Oct. 31, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Women's Soccer Weekly Notes
Game Week Preview
(3) Boise State (12-5-3; 7-2-2 MW) / (6) Air Force (7-8-3; 4-4-3 MW)
vs. (2) San Diego State (10-7-2; 7-2-2 MW) - Mountain West Championship Semifinal
Thursday, Nov. 2 | 4 p.m. PT | Mountain West Network | Peter Johann Memorial Field | Las Vegas, Nev.
Storylines
- San Diego State will begin its quest for a fifth Mountain West championship on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT when it begins semifinal action in Las Vegas. The Aztecs, who earned the tournament's No. 2 seed and a quarterfinal bye, will face either third-seeded Boise State or sixth-seeded Air Force.
- SDSU's foe on Thursday will be determined by Tuesday afternoon's outcome. The Broncos and Falcons will face off at 4 p.m. PT and the game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. The schools played to a 1-1 double-overtime draw in Boise on Oct. 6.
- The Aztecs will head to Las Vegas having won a season-high four straight games. During its run, San Diego State has averaged 3.3 goals per game and outscored its opponents by a cumulative total of 13-4. The 13 goals are more than SDSU's previous 10 games combined when it scored 12.
- San Diego State is playing its first MW Championship game outside of America's Finest City for the first time since 2013, when the tournament was held in Albuquerque, N.M. That season, the Aztecs earned a bye into the semifinal round and defeated Utah State before downing Boise State to win the title.
- SDSU went unbeaten this season vs. the Championship field and only yielded four goals. The Aztecs went 3-0-2, defeating Air Force, Boise State and New Mexico on the road, and tying Fresno State and San José State. San Diego State allowed three goals to the Lobos in the season finale and gave up one to the Bulldogs in early October.
- The Aztecs have reached the Mountain West championship game five straight years and have done it two different ways. From 2012-15, San Diego State had a bye into the semifinal round and ultimately played for the crown. Last season, the Aztecs downed Boise State in the quarterfinals, took down San José State in the semis and tied UNLV in the final. The Rebels, who are hosts of this year's tournament despite not qualifying, moved to the NCAA tournament after winning, 4-3, in the penalty kicks.
- The Aztecs come into the Mountain West Championship with an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak in tourney settings. In its last 11 MW tournament outings, SDSU has compiled an 8-0-3 record. San Diego State has not suffered a defeat in this tournament since a 1-0 setback to Wyoming in the semifinal round of the 2011 tourney.
- Under head coach Mike Friesen, who is the all-time leader in wins at SDSU, the Aztecs are 11-4-3 at the Mountain West Championship with titles coming in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
- In 18 previous Mountain West Championships, the Aztecs are 17-11-4, with four titles to their credit. SDSU has made the final nine times (1999, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).
- San Diego State tied a school record last Friday with its 10th win of the season. With the decision, the Aztecs secured their seventh straight 10-win campaign, a feat that was first accomplished from 1993-99. That streak produced 93 wins and the current run has the Aztecs with 94 victories over the last seven years.
- The Aztecs have yet to play a neutral-site game this season, but they have been good away from home vs. conference foes. SDSU posted a Mountain West-best 4-1 record in road games this season. Only two other teams, San José State and Boise State, came close to matching San Diego State with identical 3-1-1 marks away from home.
- SDSU heads into the tournament with the best defense in the league, having tied for the fewest goals allowed (9), recording the most shutouts (5) and having the lowest goals-against average (0.77) in conference play. Despite the unit's efforts, only defender Stacie Moran earned all-conference accolades, picking up first-team honors for the second time of her career.
- The Aztecs were the second-most potent offense during conference play, scoring 22 goals and trailing only Boise State, which scored 26 times. Only forward Aliyah Utush, however, received all-MW honors, earning second-team recognition. SDSU's leading scorer, freshman Mia Root, who had six goals in MW action (t-5th in MW), landed on the all-newcomer team along with classmate Chloe Frisch.
Opponent Notebook
(3) Boise State
The Broncos finished in a tie for second place with the Aztecs, but were awarded the 3-seed as a result of SDSU's 2-0 road win in Boise... Boise State finished the season with four straight wins and were 5-0-2 in its last seven outings, scoring an average of 2.9 goals per game... Raimee Sherle, the MW Offensive Player of the Year, had 38 points on the season after scoring 16 goals to go with six assists... Janelle Flores, a second-team all-MW goalkeeper, had a GAA of 1.05 for the year... SDSU is 6-3 all-time vs. BSU.
(6) Air Force
The Falcons head into the tournament having struggled mightily after a 4-0-3 start to open MW play... Air Force has lost four straight games and scored four combined goals in those losses... Brooke Rittmann (5 goals) and Kaitlyn Cook (4 goals, 2 assists) lead the Falcons with 10 points apiece... Air Force hangs it hat on defense and prior to the four-game losing streak, the Falcons had given up one or fewer goals in 10 of their previous 12 games... Since the slide, AFA has allowed multiple goals thrice... Jennifer Hiddink earned first-team all-MW accolades at goalkeeper and boasts a GAA of 1.22, while playing every minute... SDSU is 20-1-1 all-time vs. the Academy.