SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team returns home Thursday when they host Mercyhurst at 7 p.m. All SDSU’s home matches will be streamed on WAC International TV. The streams are free but require you to create an account.
Aztec Tidbits
- The Aztecs split their first two matches. They beat UC Riverside 5-2 Friday with Austin Brummett and Robbie Matei each scoring two goals. SDSU then fell at San Diego Monday evening 3-0.
- SDSU’s five goals against UC Riverside tied for their most vs. a DI opponent in the Ryan Hopkins (5th season) era.
- The Aztecs’ loss at San Diego snapped a stretch of 14 non-conference matches without a loss (11-0-3).
- SDSU is 16-1-1 in non-conference home matches under head coach Ryan Hopkins (5th season).
- The Aztecs will be competing in the WAC as an affiliate member this year following the demise of the Pac-12. SDSU, 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 were picked to finish third in the WAC Preseason Coaches poll, trailing Seattle and California Baptist.
- San Diego State has 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).
- San Diego State is 19-10-4 at home since the beginning of the 2021 season.
- 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).
Player Notes
- Forward Robbie Matei, a transfer from American University, scored two goals Thursday vs. UC Riverside. It was the first time in his 59 career matches that he scored two goals in a game. He was a Patriot League Second Team selection in each of the last two seasons.|
- Austin Brummett. who was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team, also scored two goals Thursday. It was his second time scoring two goals in a match.
- SDSU played two goalkeepers at San Diego Monday. Djibril Doumbia started the game and then Eddy Vargas, a transfer from Vermont, played the second half. Both keepers are in their sixth year of college.
- 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.
- Redshirt Sophomore defender Reid Fisher was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American (College Soccer News) last season.
- Both Puente and Fisher were named top 100 players in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer.
- Fisher was tabbed the WAC Preseason Defender of the Year by the league’s coaches.
- The Aztecs return three of their top four leaders in points from a season ago, 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) last season.
- Jules Anderson tied for second on the team with five assists last season.
- Beto Apolinar led the Aztecs’ midfielders in minutes a year ago.
- 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. He scored in his Aztec debut Thursday vs. UC Riverside.
- Israel Carrillo made his Aztec debut last week, starting both matches and playing all 180 minutes at center back.
- 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).
Opponent Notebook (Mercyhurst)
Mercyhurst (Erie, Pa.) is in their first year at the DI level and are competing in the Northeast Conference… They finished 14-3-1 last season and 7-2-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference… They lost their season opener 2-0 at Pitt… Dylan Summer was an All-American last year after scoring 14 goals and tallying 31 points… Igancio Gallego and Frank Lovvett were All-PSAC First Team selections last year… The Lakers are coached by Austin Solomon, who is in his 11th season with the program and second as head coach… This is the first time SDSU has played Mercyhurst.
Coach Hopkins’ Take on Mercyhurst
“We need a response in a big way coming off our first non-conference loss in two years. I expect us to be focused and ready to play up to our standards that make us who we are.”