SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team plays at California Baptist in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals Saturday at 7 p.m. The Aztecs played California Baptist, who is receiving votes, to a 0-0 draw two weeks ago. The winner will advance to play the winner of No. 1 seed Oregon State and No. 4 seed UC Riverside in the championship match.
Aztec Tidbits
- The Aztecs finished unbeaten in the Pac-12 (1-0-5) and are one of 11 teams in the nation to go undefeated in conference play.
- SDSU has gone undefeated in conference play in two of the past three years (7-0-1 in the WAC in 2024).
- Across the last three years, the Aztecs have lost just two of their 21 conference matches.
- The Aztecs have earned four draws in a row and have tied the NCAA all-time record with nine overall (done by six teams).
- SDSU led the Pac-12 in goals allowed average (1.00) in conference play.
- The Aztecs earned a draw against all three other teams that made the Pac-12 tournament (Oregon State, California Baptist and UC Riverside).
- This was the first time CBU had been shutout since 2024, a span of 32 matches.
- SDSU’s 2-2 draw at No. 21 Oregon State in their Pac-12 opener, it was the Aztecs’ 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). The
- In seven of their nine ties, SDSU had less shots on goal than their opponent.
- Since the beginning of the 2024 season, SDSU is 18-3-9 (.750) when scoring first and 19-6-11 (.681) when tied or leading at the half.
- 10 different Aztecs have scored and six players have at least two goals. 15 different players have also recorded an assist.
- Four Aztecs have at least 10 points (Orth, Hutcheon, M. Mair and Aguirre). It’s just the second time since 2012 that four or more Aztecs have 10 points or more (also 2023).
- 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
- Jaxson Hutcheon (Laguna Beach, Calif.) has a team-high 13 points and is tied for fourth in the Pac-12 in goals in conference play.
- Max Mair (Dana Point, Calif.) has scored three goals in SDSU’s last three matches last week. His 11 points on the year are third on the team (four goals & three assists).
- Gio Aguirre (San Marcos, Calif.) was named one of the top 100 freshmen in the county by Top Drawer Soccer.
- Aguirre has 10 points on the year, and his four assists are tied for the team lead.
- 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).
- Goalkeeper Nic Diana (Grayslake, Ill.) led the Pac-12 in goals allowed average (1.00) and save percentage (76.9%) in conference play.
- Nik Orth (Cologne, Germany) is tied with Hutcheon for the team lead in goals (5) and is second in points (12).
- Yahir Ocampo-Navarro (Aloha, Ore.) is tied for the team lead with four assists.
- It’s the first time since 2023 five Aztecs have three or more assists.
- Six Aztec field players average at least 70 minutes per match: Luke Fischer (88), Avery Huggins (81), Mattia Boldrini (80), Dylan Presto (76), Carson Ballagh (75) and Jonah Kawamura (71).
- Ballagh, Kawamura and Trujillo Lizárraga were named to the Pac-12 Preseason Impact List. That trio are the team captains this year.
- 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 (California Baptist)
The Lancers are 12-3-2 on the year and 3-1-2 in Pac-12 play… They are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll… Their lone conference loss was to first place Oregon State… They are 4-2-1 at home and 7-1-1 on the road… They lead the conference in goals allowed average (0.94) with Ulrick Stroem having a 74.1% save percentage… Blake D’Agostino leads the team in points (20) and goals (7)… Justin Ojo has six goals… Head coach Coe Michaelson (11th season) and has over 100 career wins… The Aztecs are 2-1-1 against the Lancers.
Coach Hopkins Take
“We are excited for the opportunity to compete for a championship. We know our opponent well and the quality that they have. All knockout matches come down to the team that can execute their identity to the fullest. I expect this one will be no different.”