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Army (0-2-0) vs. San Diego State (0-1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 1 | 7:00 p.m. PT | SDSU Sports Deck| San Diego, Calif.
Media Coverage: Live Stream (GoAztecs.com) & Live Stats
Military Appreication Night | Light the Night | Sunglasses Giveaway
Last Time Out
The Aztecs opened up their 2018 season by going 0-1-1 against a pair of WCC teams on the road. On Friday, they fell to Santa Clara 2-0 after allowing two second half goals, one via penalty kick. The Broncos attempted 15 shots, while the Aztecs had four.
On Sunday, the Aztecs played San Francisco to a 1-1 draw. SDSU grabbed an early lead after captain Pablo Pelaez connected on a free kick from 25 yards out. The Dons, who played a man down for the final 69 minutes, netted the equalizer in the 62nd minute. This was the Aztecs' first draw since the final match of the 2016 season.
Aztec Storylines
- Saturday's home opener vs. Army West Point is the annual "Light the Night" match. A tradition that began in 2012, the Aztecs are 5-0-1 in these matches, which includes the historic upset of No. 1 Akron in 2016. This highly anticipated match has averaged over 1,400 fans.
- The Aztecs have won seven of the last eight home openers.
- Redshirt junior midfielder Pablo Pelaez's name was in the news last week. First he was named to the All-Pac-12 Preseason Team as voted on by the league's head coaches. Then he was recognized by Top Drawer Soccer as one of the top 100 college players in the nation and finally, he was named the Aztec's team captain. Pelaez also scored the Aztecs' only goal over the weekend, scoring on a free kick from 25 yards out on the left wing at San Francisco.
- Assistant Coach Josh Hill (2nd Season) also received high praise from Top Drawer Soccer. He was one of nine DI coaches tabbed "Assistant Coach to Watch." Hill has been instrumental in the Aztecs' roster overhaul via the transfer market and is one of the top up-and-coming young coaches in the nation.
- In both matches last weekend, the Aztecs' starting XI featured six players who have made less than 10 starts for SDSU. Additionally, all five reserves in Friday's match and four of the five in the USF match were new to the program. SDSU's 13 newcomers were recently named a top 30 recruiting class by Top Drawer Soccer.
- The Aztecs did not have a single draw in the 2017 season. Their last draw came in the final match of the 2016 season when the Aztecs and UNLV tied 1-1 in the first round of NCAA Tournament. The Rebels advanced to the next round after winning PKs 6-5.
Opponent Notebook
Army West Point comes to San Diego after dropping a pair of matches last weekend. They fell to Seton Hall 2-1 in double overtime in their season opener and then lost 2-1 on the road to Fairleigh Dickinson.
Zac McGraw was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List as well as being named the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, an award he has won the past two seasons. Keenan O'Shea was also on the preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Head Coach Russell Payne (9th season) had led the Black Knights to a 55-65-24 overall record. He has led Army to back-to-back nine win seasons.
This is the second all-time meeting between the two programs. The Aztecs fell 1-0 at West Point last year, in their season opener.