Match Notes: Utah State Soccer Opens Five-Match Homestand this Weekend

KICKING OFF — Utah State [University] soccer (2-3-0) returns to Chuck and Gloria Bell Field this weekend for a pair of matches. The Aggies will host Gonzaga (3-1-1) Friday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m., with the weekend concluding against Sam Houston State (0-6-0) Sunday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m.

FOLLOW ALONG — This season’s home action will continue to be broadcast online through the Aggie Digital Network and the Mountain West Network. Fans can watch every Utah State home match, as well as every conference match in Logan or on the road. Live stats and play-by-play information will be available through GameTracker, while updates will also be provided through the team’s social media outlets.

FREEBIE FRIDAY — Every home Friday match in the 2016 season will include a giveaway for Aggie fans. For this week’s match against Gonzaga, the first 100 fans in attendance at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field will receive a pair of Utah State sunglasses.

THE NEXT GENERATION — Each year, Utah State soccer hosts players from the Utah Youth Soccer Association during Youth Soccer Month in September. At the conclusion of Friday’s match, the Aggies will hold a free clinic for all interested children under the age of 18.

SCOUTING GONZAGA — Gonzaga makes the trip to Logan with a 3-1-1 record. Last weekend, the Bulldogs defeated Portland State, 5-2, at home, while weather canceled the team’s match against Eastern Washington. Gonzaga also has wins over Nevada (1-0) and Washington State (1-0), but fell to Oregon (2-1) and tied Idaho (2-2).

Senior forward Karley Baggerly leads Gonzaga with three goals on the year, while the remaining seven have been scored by six different players. Redshirt junior Sarah Swanson has played every minute of the season for the Bulldogs, tallying 12 saves while allowing six goals. Overall, Gonzaga returns seven starters and 18 total letterwinners from last year’s squad, while welcoming nine newcomers this season. Amy Edwards is in her eighth season as the head coach at Gonzaga, where she has an overall record of 52-77-12.

SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON STATE — Sam Houston State enters the weekend still seeking its first win of the year. The Bearkats won their exhibition match against Houston, 3-2, but have lost their first six matches of the season. Most recently, SHSU fell to Rice, 5-0. Sam Houston State will play at Idaho State on Friday before making the trip to Logan.

Sam Houston State has scored three goals on the year, each from a different player. The Bearkats have utilized two goalkeepers this season in sophomore Bailey Swain and freshman Anna Kaiser. Together, the two have allowed 27 goals while tallying 45 saves. Overall, the Sam Houston State returns five starters and 12 total letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished with a 10-6-5 record. The team has also added 11 newcomers to the squad. Tom Brown is in his ninth season as the head coach at SHSU where he has an overall record of 71-81-14.

The Aggies and Bearkats have met just once in the past. The teams played in Huntsville in 2014, where USU won the match, 3-0.

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