Sept. 15, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Women's Soccer Weekly Notes
Game Week Preview
San Diego (1-5-1) at San Diego State (3-2)
Thursday, Sept. 17 | 7 p.m. PT | Mountain West Network | SDSU Sports Deck | San Diego, Calif.
San Diego State (3-2) at UC Davis (5-2-1)
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 1 p.m. PT | Aggie Soccer Field | Davis, Calif.
Storylines
- San Diego State returns to action this week after taking last weekend off from games. The Aztecs will play host to cross-town foe San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT and then face UC Davis on the road at 1 p.m. PT on Sunday. Of the two games, only the USD match-up will be available for viewing as the Mountain West Network will stream the game live at GoAztecs.com.
- The city showdown between SDSU and USD will mark the Aztecs' first game since they defeated Florida Gulf Coast, 1-0, back on Sept. 6. The win snapped a two-game losing skid that saw San Diego State fall at California, have its date at Arizona State called after 16 minutes of action due to inclement weather, and come up short in a neutral-site contest vs. Arizona.
- The Aztecs used a 70th-minute goal from sophomore Angela Mitchell, with the assist going to classmate Aliyah Utush, to give head coach Mike Friesen his 100th career victory. Friesen, who is in his ninth season at the helm of the program, enters this week's action with a record of 100-55-22 and joins Chuck Clegg as the only two head coaches to lead SDSU to 100 or more wins. Clegg is the all-time leader with 122 victories in 11 seasons (122-81-8).
- Angela Mitchell's goal vs. Florida Gulf Coast gave her a team-leading three on the year and she enters the USD game with an Aztec-best six points. This year's performance through five games has her on the verge of matching her freshman season's production of four goals, one assist and nine points, all of which were accomplished in 21 games.
- With her effort vs. FGCU, senior Melanie Vaughn is nearing the top of the all-time career shutout list at SDSU. The Harbor City native has 19.5 career blankings to rank third in school history. She is four clean sheets away from tying Katherine Judkins (1996-99) and 6.5 shy of matching the all-time leader, Aubree Southwick, who had 26 from 2007-10.
- The game vs. USD will represent the 15th all-time meeting with the Aztecs holding an 8-5-1 series advantage. Despite losing, 2-0, last season in Linda Vista, San Diego State has still won two of the last three get-togethers and three of the last five.
- In the game last year at USD, San Diego State held advantages in every category except the most important one -- the scoring column. The Aztecs outshot the Toreros (14-7), had more shots on goal (6-5), attempted more corner kicks (8-5) and committed fewer fouls (11-13), but a header off a set-piece in the 17th minute put SDSU behind the eight ball and USD completed the effort with a 77-minute goal to snap a two-losing losing streak vs. the Toreros.
- San Diego State and San Diego are facing each other for just the fifth time atop Montezuma Mesa and for only the third time at SDSU Sports Deck. In the previous four meetings, the Aztecs are 3-0-1 (2-0 at SDSU Sports Deck) vs. USD at San Diego State, including a 3-0 performance in 2013.
- A trend to look for on Thursday is to see which team scores first. In the last five SDSU-USD games, the winner has won by way of shutout. The Aztecs blanked the Toreros in 2005 (2-0), 2009 (1-0) and 2013 (3-0). USD, meanwhile, was able to return the favor in 2006 (2-0) and in 2014, winning 2-0.
- San Diego State does not have a lengthy history with UC Davis like it does with USD. The Aztecs and Aggies are meeting for the second-time ever and for the second time in as many seasons. Last year, SDSU downed the visitors, 2-0, on the strength of a pair of Angela Mitchell goals, one in the 31st minute and another in the 61st.
- The trip to UC Davis will be somewhat of a homecoming for six Aztecs on the roster. Senior Tiffany Geer, sophomores Hailey Balma, Dani DeRosa, Xochi Hunter and Aliyah Utush, and freshman Milan Moses all hail from cities less than two hours away from Davis. For DeRosa and Utush, who both call Rocklin their hometown, they will be playing a mere 40 minutes from where they grew up.
Opponent Notebook
San Diego
The Toreros head east with a 1-5-1 record in tow and are 0-5-1 after beating N.C. State, 2-1, in the opener... USD has lost two straight, including a 2-1 decision at USC on Saturday... San Diego has played a tough schedule, which includes losses to No. 4 UCLA, at Michigan, at Georgetown, Utah, and at USC... USD's lone tie came vs. No. 23 Long Beach State... Victoria Walker leads USD in goals (2) and points (4, tied with Jacquelin Altschuld)... Michelle Craft has 31 saves and a 1.28 GAA in seven games.
UC Davis
After starting the year by winning five of its first six, UC Davis enters the week with a 5-2-1 record after going 0-1-1 in a pair of overtime games over the weekend... The Aggies lost in OT to Nevada and was involved in a 0-0 double-overtime affair at Pacific... UCD plays at Stanford on Thursday before welcoming SDSU on Sunday... Rachel Smith leads the Aggies with five goals and 10 points... Mandy McKeegan leads UCD with three assists... Alexis Smith (18 saves, 0.60 GAA) has played every minute in net.