SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team begins their 2024 season with a pair of friendlies. The Aztecs will play across town at UC San Diego Wednesday at 7 p.m. and then at UC Santa Barbara Saturday at 6 p.m.
|Aztec Tidbits
- The Aztecs officially kick off their 2024 season Aug. 23 when they host UC Riverside.
- SDSU will be competing in the WAC as an affiliate member this year following the demise of the Pac-12. The Aztecs, who played in the Pac-12 for the past 19 years, played in the WAC from 1996-98. The WAC has sent multiple teams to the NCAA tournament in five of the last seven years.
- The Aztecs have been in the national rankings in two of the last three seasons.
- SDSU’s first five matches will be in San Diego with four being on the Sports Deck and one at the University of San Diego (Aug. 26).
- The Aztecs have four opponents that are ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll: No. 4 Oregon State, No. 14 Vermont, No. 23 Seattle and RV San Diego.
- Last season was the first since 2012 that SDSU had four players with at least 10 points, Three of those players return: Austin Brummett (17), Rommee Jaridly (13) and Terence Okoeguale (10).
- SDSU is undefeated (10-0-3) in their last 13 non-conference matches and have gone undefeated in non-conference play in two of the last three seasons.
- The Aztecs are 15-1-1 in non-conference home matches under head coach Ryan Hopkins (5th season).
- San Diego State is 18-10-4 at home over the last three seasons.
Player Notes
- Long Island transfer André Puente was named a “Defender to Watch” by the United Soccer Coaches, one of 16 players to be highlighted. Puente has been an All-NEC First Team selection each of the past three seasons and made the All-Northeast Region Team the past two years.
- Sophomore defender Reid Fisher was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American (College Soccer News) last season.
- The Aztecs return three of their top four leaders in points from a season ago, including Austin Brummett, who had a team-high 17 points (7 goals and 3 assists).
- Rommee Jaridly, a Pac-12 honorable mention selection a year ago, was second on the team with 13 points (4 goals and 5 assists).
- Jules Anderson tied for second on the team with five assists last season.
- Beto Apolinar led the Aztecs’ midfielders in minutes a year ago.
- SDSU has 10 players in their fourth, fifth or sixth year of college.
- The Aztecs return nine letterwinners and six starters. 10 returners started at least one match last season.
- SDSU has 13 newcomers (seven transfers and six freshmen).
- Midfielder Daniel Pacella, one of two transfers from Vermont, made the America East Second Team twice and was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2020-21.
- Forward Robbie Matei, a transfer from American University, was a Patriot League Second Team selection in each of the last two seasons.