LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State women's soccer kicks off its 10^th season of action on the road against San Diego State on Friday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m. (MT) before traveling to Tucson, Ariz., to play against Albany on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m.
 
Where to Watch
Don't miss a minute of New Mexico State's regular-season opener at San Diego State as the match will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network. There is no stream for the Albany game.
 
Follow Along
Aggie fans can follow along with every Aggie women's soccer match throughout the season via live stats from StatBroadcast.
 
Get Connected
Get connected with all things NM State women's soccer by following the Aggies on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook at FB.com/NMStateWSOC.
 
Quick Hits
NM State women's soccer gets its 10^th season underway with a road contest against San Diego State on Friday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m. (MT) and then travels to Tucson, Ariz., for a showdown with Albany on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m. New Mexico State returns eight starters from last year's team in Dmitri Fong, Audriana Chavez, Samantha Afonso, Rebecca Mazzie, Aileen Galicia, Micaela Milavec, Kelly Burton and Sarina Stockton.
 
In 2017, the Aggie offense led the Western Athletic Conference in points (120) and goals (42). The 2018 squad returns 64 percent of its goals from 2017 — led by seniors Galicia (10g) and Chavez (9g). Galicia is NM State's all-time leading goal-scorer with 22. New Mexico State was also picked to finish sixth in the WAC while Galicia was named to the Preseason All-WAC team.
 
The Aggies are 2-6-1 all-time in regular-season openers and defeated rival UTEP in the 2017 opener, 2-1 (2OT). NM State is looking to notch its first season-opener on the road. Heading into this season the team is 0-7-2 all-time.
 
Scouting San Diego State
This will be NM State's first-ever match against San Diego State. SDSU finished the 2017 season 12-8-2 overall with a 7-2-2 record in the Mountain West Conference, good for third-place. The Aztecs capped off 2017 with the Mountain West Conference Tournament title and are picked to finish atop the league in 2018.
 
Sophomore Mia Root returns as San Diego State's leading goal-scorer after a freshman year in which she scored 10 goals and was named to the Mountain West Conference All-Newcomer Team.
 
The Aztecs also return Gabby English, who has started in goal every game of her collegiate career. English's performance during San Diego State's MWC Tournament championship run earned her all-tournament team honors. She also led the conference in shutouts with seven.
 
A Look at Albany
This year's meeting will mark the first matchup between the two programs. Albany wrapped up 2017 tied for third in the America East Conference with a 6-11-1 overall record and a 4-3-1 mark in conference play.
 
Albany returns 10 starters from last year's team including America East Defender of the Year Caroline Kopp, First-Team All-America East midfielder Gina Bracamonte and Second-Team All-America East forward Mariah Williams, who also lead the team in goals with seven.
 
WACtion
New Mexico State will host four games this season against Western Athletic Conference teams with four on the road. The Aggies are set to open league play at home versus defending WAC Tournament champion Utah Valley on Friday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. (MT).
 
The Aggies are 3-4-2 all-time in conference openers and haven't dropped a WAC opener since the 2014 season, that streak includes a 2-1 win over UT Rio Grande Valley in 2015, a 2-1 victory against Chicago State in 2016 and a 2-2 draw against CSU Bakersfield in 2017.
 
Last Time Out
In its only exhibition match of 2018, NM State battled hard before ultimately falling, 3-1, on the road to Arizona State at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Freshman Corey Kizer scored the teams' lone goal in the 67^th minute when she received a through ball off a free kick from Micaela Milavec and buried it from inside the six-yard box.
 
Looking Ahead
New Mexico State wraps up its season-opening three-game road trip in Flagstaff, Ariz., where it battles Northern Arizona at 8 p.m. (MT), on Friday, Aug. 24. The Aggies then return to Las Cruces for their first home game of the 2018 campaign against Pacific on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m.