SAN DIEGO – The Aztec men's soccer team (6-2-3, 0-2-2 Pac-12) hosts crosstown foe San Diego (8-3-1, 2-0-0 WCC) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium.
Aztec Tidbits
- San Diego State is attempting to break the program attendance record of 2,769 at last year's Snapdragon contest.
- The Aztecs are No. 38 in the latest RPI ranking while the Toreros are No. 31.
- After going 0-1-1 at Washington and Oregon State last weekend, the Aztecs fell out of the national rankings. However, they are No. 28 in College Soccer News' Top 30 and No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region rankings.
- At Washington, SDSU lost 3-1 with the Huskies scoring all three of their goals in a nine-minute span. Prior to that three-goal barrage, SDSU had allowed just one goal through the first 876 minutes of the year.
- The Aztecs earned a 2-2 draw at Oregon State after Noah Crétier scored on a header off a corner kick in the 90th minute.
- This is the second year in a row that the Aztecs have earned a draw at Oregon State. Prior to last season, SDSU hadn't won or tied at OSU since 2013.
- SDSU is top 10 in the nation in nine statistical categories including shutout percentage (2nd, 0.727), assists per game (3rd, 3.00), goal differential (4th, +21), and goals allowed average (6th, .545).
- Under head coach Ryan Hopkins (4th season), the Aztecs are 15-1-0 in non-conference home matches.
- SDSU is 18-8-2 at home over the last three years.
- The Aztecs are undefeated (10-0-2) in their last 12 non-conference matches.
- SDSU is allowing just 3.1 shots on goal per game.
- The Aztecs played No. 6 Stanford to a 0-0 draw Oct. 1st. This was the second time in the last two years that SDSU has played the Cardinal to a 0-0 draw while Stanford was ranked in the top 10.
- SDSU was the first team to shutout Stanford since Washington did it Oct. 6, 2022, a span of 18 matches. Stanford has been shutout just three times in its last 23 matches with two of those coming against SDSU.
- This is the second time in the last three years that SDSU allowed two goals or less through their first nine matches.
- This is the second time in the last three years that the Aztecs won each of their first six home games.
- 15 different Aztecs have started a match this season. Of that group, nine were making their first career start for SDSU.
- 15 of the 18 field players who have appeared in a match this season have recorded a point.
- The Pac-12 continues to rate as the nation's No. 1 league in both conference RPI and non-conference RPI. The conference has had the best RPI in each of the last two seasons. All six Pac-12 teams are inside the top 41.
- The Aztecs have 10 newcomers in 2023 with six transfers and four freshmen. Top Drawer Soccer ranked SDSU as having the 14th best incoming class in the country. SDSU was rated as the best incoming class in the nation a year ago.
- Of the six transfers new to SDSU in 2023, four are fifth-year seniors, one is a fourth-year senior and the other is a junior. In total, the Aztecs have 10 players in their fourth or fifth year of college.
- The Aztecs also have eight players who are true or redshirt freshmen and four of them already have made a start this season.
- SDSU had 15 players playing in the USL League Two over the summer. Nine of them played for clubs that made the playoffs including Christian Engmann, a transfer from Saint Mary's, who won the championship with Ballard FC.
- Following last season five Aztecs signed professional contracts, believed to be the most in program history. CJ Fodrey, the Top Drawer National Freshman of the Year, became the highest selection in the MLS SuperDraft in school history when Austin FC drafted him No. 13 overall. Blake Bowen (Seattle Sounders), Jacob Castro (Seattle Sounders), Kyle Colonna (New Mexico United) and Elias Katsaros (Tacoma Defiance) also moved to the professional ranks.
Player Notes
- Sophomore goalkeeper Logan Erb (Houston, Texas) is tied for fourth in the nation with six shutouts. He also leads the Pac-12 in goals against average (0.654) and save percentage (0.800).
- Erb didn't allow a goal for the first 572 minutes to start his college career.
- Alexander Levengood (Richmond, Va.) has a Pac-12 high seven assists. His 0.64 assists per game is 10th in the nation.
- Austin Brummett (Bow, N.H.) is third in the Pac-12 with 17 points and seven goals. In September, he had a stretch where he recorded a point in six straight matches.
- Terence Okoeguale (Cologne, Germany) is tied with Rommee Jaridly (Chino Hills, Calif.) for second on the team in points with 10. Okoeguale, an Akron transfer, has scored five goals while Jaridly has three goals and four assists. In September, Jairdly had a five-match stretch of recording at least one point.
- Jaridly and Jules Anderson (Ocean, N.J.) are tied for second on the team in assists with four each.
- Three Aztecs have played every minute against D1 competition: Reid Sproat, Beto Apolinar and Reid Fisher. Those three plus Jaridly have started every match and are averaging at least 78 minutes per match.
- Fifth-year senior midfielder Henry Smith-Hastie (Los Angeles) was tabbed team captain for the 2023 campaign.
Coach Hopkins' Take on San Diego
"I couldn't be more excited for this matchup. Both teams have been ranked for most of the year and are in great position for an NCAA tournament berth. Add in the bright lights of Snapdragon Stadium and it has all the making of a San Diego Classic."
Opponent Notebook (San Diego)
The Toreros are 8-3-1 and 2-0-0 in WCC play… They are ranked No. 31 in RPI… They are 3-2-0 on the road… They have road wins over Seattle, currently No. 20. and Washington… They are allowing just 0.83 goals per game and have outscored their opponents 21-10… They average 2.25 assists per game, which is 20th in the nation… They are top two in the WCC in 11 statistical categories… Goalkeeper Luis Ludosan is 11th in the nation with an .824 save percentage and allows just 0.765 goals per game… Mason Tunbridge has 12 points and six assists… Samy Kanaan leads the team with five goals… Head coach Brian Quinn is in his sixth season as USD's head coach and in his 17th year overall with the program… He was named WCC Coach of the Year last season after leading the Toreros to the NCAA Tournament… The Aztecs are 16-7-2 all-time vs. USD and have won five of the last six meetings.
Aztecs Host San Diego at Snapdragon Saturday
