POCATELLO, Idaho — No. 18 Utah State soccer (7-2-1, 0-0-0 Pac-12) earned a decisive win to close out the road portion of its nonconference slate Thursday afternoon at Davis Field in Pocatallo, extending both its winning streak and shutout streak to three matches with a 6-0 win over Idaho State.
Following a brief weather delay due to lightning in the area prior to kick-off, Utah State wasted no time taking command of the contest, scoring just 29 seconds in. A penalty on the hosts on a high challenge in the box led to a penalty kick for USU. Senior midfielder Summer Diamond then stepped up and found the bottom left corner of the net with her right foot.
Ten minutes later the Aggies would once again have a chance from the penalty spot, when a hand ball in the box led to a PK for junior midfielder Rachel Reitz. In search of her first goal of the season, Reitz then calmly converted the kick to make it 2-0.
Just 15 seconds after the PK by Reitz, Utah State extended its lead further in the 11th minute as Diamond secured the second brace of her career. After a takeaway in their own box, the Aggies went 90 yards the other way in transition, resulting in a pass from junior midfielder Austin Miller to sophomore forward Samantha Sellers to Diamond, who snuck it past the Idaho State keeper for a 3-0 lead. These were the quickest goals scored in succession in USU program history.
Six minutes into the second half, the game came to a pause for yet another weather delay.
After a 75-minute break in the Action, Utah State picked up right where it left off. Junior defender Kaeda Wilson got on the board with her second goal of the season in the 59th minute when a corner taken by Miller to Sellers across the box found Wilson's left foot, who then sent it off the right post and into the net.
In the 77th minute, sophomore midfielder Mia Lopez also collected her second goal of the campaign. Following several shots and deflections in the box, senior defender Kasie Vigil found Lopez on the far side for a strike nearly identical to Wilson's, a left-footer which snuck just inside the right post to stretch the USU advantage to 5-0.
The final goal of the night came in the 80th minute when a takeaway at midfield by Wilson quickly turned into a goal for junior forward Mia Mullenmeister. With a three-on-three break, Mullenmeister went straight down the middle before netting her third goal of the year.
Utah State's six goals are tied for 10th-most in a single game in program history. In total, the Aggies recorded 32 shots to Idaho State's five, including a 14-0 advantage in shots on goal. 13 different USU players recorded shots, led by five from sophomore forward Kunie Hirai.
In net for USU, sophomore Ivy Nystrom started and played the first 77 minutes before senior Allee Grashoff entered and went the rest of the contest.
SCORING SUMMARY
:29 - Summer Diamond (USU)
Penalty Kick Goal
10:37 - Rachel Reitz (USU)
Penalty Kick Goal
10:52 - Summer Diamond (USU)
Assists: Samantha Sellers, Austin Miller
58:12 - Kaeda Wilson (USU)
Assists: Samantha Sellers, Austin Miller
76:55 - Mia Lopez (USU)
Assists: Kasie Vigil, Bentli Barrera
79:05 - Mia Mullenmeister (USU)
Assist: Kaeda Wilson
UP NEXT
Utah State (7-2-1, 0-0-0 Pac-12) will return home to wrap up nonconference play on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m., as they host unbeaten Saint Mary's at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets now here. Adult season tickets are available for $100, while youth can gain access to all games by joining the Junior Aggie Kids Club for $40. 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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