Oct. 18, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
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The San Diego State Aztecs (6-7-2, 2-0-2 MWC) travel to New Mexico before returning to the SDSU Sports Deck for their final home game of the 2006 season. SDSU will play New Mexico on Thursday at 1 p.m. MT before facing No. 15 Utah at 1 p.m. PT on Sunday.
Series History
- SDSU leads the series versus New Mexico, 6-3-3, having gone 2-0-1 in their last three matches. Last season in Albuquerque, the Lobos and Aztecs played to a 1-1 tie.
- The Utah Utes currently lead the all-time series versus SDSU, 8-3-2, with the last Aztec victory coming in 2001 when they defeated Utah, 2-1, in overtime. Head coach Mike Giuliano has never beaten Utah during his tenure with SDSU. In their most recent matchup, the Utes downed the Aztecs, 2-1, in San Diego on Oct. 20, 2005.
A Look at the Opponents
- The Lobos (6-6-3, 0-2-2 MWC) will be the third straight opponent that the Aztecs have faced with a goals against average of less than one. Lobos' keeper Shannon Adranga has a 6-6-3 record with four shutouts and a 0.82 GAA. New Mexico comes into Thursday's match with the Aztecs allowing 0.82 goals per game while scoring 1.13.
- Utah (11-4-0, 4-0-0 MWC) enters the week after having won its last seven games. Adele Letro leads the Utes in goals (7) and points (17) and is second on the team in shots (33) and shots on goal (14). Her seven goals and 17 points are second in the MWC behind Aztec forward Jen Mello. In goal for Utah is Ashley Mason. Mason brings an 9-4-0 record with four shutouts and a 0.94 GAA. The Utes have been able to put the same team on the field consistently, with seven of their players having started all 15 matches. A Mountain West opponent has yet to score against the Utes.
What to Watch For
- SDSU's defense versus the Lobos' offense in the second half. New Mexico has outscored its opponents, 11-6, in the second period and SDSU has given up more goals in the second half (13) than in the first half (8).
- SDSU's offense versus the Utah defense - Utah hasn't allowed a goal in its last six games.
The Mello and Sutton Connection
They're back... A year after leading the team in scoring as freshmen and accounting for 44.6 percent of the team's points, sophomores Jen Mello and Erika Sutton could have an even better season in 2006.
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Aztecs are 12-2-1 (3-0-1 in 2006) when Sutton records at least one point, 11-2-1 (5-0-1 in 2006) when Mello does the same and 7-1 (2-0 in 2006) when each contributes at least one point.
The sophomore duo has 53.3 (8-of-15) of the squad's assists, 52.6 (30-of-57) percent of its points, and 52.4 (11-of-21) percent of the team's goals.
Earlier this season, Sutton became the fourth Aztec to be named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week and also earned MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Mello became the third Aztec in 2006 to garner MWC Player of the Week honors, winning the award for her three-goal, one-assist performance last week versus No. 15 BYU and Wyoming.
Last season, Sutton earned Soccer Buzz Freshman All-Far West Region accolades and was named second-team all-MWC.
Aztec Notes
- 19 of 21 goals this year for SDSU have come from underclassmen.
- The Aztecs have started eight underclassmen in 13 of 15 games this season.
- 25 Aztecs have seen playing time this year.
- The Aztecs have used 11 different starting lineups in 13 games in 2006.
Not Mello-ing Out
In her sophomore year, Jen Mello is continuing to be an integral part of the Aztec offense. She currently leads the team in goals (8), points (19) and shots on goal (21). Mello has three multi-goal games in 2006 (Sept. 8 at UC Irvine, Oct. 8 vs UNLV and Oct. 15 at Wyoming). The Pleasanton, Calif., native currently leads the Mountain West in goals (8), goals per game (0.53), points (19) and points per game (1.27). Mello's performance over the past week earned her the Mountain West Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 9-15. During the week, Mello scored three goals and tallied one assist (two goals versus Wyoming; one goal, one assist at No. 15 BYU). In her last three games, Mello has scored five goals after scoring three in her first 12.