PHOENIX, Arizona – No. 7 Utah State soccer (9-0-1, 0-0-0 MW) closed out non-conference play with a win to remain unbeaten, using a trio of first half goals and a strong defensive second half in a 3-1 win over Grand Canyon at GCU Stadium in Phoenix.
After the first three shots of the match were taken by the Lopes, USU jumped out to an early advantage with a pair of goals just 61 seconds apart. First, it was graduate defender
Kylie Olsen in the 14th minute firing a laser into the top corner of the net from just outside the 18-yard box off of a corner by sophomore midfielder
Summer Diamond. Then, it was junior forward
Tess Werts taking advantage of a misplayed ball by GCU inside of the box as the stole a pass to the keeper and tapped it in to make it 2-0.
Grand Canyon got on the board in the 33rd minute, but less than two minutes later USU extended its lead once again. A corner by freshman forward/midfielder found senior defender
Addy Weichers in the box for a header, which was deflected by the keeper to the feet of reshman forward
Mia Mullenmeister for the cleanup goal.
In the 54th minute, graduate defender
Alysia Butters was sent off with a red card for the denial of a scoring opportunity, leaving the Aggies with 10 players for the remainder of the match. Despite playing shorthanded, the USU defense held strong the rest of the night to earn the win.
SCORING SUMMARY:
13:48 -
Kylie Olsen (USU)
Assist:
Summer Diamond
14:49 -
Tess Werts (USU)
Assist: None
32:20 - Aleisha Ganief (GCU)
Assist: AJ Loera
33:59 -
Mia Mullenmeister (USU)
Assists:
Austin Miller,
Addy Weichers
MATCH NOTES
- With the win, Utah State concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 9-0-1 record, having out-scored opponents by a combined 32-7.
- Utah State has now scored multiple goals in nine of its 10 games this season.
- Utah State improves to 4-0 against teams from the 2023 NCAA Tournament, earning wins over Pepperdine, Texas Tech, BYU and now Grand Canyon. The Aggies out-scored those teams by a combined 11-2.
- With the win, Utah State extends its unbeaten streak to 10, the second-longest streak in program history behind only a streak of 11 lossless matches in 2012.
- Entering the match, Grand Canyon ranked No. 22 in the nation in goals allowed average at 0.50, allowing just five total goals in 10 matches.
- While at full strength, Utah State held a 10-8 shots advantage. Following the Butters red card, GCU took nine shots to just one for the Aggies, but only three of those were on frame.
- 11 different Utah State players recorded shots, with none recording more than one.
- Alysia Butters' red card was the first by an Aggie player during head coach Manny Martins' tenure. The last red by a USU player was on March 27, 2021, against New Mexico.
- Kylie Olsen's goal was her third of the season and the fifth of her career.
- Tess Werts' goal was her team-best fifth goal of the season and the ninth of her career.
- Mia Mullenmeister's goal was her second of the season and of her career.
- Cora Brendle played all 90 minutes in goal, registering a season-high five saves.
- This was the second all-time meeting between Utah State and Grand Canyon, the previous match resulting in a 3-3 draw in Logan in 2022.
- With the win, Utah State improves to 10-2-1 all-time against WAC opponents.
UP NEXT
Utah State (9-0-1, 0-0-0 MW) begins Mountain West play with a pair of matches on the road next week. First, the Aggies will face San José State on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. (MT). Then, USU travels to Fresno to take on Fresno State on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. (MT).
TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets now
here. Adult season tickets are available for $45, while youth can gain access to all games by joining the Junior Aggie Kids Club for $25. All seating at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field is general admission. Seating in the stadium bleachers is first come, first served. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for grass and berm seating.
FOLLOW
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter,
@USUSoccer, on Facebook at
/USUSoccer and on Instagram,
@USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter,
@USUAthletics, Facebook at
/USUAthletics and on Instagram,
@USUAthletics.
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