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By Josh Frojelin
San Diego State University’s women’s soccer program is brimming with confidence, even if the Lady Aztecs played only one regular season game.
“We’ve been winning,” redshirt sophomore and West Hills High School alumna Alexis Leath said. “We haven’t lost yet, and we have University of Washington this week (on Wednesday). I think we’re gonna do really well against them. I think we’ll do great the entire season.”
SDSU shut out UC-San Diego, 2-0, in its season opener on Aug. 12. The Lady Aztecs also won both their preseason games. It’s SDSU’s first season in the Pac-12, and the preseason coach’s poll ranked the team fourth. But they’re not worried.
“We have a lot of momentum,” sophomore goalkeeper Kailey Carlen said. “And we’re not complacent. We’re working very hard. I feel everyone’s on the field, pushing each other, and it’s a really good environment to be in.”
Carlen, from Chula Vista, was the only goalkeeper to play for SDSU last season. She was one of three Lady Aztecs named to the Pac-12 women’s soccer preseason impact list, and held a four-save shutout against UCSD.
“There’s a lot of stuff that we just need to tighten up, little details that’ll make us a better team, but I feel overall, right now, we’re in a good starting spot,” Carlen said.
Carlen played club soccer locally at Albion SC and Rebels SC with many of her current teammates. She thinks it leads to “a lot more chemistry on the team.”
“There’s a lot of pride that goes into it,” Carlen said. “Playing for the people that I know and making my hometown proud; I carry a lot more love for the game. And it makes me want to do my best each and every game.”
Carlen, who recorded her eighth career shutout in the win over UCSD, earned honors as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.
Carlen and Leath are two of six players on the roster from San Diego County. There’s also Eastlake High School-alum Eva Wees, Victory Christian Academy’s Maya Stinson, and Patrick Henry High School’s Naima Castro and Briahna Gieger.
“Since I was little, I’ve always been an Aztec fan,” Leath shared. “Being able to come here was a huge dream, of course. Also, being on a team with some players that I do know from club soccer and high school: it’s really fun.
“Being able to play with people from my club or high school just makes the game a lot easier,” Leath added. “Playing in front of my family means a lot as well.”
In the Pac-12 coaches poll, SDSU was ranked behind Utah State, Texas State and Boise State.
Last season, the Lady Aztecs went 9-4-7 overall and 4-2-4 in Mountain West Conference play. They lost to Boise State in the Mountain West tournament semifinals on penalty kicks.
Pac-12 play begins on Oct. 1, when SDSU will look for revenge against Boise State.
“The competition is going to be a lot harder than it was in the Mountain West, even though there are more Mountain West teams in the conference now,” Leath said. “But, I think our team will do really well, and I think we’ll be Pac-12 champions. We’ve been practicing every day, working really hard. I think we got it in us.”
The Lady Aztecs are scheduled to host the University of Washington on Wednesday in their first test of the season. The Lady Huskies entered the match ranked No. 10 nationally and are reigning Big Ten champions.
“We’re not going into it scared,” Carlen said. “We’re very prepared, and we’re just making sure that we’re all together… Stands should be packed. That’s what we’re thinking. I feel a lot of families are coming out to support us.”
SDSU also hosts Portland State University on Sunday at the SDSU Sports Deck (3 p.m. start) and the University of the Pacific on Aug. 27 (7:30 p.m. start)
All home games are streamed live on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.
