SAN DIEGO – The Aztecs return home to San Diego for two local matchups on the Sports Deck this week. The Aztecs will play the University of San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT and UC San Diego on Sunday at 7 p.m. PT.
Against the Toreros, the Aztecs have a 11-8-1 record all-time. San Diego State won the most recent matchup against the Toreros last season 3-0, courtesy of a goal from Lauren Dicus and a brace from Anna Toohey.
The Aztecs also lead in the all-time series against UC San Diego. San Diego State are 1-0-1 all-time against the Tritons, who recently made the switch to the Division 1 level, two years ago. The most recent time the Aztecs and Tritons went toe-to-toe was on October 30, 1991 when the two teams played to a 101 double overtime draw.
Last Time Out
- The Aztecs earned a hard fought draw on Thursday against Long Beach State. SDSU overcame a 2-0 deficit and scored two goals in the final seven minutes of regulation to earn the 2-2 draw. Denise Castro and Trinity Coker found the back of the net for the Aztecs in the 83rd and 87th minute. Coker's 87th minute equalizer was the first collegiate goal of her career. The Aztecs then fell to No. 14 Pepperdine on Sunday, 4-0.
- In the season opener the Aztecs traveled to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers. The Aztecs would come out of the match with a win in dramatic fashion, as Denise Castro earned the Aztecs the win 2-1, in the 90th minute. Off a cross from Lauren Dicus, Castro headed the ball into the back of the net, earning her first game-winner of the season. She also scored the Aztecs first goal of the match in the 28th minute, and finished the night with a brace for the second time in her career.
- As for the match against Idaho, the Aztecs initially trailed 1-0, before marching to a 7-2 win on the Sports Deck. The Aztecs scored five goals in the span of 23 minutes during the first half. Emma Gaines-Ramos scored two goals, including the first penalty of the season. Six Aztecs got on the score sheet, including freshman Logan Nidy and sophomore Olivia Sekimoto who scored their first career goals.
Amongst The Nation's Elite
- San Diego State is amongst the nation's leaders in a multitude of both team and individual categories to start the 2022 season.
- The Aztecs are currently tied for 23rd in the country in total goals scored with 11 so far this season.
- San Diego State's 11 total goals over four matches puts them in a tie for 32nd in the country in goals per game, at 2.75.
- Amongst teams that have played at least four matches the Aztecs are one of 28 teams to have a total points tally of 31.00 or greater, and overall are tied for 28th in the country in points per game average with 7.75.
- In total assists the Aztecs are tied for 37th in the nation with nine assists over their opening four matches.
At The Peak
- Denise Castro (San Ysidro, Calif.) entered 2022 as the Aztecs top returning goal-scorer from the 2021 season when she bagged eight goals. The sophomore sensation has started the 2022 campaign on a tear, scoring four goals in four matches, including the game-winner over Nebraska to open the season. That goal came in the 90th minute with 28 seconds remaining in the match, and gave the Aztecs a 2-1 win to start the season. She also scored the game-winner in the Aztecs 7-2 win over Idaho on last Sunday.
- Entering this week's matches, Castro is tied for third in the nation in game-winning goals with two, is tied for seventh in the country in goals scored with four, and is tied for fifth in total points with 10.
Sharing The Wealth
- San Diego State scored a total of nine goals in the first two weeks of the season, including putting seven past Idaho last Sunday.
- Those seven goals scored against Idaho were the most the Aztecs had scored in a match since the 2008 season when the Aztecs beat the Air Force Academy 7-0.
- The Aztecs have a total of nine assists through two matches this season, and eight different players have assisted on those goals.
- Denise Castro has two assists, while Emma Gaines-Ramos, Lauren Dicus, Rachelle Elve, Olivia Sekimoto, Grace Goins, Hope Parades and Kiera Utush have one.
Aztecs Face UC San Diego Sunday Night
