Fresno State (0-0-0) at Cal Poly (0-0-1)
Aug. 18, 2024 • 12 p.m. PT • San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Mustang Memorial Field)
COVERAGE
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Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
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FRESNO, Calif. — For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Fresno State will open its season on the road. This time, the Bulldogs will travel to Cal Poly. The 'Dogs and Mustangs met in last season's opener in Fresno (1-1).
THE BONES
Following the trip to the coast, Fresno State will play three of its next four matches at Bulldog Soccer Stadium.
Fresno State enters the season returning eight starters from last year's squad which reached the 2023 Mountain West tournament.
That group includes its top two offensive threats in senior Kaelyn Miller and junior Ciara Wilson who combined for 12 of the Bulldogs' 22 goals in 2023, and 31 of the team's 62 points.
Already ranking No. 10 in program history with 18 career goals, Miller returns for her senior season coming off a 17-point year in 2023. Her 41 career points is eight shy of the program's Top 10.
Wilson ranked second in the Mountain West in assists (6) and was eighth in points (14)
The entire back four of Averee Campos, Julia Hardwick, Jordan Lau and Katie Morris returns as well. The four logged the most, second-most, third-most and fifth-most minutes on the team in 2023.
Miller, Hardwick and Lau were selected to the 2024 Mountain West Preseason Watch List.
The Bulldogs added 13 new faces during the offseason which includes three Division I transfers and 10 freshmen.
Eleven of the team's 30 players are from the Central Valley.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Fresno State returns 17 players from last year's squad which reached the Mountain West tournament.
That returning group includes eight starters.
Thirteen newcomers entered the fold this offseason. That group includes three Division I transfers and 10 freshmen.
Eleven Bulldogs call the Central Valley home. Five of those 11 were added this summer.
PRODUCTION RETURNS
Fresno State's top two scorers from 2023 return in senior Kaelyn Miller and junior Ciara Wilson.
The duo combined for 12 of the Bulldogs' 22 goals, and 31 of the team's 62 points.
Miller enters the season 10th in program history in career goals with 18.
Wilson ranked second in the MW in assists last season with six.
BACK FOUR IN TACT
Each of Fresno State's four primary defenders from last season are back.
Averee Campos, Julia Hardwick and Jordan Lau each started all 20 matches in 2023, while Katie Morris played in all 20, starting 16.
The four logged the most, second-most, third-most and fifth-most minutes on the team in 2023.
Despite being the youngest of the group, Morris made the most starts by a Bulldog freshman defender since Sara Jo Ciapponi in 2014 (20).
THEY'RE WATCHING
Miller, Hardwick and Lau each earned spots on this year's preseason Mountain West Watch List.
Miller has been the top scorer in league matches twice in the last three seasons (6 - 2021; 8 - 2023).
Hardwick and Lau started all 20 games in the center of the defense in 2023 with each playing over 1,700 minutes, the most and second-most on the team.
Lau has started all 50 games she has featured in during her career.
SERIES HISTORY
Fresno State is 5-10-1 all-time against Cal Poly.
Fresno State's last win came on Sept. 23, 2012 (2-1), with its last win on the road coming a year earlier (3-2 OT).
Prior to last season's 1-1 draw, the two programs had not met since 2015.
Fresno State is 2-5-0 on the road in the series.