San Diego State Aztecs
Overall Rank: # 27
Conference Rank: #1 Mountain West
San Diego State Team Page
San Diego State had the best year in the history of the soccer program in 2012. The Aztecs got up to No. 2 in the polls, went 21-2-1 for the season and set numerous records. The 21 wins are a program-high and the team's trip to the Sweet 16 was only the second in the school's history. The Aztecs started the year by playing nearly 598 minutes of shutout soccer en route to tallying six consecutive shutouts over a number of talented teams including No. 5 Pepperdine. They were the last team to allow a goal in Division I play.
2012 Record: 21-2-1, 7-0
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Mike Friesen
Strengths:
The Aztecs only lose seven seniors from last year's squad so the team will be full of experience. One of those returnees includes Hannah Keane, who had seven goals and seven assist for the team last season, both totals second on the team. SDSU brings back reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Haley Palmer, along with MW Tournament Most Valuable Player and All-MW First-Team selection Carli Johnson, and MW All-Tournament Team honoree Kelsey Booth. Johnson had two goals and four assists last season, while Palmer had four assists and Booth had three goals.
Weaknesses:
As great as the returnees for the Aztecs are, there are going to be two vital shoes to fill: goalie Rachel Boaz and leading scorer Megan Jurado. Jurado graduated after scoring 15 goals and handing out nine assists last season. Boaz, on the other hand, is starting a new chapter of her life, serving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Last season Boaz also put up some gaudy numbers as she finished her 2012 campaign with a school record goals-against average of 0.60. The Mountain West All-Tournament team selection also had 11 shutouts in 2012, which tied for the most in Aztec single-season history. The Aztecs have two incoming recruits, Elise Nord and Sophia Trujillo, who are expected to battle with sophomore Melanie Vaughn for the keeper spot.
Final Projection:
While it might be hard to duplicate last year's magical season, the Aztecs won't fall off the map. Keane's return bolsters the lineup, but she will need help offensively. The help will come from returners such as Booth and Johnson. The team will also look at newcomers Erika Leal, a four-star recruit, Evie Millynn, who has played at both the U-17 and U-20 World Cups for New Zealand and Fernanda Elizondo, who led her Mexican university to a national title. The goalkeeping will be hard to replace, but both recruits coming in are talented and will vie for the starting spot from day one. SDSU isn't shying away from anybody this year with a challenging schedule. Along with Mountain West play, the Aztecs face off with teams such as USC, St. Mary's, Michigan, Michigan State, UCLA, Pepperdine, San Diego and Portland.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Hannah Keane, Junior, F, 7
Assists: Keane, 7
Shots: Keane, 58
Saves: None
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#129 Erika Leal
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
