SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team hosts Vermont Monday evening at 7 p.m. on the SDSU Sports Deck. 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 are coming off a 2-1 win over Mercyhurst Thursday. SDSU trailed for nearly the entire match and played a man down for the final 40 minutes. The Aztecs scored goals in the 80th and 81st minute to secure the victory.
- Midfielder Daniel Pacella and goalkeeper Eddy Vargas transferred to SDSU this year from Vermont. Additionally. Assistant coach Adrian Dubois came from Vermont.
- The Aztecs have outshot their opponents 45-25 and hold a 24-7 advantage in corner kicks. Their 8.0 corner kicks per game is the eighth most in the nation.
- Through three matches, SDSU already has had nine players record a point.
- The Aztecs are ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region.
- SDSU is 17-1-1 in non-conference home matches under head coach Ryan Hopkins (5th season).
- The Aztecs are 20-10-4 at home since the beginning of the 2021 season.
- 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 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.|
- 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’s five goals against UC Riverside in their season opener 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).
Player Notes
- Forward Robbie Matei, a transfer from American University, scored two goals last week 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 last week vs. UC Riverside. It was his second time scoring two goals in a match.
- SDSU’s two goalkeepers Djibril Doumbia and Eddy Vargas, a transfer from Vermont, have each played 135 minutes. Both keepers are in their sixth year of college.
- Vargas made his first start as an Aztec vs. Mercyhurst Thursday and collected his first win.
- 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. He has dished out two assists in SDSU’s first three matches.
- 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.
- 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 (Vermont)
The Catamounts are 0-1-1 on the year with a loss at No. 12 Western Michigan and a 1-1 draw at UC Irvine, the preseason Big West favorite… They are ranked No. 17 by Top Drawer Soccer and receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll… They made the Elite Eight in 2022 and Sweet 16 in 2023… They are coached by Rob Dow (8th season), who has led Vermont to a winning record every year… SDSU is 1-0-0 all-time vs Vermont, beating them 2-1 in extra time August 27, 2017.
Coach Hopkins’ Take on Vermont
“Vermont has been one of the top teams in the country over the last couple of years. We are excited for the matchup in an NCAA tournament-like atmosphere.”