The San Diego State women’s soccer team enters a new era on Thursday night, stepping onto the pitch for its first conference match as a member of the Pac-12 Conference against the Boise State Broncos at the SDSU Sports Deck. PT, with a live broadcast streaming on the Pac-12 YouTube channel. For the Aztecs (6-2-1), this clash marks a turning point, with the program joining the Pac-12 alongside fellow members Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Texas State, and Utah State.
Building Momentum Through a Nonconference Slate
SDSU navigates this conference transition carrying momentum. The Aztecs closed out their nonconference schedule with back-to-back clean sheets, anchored by goalkeeper Kailey Carlen, who recorded the tenth solo shutout of her career during a 2-0 victory over Pepperdine on September 17. Freshman midfielder KK Chowana-Bandhu engineered a standout performance in that contest, firing seven shots—matching Pepperdine’s entire team total—and netting a crucial goal in the 51st minute.
Days later on September 20, the Scarlet and Black dismantled Northern Colorado 5-0 on home turf. Kenny Moore and Katie Senn struck early within the first 20 minutes, while Chowana-Bandhu, Briahna Gieger, and Naima Castro piled on to cap the rout. That scoring tear earned Chowana-Bandhu the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Week honor on September 22, cementing her status as the first Aztec true freshman to score in three straight matches since Rachelle Elve in 2019.
Senn paces the Aztec attack this season with 12 points on five goals and two assists. The team’s only blemishes during the nonconference stretch came via a 2-1 defeat at Texas Tech and a 1-0 home loss to Washington on August 19.
The Broncos Arrive Armed With Defensive Resilience
Across the field, Boise State (8-1-1) rolls into San Diego boasting a stingy backline. The Broncos have surrendered just four goals through their first ten matches, matching a program record set in 2019 while leading the Pac-12 in shutouts with seven. Boise State enters Thursday on a six-match winning streak, the longest active run in the Pac-12.
Campbell Wilson headlines the Boise State attack, racking up 22 points this season—the most among freshmen nationwide—alongside eight goals.
A Rewritten Landscape for Western Soccer
The realignment wave brings fresh urgency to matches like Thursday’s opener. The expanded Pac-12 integrates programs eager to establish authority in the conference. Utah State enters league play ranked No. 19 nationally, while Texas State has cracked the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 at No. 22.
Following Thursday night’s conference opener, the Aztecs will pack their bags for a road trip to face No. 22 Texas State on Sunday afternoon.
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