Who | Utah Tech (1-7-2, 0-2-0 WAC) vs. San José State (3-4-4, 2-0-0 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 10 - 8:00 p.m.
Where | Spartan Soccer Complex - San Jose, California
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech was bested by San Diego State 1-0 last Sunday on Greater Zion Stadium. The game was marked by two red cards for UT, but the Trailblazers did not surrender a goal while down a man or two. San Diego State took its lead early in the match, scoring on its second shot in the second minute of play. On an SDSU breakaway in the 29th minute, junior Anthony Godinez got twisted around the Aztec attacker and brought him down resulting in a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Despite being down a man, Utah Tech logged five shots in the first half, two of which were on goal, while SDSU was content to play offense mostly on counter-attack opportunities. In the 59th minute, the Trailblazers' went down another man after redshirt junior Ethan Bell was sent off for violent behavior. With a two-man advantage, San Diego State had all the momentum to keep attacking, but Trailblazer goalkeeper Stockton Short and the UT defense managed to keep the deficit at one goal. Short would finish with nine saves on the afternoon. In the 69th minute, Utah Tech developed its best chance of the second half as senior Damian Arguello got off a promising shot that just missed high and left.

SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans host Utah Tech after posting two wins to open WAC play. SJSU first dispatched Air Force 3-0 then took care of business at Utah Valley 3-2. San José State has scored 14 goals this season and allowed 16. The Spartans' only other win this season came over Sacramento State.

Offensively, San José State is led by junior Angel Iniguez who has totaled six goals and two assists over his last three starts after not scoring in his first eight matches of the season. Iniguez has earned WAC Player of the Week honors for two weeks in a row and was named the 2024 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after earning All-WAC first-team honors last season. 

SJSU is tied for first in the nation in red cards (5), leading the WAC. San José State is second in the WAC in shots on goal per game (4.73) and shot accuracy (44.1%) while ranking third in the conference in fouls per game (7.58), goals-against average (1.455) and total assists (15). 

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's match will be the sixth all-time meeting between UT and SJSU with the Spartans holding a 4-1-0 advantage. Last year, San José State recorded a 3-0 regular-season victory in St. George, but the Trailblazers won their matchup in the first round of the WAC Tournament 1-0. SJSU holds a 1-0-0 lead in games played in San Jose. 

THEY CALL HIM 'STOP'-TON
Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short is second in the nation in saves per game (6.40) this season, helping the Trailblazers rank second in the country in saves per game (6.60). Short is also second in the nation in total saves (64), tied for 46th in goalie minutes played (900) and 65th in save percentage (.753).

ASSIST ADEPT
Redshirt junior Bryce Backlund is tied for the WAC lead and 46th in the nation in total assists (4). Backlund also leads UT in points with six from one goal scored against UC Riverside and assists dished out against CSU Fullerton, then-No. 18 Portland, UC Irvine and California Baptist.

BALANCED OFFENSE
Utah Tech has eight different goal-scorers, with 11 total Trailblazers earning at least one point this season. Sophomore Jason Buezo, senior Damian Arguello and sophomore Austin Wallace have all notched at least 12 shots and four shots on goal this season. The Trailblazers are also a perfect 100% on penalty kick opportunities, which is tied for first in the nation, as sophomore Samir Cuevas and junior Oliver Stone scored from the penalty mark against UC Riverside and UC Irvine, respectively.

STAY CAUTIOUS
Utah Tech is 12th in the nation in yellow cards (30) and tied with SJSU for the most cautions in the WAC. Senior Damian Arguello has found himself on officials' minds as he has racked up five cautions which is tied for first in the nation. Sophomore Manu Montserrat comes in at 41st in the country with his four yellow cards.

CHASING HISTORY
Among Utah Tech's career records, junior Stockton Short is third in saves (145), third in minutes played (2,925), fourth in wins (10), fifth in shutouts (4) and sixth in goals against average (1.60).

WHAT'S NEXT
Utah Tech will continue WAC play at Seattle U on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Championship Field in Seattle, Washington. Kick-off is slated for 2 p.m. (MT) and will be streamed on ESPN+.