The twelfth-ranked SDSU Lady Aztecs open Mountain West Conference play against Nevada

College Soccer News: Twelfth Ranked SDSU Lady Aztecs Open Mountain West Conference at Home

The twelfth-ranked San Diego State University (SDSU) women’s soccer team (9-1-1) will host Nevada (4-5-1) in the opening match of the 2012 Mountain West Conference season. The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. at the SDSU Sports Deck.

“We couldn’t be happier right now,” said Assistant Coach Chris Lemay. “Obviously, sitting at Number 12 in the country and 9-1-1 is super exciting. I think it’s a tribute to the girls really buying into the process and working hard day in and day out. We’re certainly not looking to take the foot off the gas. We start conference against a good Nevada team and we’re very excited to continue our success into our conference season.”

The Aztecs are coming off a 2-0 weekend, with wins over UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara – two teams they will see regularly when they join the Big West Conference next year. Senior Megan Jurado, who scored the winning goal in overtime in the team’s 1-0 home opener against SMU on August 17, has been a key to the strong start. The 2011 All-Mountain West First Team selection has recorded five game-winning goals in SDSU’s first eleven games and is tied for second nationally in the category.

Aztecs Assistant Coach Chris Lemay poses with U.S. Women's National Team defender Rachel Buehler. Can the magic rub off on the Lady Aztecs?

SDSU’s only loss this season has been to 2011 National Champion Stanford, a hard-fought 1-0 loss on September 14. Perhaps the team’s biggest win so far was a 1-0 victory over then-fifth ranked Pepperdine on August 31.

“It was not just the result in terms of the 1-0 win for us,” said Lemay of the Pepperdine match, “but the way that we actually dominated the game. It helped our girls to really believe in themselves and recognize how good they can be.”

The strong start has resulted in SDSU having some of the best rankings in school history. In addition to being No. 12 in the National Soccer Coaches of America NSCAA) poll, the Aztecs are ranked No. 13 in the Soccer Times poll and No. 17 in the Soccer America poll – the only Mountain West team to rate in all three polls. In 1998 SDSU was also ranked No. 12 and went on to reach the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

“To be recognized among the top teams in the country is very exciting,” Lemay said. “Our only loss this year is to last year’s National Champions, Stanford. I feel that we went toe-to-toe with them, so we’re comfortable and confident that we can play with everybody.”

SDSU has won all but one of their conference openers under Head Coach Mike Friesen. The game Friday night is free to the public and the Aztecs hope to Stack the Deck against visiting Nevada.

Related Article: SDSU Women Ranked in Top 25