SAN DIEGO – The No. 21 Aztec men's soccer team (5-0-1) hosts Utah Tech (3-3-0) Thursday at 7 p.m.
Aztec Tidbits
- There won't be a live stream for Thursday's match.
- The Aztecs are coming off a 12-0 win over Life Pacific. It was SDSU's second most goals in a match and their most since 1984.
- SDSU outshot the Warriors 40-2 and had eight different players record at least two points led by Terence Okoeguale (3 goals), Seth Clark (2 goals and 2 assists) and Lorenzo Hernandez (2 goals, 2 assists).
- SDSU is ranked No. 21 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll. They are also No. 2 in the Far West Region rankings, which puts them ahead of Pac-12 foes Stanford, Washington, Cal and UCLA.
- This is the second time in the last three years that SDSU has been ranked. They rose as high as No. 13 in 2021.
- The Aztecs are one of two schools in the nation that have yet to concede a goal this year (Bryant).
- This is the first time in school history that SDSU has posted clean sheets in each of its first six matches.
- SDSU's +21 goal differential is the second best in the country and the Aztecs' best through five matches since 1973 (+25).
- SDSU leads the nation in five stat categories: goals allowed average (.000), shutout percentage (1.000), save percentage (1.000), assists per game (4.33), and points per game (11.33). They are also top three in goal differential (2nd, +21), goals per game (2nd, 3.50) and corner kicks per game (3rd, 7.67).
- The Aztecs are undefeated (9-0-2) in their last 11 non-conference matches.
- SDSU has attempted more than double the shots as their opponent (100-45).
- This is the second time in the last three years that SDSU has won their first five home matches.
- The Aztecs' .917 win percentage is tied for the fourth best in the nation.
- The Pac-12 has the best non-conference winning percentage in the nation (18-6-6, .700). The conference has been rated as NCAA Division I's top RPI conference each of the past two seasons.
- The Aztecs are in a stretch where they will play eight straight at home, which is the longest streak of consecutive home games in the program's 56-year history.
- Under head coach Ryan Hopkins (4th season), the Aztecs are 14-1-0 in non-conference home matches.
- SDSU is 17-7-1 in home matches over the last three years.
- 15 different Aztecs have started a match this season. Of that group, nine were making their first career start for SDSU.
- 15 of the 18 field players who have appeared in a match this season have recorded a point.
- The Aztecs have 10 newcomers in 2023 with six transfers and four freshmen. Top Drawer Soccer ranked SDSU as having the 14th best incoming class in the country. SDSU was rated as the best incoming class in the nation a year ago.
- Of the six transfers new to SDSU in 2023, four are fifth-year seniors, one is a fourth-year senior and the other is a junior. In total, the Aztecs have 10 players in their fourth or fifth year of college.
- The Aztecs also have eight players who are true or redshirt freshmen and four of them already have made a start this season.
- SDSU had 15 players playing in the USL League Two over the summer. Nine of them played for clubs that made the playoffs including Christian Engmann, a transfer from Saint Mary's, who won the championship with Ballard FC.
- Following last season five Aztecs signed professional contracts, believed to be the most in program history. CJ Fodrey, the Top Drawer National Freshman of the Year, became the highest selection in the MLS SuperDraft in school history when Austin FC drafted him No. 13 overall. Blake Bowen (Seattle Sounders), Jacob Castro (Seattle Sounders), Kyle Colonna (New Mexico United) and Elias Katsaros (Tacoma Defiance) also moved to the professional ranks.
Player Notes
- Terence Okoeguale (Cologne, Germany) had a hat trick in just 30 minutes against Life Pacific Monday. His four goals are tied with Austin Brummett for the team-lead.
- Lorenzo Hernandez (San Mateo, Calif.) had two goals and two assists in just 37 minutes Monday. He is now tied for second on the team with 8 points, which he has accumulated in just 249 minutes (1 point per 31 minutes).
- Seth Clark (Christchurch, New Zealand) had two goals and two assists as well on Monday.
- Austin Brummett (Bow, N.H.) has a team-high 11 points, which is second in the Pac-12. He has recorded a point in five straight matches.
- Rommee Jaridly (Chino Hills, Calif.) has tallied a point in each of SDSU's last four matches, including two game-winning goals. He is tied for the Pac-12 lead in game-winning goals and is 12th in the nation.
- Alexander Levengood (Richmond, Va.) has five assists, tied for the second-most assists in the Pac-12 and tied for the sixth most in the nation.
- Goalkeepers Djibril Doumbia (Boulder, Colo.) and Elliot Pavis (Mill Valley, Calif.) combined for the shutout Monday.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Logan Erb (Houston, Texas) has played 462 minutes in his college career and never conceded a goal. He is one of two keepers in the nation with a perfect goals against average (0.000) and save percentage (1.000).
- Four Aztecs have played every minute against D1 competition: Reid Sproat, Beto Apolinar, Reid Fisher and Noah Crétier. Outside of those four, three others have started every match (Rommee Jaridly, Jules Anderson and Seth Clark).
- Four Aztecs made their season debut Monday: Tristan Viviani, Christian Engmann, Javi Camargo and Elliot Pavis. It was the SDSU debut for Engmann and Pavis. Engmann, a Saint Mary's transfer, scored two goals and had an assist.
- Fifth-year senior midfielder Henry Smith-Hastie (Los Angeles) was tabbed team captain for the 2023 campaign.
Coach Hopkins' Take on Utah Tech
"Utah tech is a program on the rise. They are very well coached and have won some gritty games this year. Our guys will have to be ready for an intense challenge."
Opponent Notebook (Utah Tech)
Utah Tech is in their fourth year as a DI program… They are 3-3-0 on the year and 2-2-0 on the road… They are coming off a 2-1 win over Gonzaga… Prior to that, they fell to Cal State Bakersfield 1-0. SDSU beat Cal State Bakersfield 3-0 earlier this month… They have outscored their opponents 7-5 and outshot them 94-63… They lead the WAC with a 0.83 goals allowed average… They are holding opponents to 10.5 shots per game… Austin Wallace leads the team with three goals, which have come in just 168 minutes… Goalkeeper Stockton Short has played every minute and has a goals allowed average of 0.83 and a save percentage of 82.1%... Julian Herrera is the reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Week… Head coach Jonny Broadhead is in his seventh season with Utah Tech… This is the first ever meeting with Utah Tech (formerly Dixie State).
No. 21 Aztecs Host Utah Tech Thursday
