SAN DIEGO – The Aztecs (2-0-1) host George Washington (2-0-2) Friday and then UC Riverside (0-4-0) Sunday. Both matches kick off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on the Aztec Digital Network.
Aztec Tidbits
- Friday is International Night and Sunday is Hispanic Heritage Night, admission to all matches on the SDSU Sports Deck is free.
- San Diego State beat Cal Poly 3-0 last Friday, collecting their third shutout of the season.
- This is the first time since 2005 that SDSU has posted clean sheets in each of its first three games. The Aztecs began the season with four shutouts that year and made the NCAA Tournament.
- The Aztecs are one of two schools in the nation that have yet to allow a goal (Bryant) this year.
- SDSU is receiving votes 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 Oregon State, Washington, Cal and UCLA.
- The Aztecs are undefeated (6-0-2) in their last eight non-conference matches.
- SDSU is also undefeated (1-0-3) in their last four non-conference meetings against teams that are ranked or receiving votes.
- The Aztecs are one match into a stretch where they will play eight straight at home, which is the longest streak of consecutive home games in the program's 55-year history.
- Under head coach Ryan Hopkins (4th season), the Aztecs are 11-1-0 in non-conference home matches.
- SDSU is playing three Big West schools in a four-game stretch (CS Bakersfield, Cal Poly & UC Riverside)
- On Friday, the Aztecs collected their 500th victory in program history (500-384-122).
- 14 different Aztecs have started a match this season. Of that group, nine were making their first career start for SDSU.
- 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
- Defender Reid Sproat (Auburn, Ind.) was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team after playing all 180 minutes in SDSU's two shutouts last week. A three-time All-Horizon League selection at Oakland University, Sproat was also listed by Top Drawer Soccer as the 45th best player in the country.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Logan Erb (Houston, Texas) has started three matches in his career and recorded a shutout in all of them. He is one of five players in the nation with a perfect goals against average (0.000) and save percentage (1.000).
- Sophomore Austin Brummett (Bow, N.H.) leads the Aztecs with three points despite coming off the bench in all three matches.
- Senior Jules Anderson (Ocean, N.J.) has a team-high two assists, both of which have come on corner kicks.
- Four Aztecs have played all 270 minutes: Sproat, Beto Apolinar, Reid Fisher and Noah Crétier.
- Ulises Esquivel (Sacramento, Calif.) made his collegiate debut Friday vs. Cal Poly. Esquivel is a third-year freshman who redshirted at Washington in 2021 and then missed all of last season with an injury.
- Fifth-year senior midfielder Henry Smith-Hastie (Los Angeles) was tabbed team captain for the 2023 campaign.
Coach Hopkins' Take on George Washington
"George Washington is off to a hot start after going undefeated through their first portion of games. They are a very organized group and are difficult to break down. We will have to be sharp and honed in on the details that make up our identity to secure the result."
Opponent Notebook (George Washington)
The Revolutionaries are 2-0-2 on the year… They have won their last two matches, shutting out Iona 1-0 and then beating Stony Brook 3-1… They went 8-9-2 last year and 4-4-0 in the Atlantic 10… They return five starters and 11 letterwinners from last year… They were picked to finish 11th out of 14 in the A-10 preseason poll… Goalkeeper Duncan Wegner has started the last two matches and his save percentage of .917 is eighth in the nation… William Turner leads the team with seven points and his three assists are tied for the sixth most in the nation… Head coach Craig Jones is in his 12th season with the program… This is just the second meeting all-time between the programs. SDSU won 3-0 Sept. 6, 2015.
Coach Hopkins' Take on UC Riverside
"Riverside is a group with a championship pedigree that always continues to improve as the season progresses. That's the sign of good coaching and a great culture."
Opponent Notebook (UC Riverside)
The Highlanders are 0-4-0 on the year… They went 8-8-4 (5-2-2 in Big West) and won the Big West regular season and tournament championships… They were picked to finish second in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll and had the most first place votes… Senior defender Brendan Clark was on the conference's preseason team… Goalkeeper Carlos Gonzales has a goals allowed average of 2.00… They've been outscored 8-2 and outshot 54-32 on the year… Head coach Tim Cupello is in his 10th year with the program… The Aztecs are 7-3-2 all-time against UC Riverside and this is their first meeting since 2007.
Aztecs Host George Washington Friday Night
