Aug. 15, 2011

LOGAN, Utah -

Weekly Aggie Update

WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - AUGUST 15, 2011

SOCCER
Contact: Kara Fisher - (435) 757-8184

This Week
Fri., Aug. 19 --- vs. Weber State, Salt Lake City, 4:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 21 --- PORTLAND STATE, 1 p.m.
• Utah State's soccer team will begin the 2011 season on Friday, Aug. 19 against Weber State at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City at 4:30 p.m. The Aggies will then host Portland State in its home opener on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. USU is 8-5-1 all-time against the Wildcats including a 2-1 win last year at Rio Tinto Stadium, and 1-1-2 all-time against the Vikings. Utah State, who was picked tied for first along with San Jose State in the Western Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll this year, placed three players on the preseason all-WAC team with senior forward Shantel Flanary, senior midfielder Chandra Salmon-Christensen and junior defender Natalie Norris all earning honors. The Aggies return 13 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's team that finished 9-7-5 and advanced to the WAC Tournament semifinals. Utah State tied with San Jose State for a share of the WAC regular season title. USU brings back five seniors in goalkeeper Molli Merrill, forwards Shantel Flanary and Marissa Sanchez, defender Summer Tillotson and midfielder Chandra Salmon-Christensen.

Last Week
W 1-0--- at Southern Utah (Ex.)
• In its only exhibition of the preseason, Utah State defeated Southern Utah, 1-0, in Cedar City on Saturday, Aug. 13 behind a goal from sophomore midfielder Kendra Pemberton. Junior midfielder Julia Flores collected the ball in the middle of the field and made a great pass to senior striker Shantel Flanary who dribbled past a Thunderbird defender and delivered an outstanding cross. Pemberton nearly had to dive to connect her head with the ball at the six-yard box, as the ball found its way into the left side of the net.