Fresno State (4-8-6, 3-4-3 MW) vs. San Jose State (3-9-6, 1-6-3 MW)
Date: Oct. 26, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Fresno, Calif. (Bulldog Soccer Stadium)
Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateWSOC
$2 Flash Sale
FRESNO, Calif. — On the final day of the regular season, a spot in next week's Mountain West tournament is up for grabs with Fresno State currently sitting in the sixth and final spot. The 'Dogs will host rival San Jose State at 7 p.m. PT at Bulldog Soccer Stadium.
Prior to the match, the program's five seniors will be honored.
SENIOR GOODBYE
On Thursday, five seniors will bid farewell to Bulldog Soccer Stadium. Four who will be playing in their last game on their home pitch are Bailee Beach, Megan Galvan, Adriana Maldonado and Valentina Vivas. The fifth Bulldog, Chais Wright, has been sidelined for her final season.
A LATE SEASON PUSH
With two wins last week, Fresno State has won three out of its last five matches and has put itself in place to qualify for next week's Mountain West Championship. Currently, the Bulldogs sit in the sixth and final spot with one match to play.
With a win, the Bulldogs will be either the fifth or sixth seed in the tournament.
A draw or loss will brings other teams' results into play as Air Force is one point behind the 'Dogs, New Mexico is two points and UNLV is three points.
WINNING AT THE RIGHT TIME
Since 2017, Fresno State has turned it on at the right time of the year to qualify for the Mountain West tournament, racking up points in its last six matches of the 10-game conference season. With nine points in its last five games this year, that trend looks like it could continue in 2023.
In 2017, the Bulldogs accumulated 13 points in their last six matches to be the sixth seed. In 2018, it was 14 points to be the fifth seed. In 2019, it was 10 points to be the fifth seed.
OPENING THE FLOODGATES
Struggling to find the back of the net for much of the season, Fresno State exploded for nine goals in two matches last week, defeating Air Force 4-2 on the road and returned home to shutout Colorado College 5-0.
Fresno State's five goals was its most in a game since Oct. 3, 2021 (5-0 vs. Wyoming).
The Bulldogs had not scored nine goals in a two-match stretch since Sept. 12-19, 2004.
JUST GET A LEAD
When Fresno State has gotten a lead this season, the Bulldogs have more likely than not come away with a victory. The 'Dogs are 4-1-0 on the year holding a lead at any point in a match.
THE MAGIC NUMBER
Two is the magic number of the Bulldogs this year. Fresno State is 4-0-0 this season when scoring at least two goals in a match. When the 'Dogs have not scored at least two goals they are 0-8-6.
THE RETURN OF MILLER TIME
Kaelyn Miller
has made it a habit of coming up clutch for Fresno State in conference play during tournament pushes. As a freshman in 2021, she scored six goals during MW play, and added a seventh in the quarterfinals. This year, she has six as well since returning from an injury that forced her to miss all but one nonconference match.
In her three seasons in Fresno, Miller has scored seven game-winners, all seven have come against Mountain West opponents.
Twelve of Miller's 13 career goals have come in against Mountain West foes.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Behind a nine-point weekend and helping Fresno State to back-to-back wins, junior forward Kaelyn Miller was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon. For the first time in her career, the Bulldog scored two goals in a match, doing so in consecutive games. Her four goals came on 10 shots, with seven of those finding the frame.
Miller's offensive outburst helped the 'Dogs explode for nine goals in two games last week, outscoring Air Force and Colorado College by a combined seven goals.
The El Dorado Hills, Calif. product started the 'Dogs off quickly in both matches. At Air Force, she set up the game's opening goal by drawing a penalty kick after being taken down by the keeper on a 1-v-1. With Fresno State leading 2-0, Miller struck twice in the first half for what proved to be the difference in a 4-2 contest. On Sunday, Miller scored twice in the opening 11 minutes. The junior then added an assist six minutes later to begin what turned into a 5-0 dismantling of Colorado College.
Miller has been key in the Bulldogs' tournament push. The Bulldogs are 3-2-0 in their last five matches with the striker tallying six goals with three game-winners.