
While the Aggies are currently on a historic scoring pace, the goals have been distributed throughout the roster with no player scoring more than four goals. 14 different USU players have already made their way into the scoring column, with seven players netting multiple goals. This matches last year's total number of scorers.
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Through seven games, Utah State is out-shooting its opponents by a combined 135-63, with a 79-26 advantage in shots on goal. In just the first half of games, USU has 71 shots to its opponents' 21.
CHASING HISTORY
Utah State graduate defender
Kylie Olsen is well on track to become the most tenured Aggie player in program history.
Olsen has played 82 matches, just two appearances away from breaking into the top-10 all-time, and six appearances away from matching
Kami Warner's (2017-21) program record of 88 matches played. Graduate defender
Alysia Butters is not far off either, with 80 appearances to her name.
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 allowed just four goals while posting five shutouts. USU has limited opponents to just 26 total shots on goal this year, an average of 3.7 per contest.
• Going back to last season, 10 of the past 13 games have been shutout wins for the Aggies.
BIG 12 CHAMPS?
Utah State is a perfect 3-0 this season against Big 12 opponents, including wins against 2023 Big 12 regular champion Texas Tech and runner-up BYU, teams that went a combined 15-0-5 in conference play last year.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Weber State is off to a 1-5-3 start to the season, most recently earning a 4-2 win at North Dakota State. Prior to that, the Wildcats earned draws against Utah Tech, San Diego State and Pacific, with losses to Fresno State, CSU Bakersfield, Texas Tech, Utah and Colorado.
• Weber State has scored 10 goals this season and has allowed 22. Ali Swensen leads the squad in points with 10, coming on four goals and two assists.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's contest will be the 20th all-time between Utah State and Weber State, with the Aggies holding a 12-6-1 series advantage. Utah State has won each of the past three and 10 of the past 12 meetings, including a 5-1 win last season in Logan. In Ogden Utah State leads the series 4-3-1.
UP NEXT
Utah State will return to Chuck & Gloria Bell Field for its non-conference home finale next week when the Aggies host Washington State on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m.
