SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team returns to Pac-12 play when they play at UC Riverside Saturday at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Aztec Tidbits
- The Aztecs are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Pac-12 (1-0-3).
- SDSU is in third place in the Pac-12 and with two matches remaining they could finish anywhere between first and sixth. The top four teams make the Pac-12 tournament.
- The Aztecs can clinch a berth in the Pac-12 tournament Saturday with a win coupled with a UC San Diego loss (vs. CBU) or a Cal Poly loss (at Gonzaga).
- The Aztecs shutout California Baptist, who is tied for first place, 0-0 last Saturday night.
- This was the first time CBU had been shutout since 2024, a span of 32 matches.
- SDSU has earned a draw on the road against Oregon State and California Baptist, the two teams tied for first in the Pac-12.
- The Aztecs have earned a shutout in their last two Pac-12 matches.
- SDSU has a 0.75 goals allowed average in conference play, the best in the Pac-12.
- The Aztecs have seven draws, a school record.
- SDSU has elected to rest their regular starters in their last three non-conference matchups, rolling out a completely different starting XI in their last two matches.
- The Aztecs have scored in the 13th minute or sooner in all three of their four Pac-12 matches. SDSU has scored first in 10 matches and only lost one of those (3-1-6).
- SDSU earned a 2-2 draw at No. 21 Oregon State in their Pac-12 opener. The Beavers are No. 29 in the latest RPI rankings.
- It was their first result against a ranked team since tying No. 6 Stanford Oct. 1, 2023 and their first result on the road since Sept. 18 at No. 2 Stanford (0-0).
- Since the beginning of the 2024 season, SDSU is 18-3-8 (.759) when scoring first and 19-6-10 (.689) when tied or leading at the half.
- 10 different Aztecs have scored and six players have at least two goals. 13 different players have also recorded an assist.
- The Aztecs have a program record 20 newcomers in 2026 (12 transfers and eight freshmen).
- 25 of the 27 eligible Aztecs have started this year and 21 of them were making their first ever start for SDSU.
- Due to graduation, transfers and injuries, the Aztecs return just 17.8% of their minutes played from last season’s team. This is the fifth fewest in the nation based on a poll conducted amongst DI men’s soccer sports information directors.
- SDSU is 21-8-6 (.686) in non-conference home matches under Ryan Hopkins (7th season), which includes a 21-7-3 (.726) mark on the SDSU Sports Deck.
- SDSU’s 2026 roster has zero players who scored a goal for SDSU last season and just two players who recorded an assist (Carson Ballagh and Dylan Presto).
- SDSU returns to the Pac-12 in 2026, the league they played in from 2005-2023, after spending the last two years in the WAC as an affiliate member.
- The Pac-12 and The Big West jointly announced a collaborative men’s soccer partnership designed to strengthen and sustain Division I men’s soccer opportunities across the western United States. As part of this strategic partnership, California Baptist, Cal Poly, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego will compete as affiliate members in Pac-12 men’s soccer beginning with the 2026 season.
- SDSU lost just two regular season matches in the WAC in their two years (10-2-3) and won the 2024 regular season championship.
Player Notes
- Goalkeeper Nic Diana (Grayslake, Ill.) was named the Pac-12 Newcomer & Defensive Player of the Week after shutting out California Baptist Saturday.
- Diana leads the Pac-12 in goals against average (0.75), save percentage (83.3%) and shutout percentage (50%) in conference play.
- Max Mair (Dana Point, Calif.) recorded his first career brace vs. Utah Valley Wednesday. His nine points on the year are third on the team (three goals & three assists).
- Jaxson Hutcheon (Laguna Beach, Calif.) has recorded a point in all three of SDSU’s Pac-12 matches where they have scored. (two goals and one assist). He is fourth in the Pac-12 in points (5) in conference play.
- Hutcheon leads the team in shot on goal percentage (54.2%), is tied for the team lead in shots on goal (13) and is second in points (11, 4 goals and 3 assists) and shots (24).
- Nik Orth (Cologne, Germany) leads the team in goals (5) and points (12).
- Gio Aguirre (San Marcos, Calif.) and Yahir Ocampo-Navarro (Aloha, Ore.) are tied for the team lead with four assists.
- Aguirre scored both of SDSU’s goals vs. Navy Aug. 23 to become the first Aztec freshman to score two goals in a match since 2022 (CJ Fodrey).
- It’s the first time since 2023 five Aztecs have three or more assists.
- Owen Faris (Dallas, Texas) and Oscar Emilio Trujillo Lizárraga (San Diego, Calif.) recorded their first assists of the season vs. Utah Valley Saturday.
- Freshman Dylan Mair (Dana Point, Calif.) scored his first career goal at Santa Clara Sept. 20, finishing an assist from his older brother Max.
- Six Aztec field players average at least 70 minutes per match: Luke Fischer (88), Avery Huggins (82), Mattia Boldrini (78), Dylan Presto (76), Carson Ballagh (75) and Jonah Kawamura (70).
- Ballagh, Kawamura and Trujillo Lizárraga were named to the Pac-12 Preseason Impact List. That trio are the team captains this year.
- Trujillo Lizárraga made his season debut at UC Irvine last Wednesday after missing the first 14 matches with an injury.
- Trevor Wilson (Kirkland Wash.) and Dylan Presto (Los Angeles) are the only Aztecs who have been in the program three or more years.
Opponent Notebook (UC Riverside)
The Highlanders are 4-7-4 on the year and 1-2-1 in Pac-12 play… They are in sixth place with four points… Their lone Pac-12 win came against last place Gonzaga… They are 2-3-2 at home… They lead the Pac-12 in shot accuracy (49.6%) but are last in goals (21)… Goalkeeper Giancarlo Sagredo has a 1.60 goals allowed average… Tarek Hamideh leads the team with nine points (4 goals and one assist)… Head coach Tim Cupello (14th season) has won two Big West regular season championships and two tournament championships… The Aztecs are 9-4-2 all-time against UCR… They have played in each of the last two seasons with the home team winning each matchup.
Coach Hopkins Take
“This will be our biggest game of the year. UCR is always a tough team to knock out, especially on their home field. We will have to be at our best with our pressing and attacking actions.”