BACK IN ACTION
Utah State soccer (5-5-4, 2-1-2 MW) returns to action this week on the road for a pair of Mountain West games as the Aggies travel to take on New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., then San Diego State on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. (MT).
FOLLOW ALONG
Both of this week's matches will be streamed for free on Mountain West Network. Fans can also follow along via StatBroadcast, with stream and stat links available on the team's schedule page at www.utahstateaggies.com.
NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE...
Senior forward Tess Werts had a historic performance against Fresno State on Oct. 9, scoring a program-record four goals. These were the first four goals of the season for the team's leading scorer from 2024. She became the first Aggie to ever score four goals in a game and the first to record a hat trick since 2018. She also matched the Mountain West single-game goals record, and became just the fifth player in league history to score four goals in a MW match.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Following last week's 7-1 win over Fresno State, two USU players took home Mountain West weekly accolades. Werts was named the league's offensive player of the week, while graduate defender Carli Conner earned defensive player of the week recognition. Conner played 86 minutes for the Aggie back line, helping limit the Bulldogs to just four shots with a single shot on goal. She also recorded a pair of assists in the win.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Along with being named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, Werts was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
WHAT A NIGHT
Utah State had an offensive performance for the ages in the team's 7-1 win over Fresno State on Oct. 9.
• USU's seven goals are tied for the fifth-most in program history, and were the most goals ever scored in a Mountain West game by the Aggies.
• The team's +6 goal differential matches the team's best in a Mountain West game.
• Utah State's eight assists tie the program record set in 2007 against Louisiana Tech.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Utah State's 20 goals this season have come from all across the roster, with 10 different players scoring at least once. Seven different players have scored two or more goals this season, while nine different players have recorded at least one assist.
MOVING UP THE LEADERBOARD
• Several Aggie players continue to move up career leaderboards this season.
• Chambers is up to 20 career assists, ranking second in program history. Werts is right behind, tied for third with 19 career assists. Graduate midfielder Rine Yonaha also recently broke into the top-10, ranking ninth with 14 career helpers.
• Werts has 51 points in her career, good for seventh in program history. Chambers is close behind with 48 career points, 10th-most in USU history.
SHOOT YOUR SHOT
• Utah State has taken as many or more shots than its opponent in 12 of 14 games this season. On the year, the team has a 191-105 shots advantage including an 83-41 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Aggies have limited 11 opponents to less than 10 shots and have not let a single opponent take more than five shots on goal.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
In Utah State's game against Wyoming on Sept. 28, the Aggie offense had a three-goal showing. USU scored less than a minute into the match to set the tone, then tacked on goals in the 36th and 53rd minutes. Prior to this match, Wyoming had allowed just six combined goals through 10 games.
FRESHMAN FIREPOWER
Freshman midfield/forward Hadli Barrera scored the first two goals of her college career in back-to-back games against Utah Valley and Portland. Barrera scored in the 77th minute to help secure the win against Utah Valley, then netted a 54th minute equalizer against Portland.
SCOUTING THE LOBOS
• New Mexico enters the week 7-2-4 overall, and ranks second in the league standings with a 3-0-2 mark in Mountain West play. In conference play, New Mexico has defeated Colorado College, Grand Canyon and Nevada, with draws against San José State and Fresno State.
• The Lobos have scored 29 goals this year while surrendering 14 through 13 games. Junior forward Nicole Anderson leads the squad this season with 16 points coming on seven goals and two assists.
AGGIES VS LOBOS
• Thursday's contest will be the 16th all-time meeting between Utah State and New Mexico. The Lobos lead the series at 8-4-3, though USU is unbeaten in the past three meetings and has won the past two.
• USU and New Mexico met last season in Logan, a 1-0 win for the Aggies. Utah State posted a 25-3 advantage in shots, but the lone goal in the contest came on a 57th minute penalty kick by Rine Yonaha.
• Utah State is 2-4-1 all-time in Albuquerque against New Mexico.
SCOUTING THE AZTECS
• San Diego State enters the week 6-2-5 overall, and is third in the league standings with a 2-0-3 mark in Mountain West play. In conference play, SDSU has defeated Grand Canyon and San José State, with draws against Colorado College, Fresno State and UNLV.
• The Aztecs have scored 21 goals this year while surrendering 16 through 13 games. Sophomore forward Victoria Miller leads the squad with five goals this year, while junior midfielder Katie Senn has a team-best six assists.
AGGIES VS AZTECS
• Saturday's contest will be the 15th all-time meeting between Utah State and San Diego State. The Aztecs lead the series at 9-1-4, though the past four meetings have been an even 1-1-2.
• USU and San Diego State met last season in Logan, a 5-1 win for the Aggies. Utah State out-shot SDSU 26-8 and opened up a five-goal lead before the Aztecs scored their lone goal of the contest in the 89th minute.
• Utah State is 0-4-2 all-time in San Diego against San Diego State.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
• While the Aggies returned 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, Utah State brought back just four starters and has relied on several young players in elevated roles this season. 11 of the team's top 18 players in terms of minutes played, including each of the top three, are underclassmen.
• On the defensive backline, true freshmen Capriel Winder and Summer Sofonia have started all 15 matches.
WELCOME TO BELL
• In the past four years under Manny Martins, Utah State holds a 34-5-9 home record at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field. During those games, the Aggies have out-scored opponents by a combined 101-32.
• Last season, USU went 7-0-2 at home and out-scored opponents by a combined 29-4.
• All-time, Utah State is 129-49-33 at home.
UP NEXT
Utah State will continue Mountain West play with its final homestand of the season next week, hosting Nevada on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m., then taking on San José State on Sunday, Oct. 26, at noon.
