LOGAN, Utah –\u00a0Utah State soccer showcased its 2025 squad to the public for the first time on Thursday night at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field, hosting its annual Blue & White scrimmage. Playing three 30-minute periods, the blue squad came out on top 2-0 with goals in the 14th and 79th minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sophomore forward\/midfielder Austin Miller<\/a> assisted on both goals while also taking a pair of shots in the game. Early in the contest, a pass from near the right corner from junior forward Kate Christian<\/a> made its way to Miller at the top of the box. Miller then found graduate midfielder Rine Yonaha<\/a>, who delivered a right-footer into the top corner of the net for what was both the first shot and goal of the game, coming in the 14th minute.<\/p>\n The blue squad maintained its 1-0 lead until deep in the third period, when a 79th minute goal extended the lead. This time, it was Miller finding freshman forward Kunie Hirai<\/a> for a goal in her Aggie debut.<\/p>\n As Utah State’s first and only public exhibition of the season, this was also the first time for fans to experience the newly-rennovated Bell Field, equipped with a new grass field and lights.<\/p>\n “I always feel like I play better under the lights, so I’m so pumped to have new grass and lights,” Miller said. “My teammates were making me look good tonight. I just played it back to Rine and that was a thousand percent on her, it was a banger. Same with Kunie’s goal. She was moving well, on and off the ball.”\u00a0<\/p>\n In total, the blue team posted a narrow edge in the shots column, registering 12 to the white team’s 10. Both sides finished the day with four shots on goal. Graduate keeper Taylor Rath<\/a> and freshman keeper Ivy Nystrom<\/a> each played the full 90 minutes in net, switching sides throughout.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It’s so exciting. I came to campus early in the spring and we’ve been working so hard for so long, so it’s rewarding to get to see the community here,” Hirai said. “I’m excited to watch our team grow. We have such an amazing culture and such an amazing base laid, and things are only going to go up from here.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The Aggies, picked by the league’s coaches as the favorites in the Mountain West preseason poll, return four starters from last year’s championship squad, along with 10 returning letterwinners including eight of the team’s top 11 goal scorers. USU also welcomes in 12 newcomers this year, including four transfers and eight freshmen.<\/p>\n Utah State’s 2025 campaign officially kicks off next week when the Aggies travel to Pullman, Washington, to take on Washington State. The game is set for Thursday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. (MT), and will be streamed on ESPN+.<\/p>\n TICKETS<\/p>\n Fans can purchase season tickets now\u00a0here<\/a>. Adult season tickets are available for $100, while youth can gain access to all games by joining the Junior Aggie Kids Club for $40. All seating at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field is general admission. Seating in the stadium bleachers is first come, first served. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for grass and berm seating.<\/p>\n FOLLOW<\/p>\n Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter,\u00a0@USUSoccer<\/a>, on Facebook at\u00a0\/USUSoccer<\/a>\u00a0and on Instagram,\u00a0@USUSoccer<\/a>. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter,\u00a0@USUAthletics<\/a>, Facebook at\u00a0\/USUAthletics<\/a>\u00a0and on Instagram,\u00a0@USUAthletics<\/a>.<\/p>\n -USU-<\/p>\n