Sept. 13, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Women's Soccer Weekly Release
Game Week Preview
Weber State (2-2-1; 0-0 Big Sky) at San Diego State (1-4; 0-0 MW)
Thursday, Sept. 15 | 7 p.m. PT | Mountain West Network | SDSU Sports Deck | San Diego, Calif.
No. 24/23 Texas Tech (6-1-1; 0-0 Big 12) at San Diego State (1-4; 0-0 MW)
Sunday, Sept. 18 | 6 p.m. PT | SDSU Sports Deck | San Diego, Calif.
Storylines
- San Diego State returns to SDSU Sports Deck this week as the Aztecs welcome Weber State and No. 24/23 Texas Tech to Montezuma Mesa. SDSU will play host to the Wildcats on Thursday in game to be streamed on the Mountain West Network, while the Red Raiders come to town for a Sunday night tilt.
- The Aztecs, who have not played in front of their home crowd since Aug. 19, are coming off a 1-1 road trip that took them to defending national champion and No. 16/12 Penn State, and Cornell. SDSU dropped its game against the Nittany Lions, but rebounded to earn a 1-0 victory over the Big Red.
- Victoria Barba scored on a penalty kick right before halftime, which proved to be the game-winner at Cornell. The goal was her first of the season and the team's first as the Aztecs were shutout in their first four games.
- Despite the win-loss results of the first four games, San Diego State in the last two weeks started to resemble the team that was picked to win its fifth straight Mountain West regular-season title. In the game at San Diego on Sept. 2, the Aztecs attempted 11 shots and had more shots on goal than the Toreros, 6-4. The 11 shots were a welcomed sight after recording just 14 combined shots in games vs. UCLA and at Long Beach State. Throw out the game at Penn State where the Aztecs struggled to get anything going and look at the effort at Cornell, and it appears SDSU has turned the corner. Against the Big Red, the Aztecs enjoyed a 19-10 advantage in shots and a 9-5 cushion in shots on goal. San Diego State also had 11 corner kicks, while allowing just one at Cornell.
- The uptick in performance comes at a perfect time for San Diego State as it returns to a venue where it has had plenty of success over the last few seasons. Since Nov. 1, 2014, the Aztecs are 10-1-2 atop SDSU Sports Deck. San Diego State is also 8-0-2 in the month of September at home against unranked foes. Versus all opponents in September home games, the Aztecs are winners of five straight and have not suffered a defeat since a 2-1 loss to No. 9 Portland on Sept. 22, 2013.
- The Aztecs will see their second nationally ranked opponent in their last three games when Texas Tech visits campus. San Diego State is 2-1 in its last three regular-season games against top-25 teams with wins over No. 10/24 Michigan in 2014 and No. 16/17 Kentucky in 2015, and a loss to No. 16/12 Penn State last Friday.
- SDSU and Weber State are meeting for the third time overall and for the first time since 2003 when the Aztecs won a neutral-site game in Cedar City, Utah, 1-0. The teams also played in 2002 in another neutral-site contest, this time in Las Vegas, Nevada, with San Diego State defeating the Wildcats, 2-0. As for Texas Tech, it will be the first meeting for the Aztecs.
- San Diego State welcomed a key contributor to the backline in defender Hailey Balma. The junior made her debut at Penn State and played 28 minutes off the bench before being inserted into the starting lineup at Cornell. Balma, who logged 47 minutes against the Big Red, missed the first three games due to injury following a solid sophomore campaign in which she started the final 13 games.
- Goalkeeper Gabby English earned her first career win and shutout with her five-save effort at Cornell. It was her third game with at least five saves and it came off a career-high 10-stop performance at Penn State. For the season, English has 26 saves, which is tied for the second most in the Mountain West.
- San Diego State moved the ball around the best it has all season at Cornell as nine Aztecs attempted at least one shot. More proof of the ball movement is evidenced by the number of players with multiple shots. A season-high six Aztecs had at least two attempts and a season-high-tying (at USD) two had at least three shots (Angela Mitchell, Aliyah Utush - 4). Utush also had a team season-high three shots on goal against the Big Red.
Opponent Notebook
Weber State
The Wildcats are 2-2-1 after going 1-1 last week... Weber State defeated New Mexico State, 2-1, at home and then loss to Air Force, 2-0... In addition to the Falcons, WSU played Mountain West foe New Mexico at home and fought to a scoreless double-overtime draw... The Wildcats have not played a road game since their opener at Utah on Aug. 19, and have not played outside the state of the Utah this season... Morgan Quamberg leads Weber State in goals (1, tied), assists (2) and points (4)... Sydnie Brough has played all but 10:37 in net and has a GAA of 1.37 and two shutouts.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders (6-1-1) are winners of three straight games, including a pair last week vs. Oral Roberts, 1-0, and at Appalachian State, 2-1... Among TTU's six wins is a 2-1 home victory over MW institution New Mexico in the season opener... Texas Tech ventured out on the road for the first time last Sunday at Appalachian State and will face LMU in Los Angeles on Friday... The Red Raiders' loss and tie came vs. Pac-12 schools California (loss) and Arizona (tie)... Jade King leads Texas Tech with three goals and seven points... Lauren Watson is the goalkeeper and she has a GAA of 1.09 and three clean sheets to her credit.