BACK IN ACTION
No. 11 Utah State soccer (5-0-0, 0-0-0 MW) continues its 2024 campaign this week with a pair of matches. The Aggies will first travel to Orem, Utah, to wrap up a three-match road trip against in-state opponents as they take on Utah Valley (2-2-1, 0-0-0 WAC) on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., at Clyde Field. The team then returns home to take on Pacific (1-4-0, 0-0-0 WCC) on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m., at Bell Field. 
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Thursday's match can be streamed with a subscription on ESPN+, while Sunday's will be available for free on the Mountain West Network. 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 5-0 start for the first time since 2011, with three of those five wins coming over 2023 NCAA Tournament teams. The Aggies have allowed just a single goal this season, out-scoring opponents by a combined score of 13-1. USU has started with a better record just one time in program history, when it began the 2011 season 8-0. 
 
IN THE POLLS
• After making its first ever appearance in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll last week, Utah State jumped this week from No. 19 to No. 11 in the poll. The Aggies had never received a single vote in the poll prior to this season. 
 • Pepperdine, who USU defeated 4-0, is No. 20 this week. Upcoming opponents Utah Valley (8 votes) and Grand Canyon (3 votes) are receiving votes in this week's poll. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Utah State took down No. 16 BYU for the third time in the past four seasons on Saturday, earning a 2-1 win in Provo. The Aggies struck first in the seventh minute with a goal from senior forward Bizzy Arevalo, before the Cougars answered with a set piece goal in the 10th minute. Junior forward Tess Werts then scored the 57th minute game-winner. This was the third win over a ranked opponent in program history for the Aggies. 
 
WEEKLY HONORS
• Senior defender Addy Weichers was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week after playing all 180 minutes in USU's wins over Utah and BYU last week, anchoring the Aggie defensive back line. This is the third-straight week an Aggie has earned the award to open the season. 
• Junior forward Tess Werts was named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week after a pair of strong performances last week, including tallying an assist and the game-winning goal against BYU. 
 
BEEHIVE STATE BATTLES
Utah State is currently in five-game stretch with four opponents from the Beehive State. All-time against in-state foes, the Aggies hold a 30-42-3 combined record. Under head coach Manny Martins, USU is 7-4-1 against those teams. Utah State has 17 players on its roster from the state of Utah. 
 
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. 
 
SCORING SPARK
With 13 goals already this season, Utah State has surpassed last season's non-conference goal total of eight. USU has scored multiple goals in all five games, its longest streak doing so since 2011 (also five games). One more multi-goal game would make it the longest streak in program history. 
 
WELCOME TO BELL
• In the past four years under Manny Martins, Utah State holds a 24-5-5 home record at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field. During those games, the Aggies have out-scored opponents by a combined 58-24.
• Dating back to 2022, 11 of the past 17 USU opponents at Bell Field have been shut out.
• All-time, Utah State is 119-49-29 at home.  
 
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 three teams that finished in the top-50 in scoring offense last season. 
• USU has limited opponents to just 16 total shots on goal this year, an average of 3.2 per contest.
• Going back to last season, nine of the past 12 games have been shutout wins for the Aggies. 
 
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.
 
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Through three games, Utah State is out-shooting its opponents by a combined 72-45, with a 36-16 advantage in shots on goal. In just the first half of games, USU has 39 shots to its opponents' 12.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
• Utah Valley is off to a 2-2-1 start to the season after defeating Michigan and Detroit Mercy, drawing with UCF, and falling to No. 21 Virginia and Long Beach State. The Wolverines are receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll. 
• UVU has nine goals this season and has allowed 11. Junior forward Ruby Hladek leads the squad in points with nine, coming on three goals and three assists. Senior forward Faith Webber is the team's top goal scorer this year with four. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Thursday's contest will be the ninth all-time between Utah State and Utah Valley, with the Aggies holding a 6-2 series advantage. The teams have met just once since 2015, a 2-1 double overtime home win for USU in 2021. In Orem, Utah State leads the series 2-1. 
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
• Pacific is off to a 1-4 start to the year. After opening the season with a win against Houston Christian, the Tigers have dropped contests to Arizona, UC Davis, New Mexico State and Cal Poly. They will play at Weber State on Sept. 5, before making the trek to Logan. 
• Pacific has three goals this season and has allowed 14. Junior midfielder Alexis Pashales is responsible for two of those goals. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Utah State is 3-5-1 all-time against Pacific, though the teams haven't met up since 2004. In Logan, the all-time series is tied at 3-3. 
 
UP NEXT 
Utah State will play its final in-state opponent of the year next weekend, when the Aggies travel to Ogden, Utah, to take on Weber State on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m. The team then plays its non-conference home finale on Thursday, Sept. 19, hosting Washington State.