BACK IN ACTION
No. 10 Utah State soccer (9-0-1, 0-0-0 MW) opens Mountain West play this week with a pair of matches in the Golden State as the Aggies first travel to take on San José State on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. (MT), before facing Fresno State on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. (MT).
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Both of this week's matches can be streamed for free on the Mountain West Network. Fans can also follow along with statistics via Statbroadcast, with stream and stat links available at www.utahstateaggies.com. 
 
MAKING HISTORY
At an unbeaten 9-0-1 this year, Utah State is off to its best start in program history. Winning eight-straight to open the season, the team matched its longest winning streak in program history, and is currently just one result away from matching the longest unbeaten streak in program history, a streak of 11 set in 2012. 
 
IN THE POLLS
• Utah State has made an astronomical climb in the United Soccer Coaches poll this year, reaching as high as No. 7. This week, the Aggies check in at No. 10. Prior to this season, USU had never received a single vote in the poll.
• USU's ranking of No. 7 last week was tied for the highest a USU team in any sport has ever been ranked, equaling the men's basketball team's No. 7 ranking in 1960. This is also the third-highest ranking ever by a Mountain West soccer team, and the highest since 2012. 
 • In the NCAA women's soccer RPI rankings, Utah State ranks No. 14 this week. The next highest Mountain West team is Boise State at No. 71. 
 
AGGIE DOMINATION
Not only has Utah State gone unbeaten through 10 matches this year, the Aggies have out-scored opponents by a combined score of 32-7 with six shutouts. This ranks as the fourth-best scoring differential in the nation. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Utah State wrapped up non-conference play with a 3-1 win on the road over 2023 WAC Tournament champions Grand Canyon. A pair of quick goals by graduate defender Kylie Olsen and junior forward Tess Werts in the 14th and 15th minutes gave the Aggies a 2-0 lead early. The Lopes scored in the 33rd minute, but freshman forward Mia Mullenmeister tacked on another for USU just a minute later. The game shifted in the 54th minute when graduate defender Alysia Butters was sent off with a red card, leaving USU with 10 players, but the Aggie defense held strong to keep GCU off the board. 
 
UNSTOPPABLE AGGIE OFFENSE
• After scoring 28 total goals during last year's Mountain West championship season, it took Utah State just eight games to surpass that mark this year. 
• The Aggies have 32 goals before the start of conference play, already tied for the sixth-highest season total in program history. 
• USU has scored multiple goals in nine games. 
• The team's 3.20 goals per game rank seventh in the NCAA this season. 
 
MARTINS MAGIC
Utah State head coach Manny Martins, the 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year, has built the Aggies into a powerhouse during his four years in Logan. As the head coach at USU, he has a 44-19-13 (.665) record, including a 19-9-5 (.652) mark in conference games. In the three years prior to his arrival, the team won just 16 total games. 
 
UP TO THE CHALLENGE
According to Massey Ratings, Utah State has played the 23rd toughest schedule in the nation so far, and still made it through non-conference play without a loss. The slate this year has included seven games away from home, four games against 2023 NCAA Tournament teams, four games against in-state opponents and three games against Big 12 foes. 
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
• While the Aggies are currently on a historic scoring pace, the goals have been distributed throughout the roster with 15 different players scoring at least once, eight different players scoring at least twice and six different players scoring at least three times this year.
• 15 USU players have also recorded assists this year, as the team has totaled 33. The program record for assists in an entire season is 34 in both 2007 and 2021.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• As a team, Utah State ranks nationally in the top 10 in several major statistical categories, including: winning percentage (1st - .950), goal differential (4th, +25), points per game (6th - 9.70), assists per game (6th - 3.30), scoring offense (7th - 3.20), shot accuracy (9th - 0.572) and shots on goal per game (10th - 9.90). 
• Individually several Aggies are among the nation's leaders as well. Junior forward Tess Werts ranks second nationally with a 0.750 shot accuracy this year. Senior forward Bizzy Arevalo ranks 22nd nationally in assists with 5. Sophomore keeper Shay Kercher-Pratt ranks 31st in shutouts with 4. 
 
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 85 matches, tied for eighth-most all-time and just three 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 83 appearances to her name. 
 
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Through 10 games, Utah State is out-shooting its opponents by a combined 173-96, with a 99-36 advantage in shots on goal. In just the first half of games, USU has 93 shots to its opponents' 37.
 
WEEKLY HONORS
Following strong performances in both of last week's games, graduate goalkeeper Cora Brendle was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week. Brendle earned the shutout against Washington State as she made a season-high four saves. She followed that performance with a three save outing against Grand Canyon, including two in the final 35 minutes while the Aggies were down to just 10 players. 
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
• San José State enters conference play still in search of its first win after going 0-6-2 in non-conference plays. The Spartans earned draws against Saint Mary's and Northeastern, while losing to Santa Clara, UC Davis, California Baptist, UC Santa Barbara, Eastern Washington and San Francisco. 
• The Spartans have scored four goals this season while surrendering 19. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Thursday's contest will be the 20th all-time between Utah State and San José State, with the Aggies holding an 11-5-3 series lead. The past four meetings have been split with the home team winning each time, including a 3-0 USU win last year in Logan. In San Jose, the Spartans lead 5-3. 
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Fresno State enters conference play 5-2-1, and will host Boise State on Thursday before playing USU. The Bulldogs have posted wins over Cal Poly, Weber State, Montana, CSU Bakersfield and Oregon State, a draw against UC Santa Barbara and losses to Seattle and Pepperdine. 
• The Bulldogs have scored eight goals this season while surrendering nine. Ciara Wilson leads the squad this year in points with six, coming on two goals and two assists.
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Sunday's contest will be the 23rd all-time meeting between Utah State and Fresno State. The series is an even 9-9-4, though the Aggies have won the past two meetings including a 2-0 win in Logan last season. In Fresno, the series is 3-3-2.   
 
UP NEXT 
Utah State will return home for a pair of Mountain West games, first facing San Diego State on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m., then taking on New Mexico on Sunday, Oct. 6, at noon.