SAN DIEGO – San Diego State women's soccer will wrap up their three-match homestand on Friday when they take on the Saint Mary's Gaels at 4 p.m. PT on the SDSU Sports Deck.
The Season So Far
- The Aztecs earned two hard fought draws on Thursday and Sunday against cross-town foes University of San Diego and UC San Diego. On Thursday, the Aztecs and Toreros squared off, but neither team was able to find the back of the net and the teams finished level at 0-0. Claire Watkins hit the post twice in the draw, while Denise Castro was sent off late in the match and the Aztecs had to play with 10 for the final 20 minutes.
- As for the match against UC San Diego, the Aztecs went down 1-0 at the halftime break. But goals from Logan Nidy and a penalty from Kiera Utush 44 seconds apart gave the Aztecs a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute. However, the Tritons would equalize in the 89th minute to earn the 2-2 draw.
- The Aztecs also drew at Long Beach State on Aug. 25, 2-2. With the Aztecs down 2-0 in the 82nd minute, Denise Castro and Trinity Coker got San Diego State level in the final minutes as the Aztecs stole a draw on the road. Coker's game-tying goal was the first of her career. The Aztecs would then travel to No. 14 Pepperdine on Aug. 28 and fell 4-0 in Malibu, Calif.
- 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 41st in the country in total goals scored with 13 so far this season.
- 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 August 28.
- Entering this week's matches, Castro is tied for 13th in the nation in game-winning goals with two, is tied for 28th in the country in goals scored with four, and is tied for 31st 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 on August 28.
- 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 10 assists through five matches this season, and nine different players have assisted on those goals.
- Denise Castro has two assists, while Emma Gaines-Ramos, Trinity Coker, Lauren Dicus, Rachelle Elve, Olivia Sekimoto, Grace Goins, Hope Paredes and Kiera Utush have one.
-SDSU-
Aztecs to Host Saint Mary's on Friday
