USU Soccer wraps up historic non-conference slate, is ready for conference play
Utah State Soccer is off to its best start in program history. The Aggies have a 7-1-1 record at the end of non-conference play and took down nationally ranked BYU — their first time ever beating the Cougars. This resurgence in Aggie soccer is fueled by first-year head coach Manny Martins, and by several players who are having great seasons.
Senior midfielder Ashley Cardozo and junior goalkeeper Diera Walton have stood out the past few matches, but especially in their most recent match against BYU.
The Cougars were ranked No. 18 in the nation going into the match. It was a hard-fought contest by both sides and was tied at the end of regulation 1-1. Utah State’s first goal came courtesy of Cardozo in the 24th minute of play. It was her team-leading fourth goal of the season. Walton recorded 11 saves against the Cougars, allowing only one goal on 30 shot attempts, 12 of which were on goal. The hero of the game was one of the many freshmen performing at a high level on the team. Tenzi Knowles booted in the game-winner in extra time — her first collegiate goal — to lift the Aggies to a 2-1 win. Cardozo, Knowles and Walton swept the weekly Mountain West Conference awards, being named offensive player, freshman, and defensive player of the week respectively.
“I’ve been impressed with their performances and how different people have stepped up when called upon. Obviously, Tenzi [Knowles] is a good example,” said Martins. “Her minutes have maybe not been consistent, but when we needed her in the last game she went in and played considerable minutes and scored the winning goal.”
Knowles is just one of many contributing freshmen. Bizzy Arevalo and Addy Symonds have played in all nine games this season, with Symonds starting all nine. Coach Martins touted the strength of his depth chart and credits this year’s success to the hard work of all the players.
The victory in Provo marked the first time Utah State has recorded a result over Brigham Young in program history.
“It’s just as important as any other game. It was the game that mattered at that point so it’s big because we got another result and we were able to implement some of the things we did in training,” Martins said. “With that said, I don’t overlook the fact that there is a little bit of history. It’s a program that in-state has been a perennial power. It just gives a little bit of credibility to the work that the girls have been doing, that our staff all-around has been doing and the progress that’s been made to this point.”
The record of this year’s Aggie squad is evidence of the improvement of this program over the past few years, but especially when compared to the pre-season Mountain West Conference rankings. Coaches of all 12 teams in the conference selected Utah State to finish seventh in the conference, but after preseason play, the Aggies are in first place in the conference.
Utah State’s main blemish on the first half of the season was a home loss to Utah on Sept. 16. The game was incredibly close as both teams went back and forth early in the second half. Utah struck first with a goal in the 50th minute. Cardozo answered for the Aggies with a long-range goal to tie the match two minutes later. Down the stretch, the Aggies committed a foul near the top of their penalty box, which lead to a goal off of a freekick for the Utes. Utah State would fall 2-1.
“Even the game against Utah where it didn’t go our way, I think we did a lot of things right,” Martins said. “I think I got the tactics wrong, particularly in the second half, and I think if we had done things a little differently we might’ve influenced the outcome a little more.”
UNLV, Boise State and New Mexico seem to be the Aggies main challengers coming into conference play, however, Coach Martins isn’t underestimating any team in the conference.
“I don’t think you can overlook any opponent. I think every opponent is going to be very difficult. I think the fact that we’ve had a fairly successful preseason, I think it puts a little bit of a target on our backs. I don’t think anyone is going to take us lightly so I don’t think we’ll surprise anyone. I think every game is going to be very, very challenging, maybe in different ways.”
Coach Martins is quick to say his team’s focus is on the next game. They aren’t worried about future opponents or previous program history.
“I never play to tie, I never play to minimize a loss, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, the objective is to win,” he said. “That being the attitude going into every game, yeah, ideally we want to win the conference, but we can only focus on one game, which is Nevada, and then do that 11 times and see how it works out.”
The Aggies will start Mountain West Conference play against a struggling Nevada squad. The Wolf Pack comes into the contest with a record of (1-6-0). The Aggies will host Nevada at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field on Sept. 24 in their first Mountain West Conference match of the year.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3MrWz4MXjW8%2520title%3DYouTube%2520video%2520player%2520frameborder%3D0%2520allow%3Daccelerometer%3B%2520autoplay%3B%2520clipboard-write%3B%2520encrypted-media%3B%2520gyroscope%3B%2520picture-in-picture%2520allowfullscreen