Eyeing a rebound in Silver State

THE BREAKDOWN

Fresno State is currently tied atop the Mountain West standings with New Mexico at 16 points (5-2-1).
The Bulldogs are in Nevada this weekend to face the Wolf Pack and Rebels. The 'Dogs are 3-4-1 on the year away from home.
Following this weekend's matches, Fresno State will return home for its final regular-season match on Thursday, Oct. 28 against San Jose State.

Fresno State (7-5-3, 5-2-1 MW) at Nevada (3-10-2, 2-4-2 MW)
Date: Friday, Oct. 22
Time: 6:30 p.m. PT
Where: Mackay Stadium (Reno, Nev.)
Live Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearmstats

Fresno State (7-5-3, 5-2-1 MW) at UNLV (10-7-0, 3-5-0 MW)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 24
Time: 1 p.m. PT
Where: Peter Johann Memorial Field (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Live Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearmstats

HEADING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH
With three matches remaining in Mountain West play, Fresno State sits tied atop the league standings with 16 points with New Mexico at 5-2-1. This is the latest in a season that the Bulldogs have been in first in the MW standings.

Fresno State's best Mountain West record came in 2013 when the 'Dogs finished 7-2-1. That season they dropped their first two matches of the conference slate on the road against New Mexico and San Diego State.
The Bulldogs' 5-2-1 record is tied for the program's best start through eight games since joining the league (2013, 2019).
In the current Mountain West format of two matches per weekend and one during the final week (started in 2014), Fresno State's highest point total through eight conference games entering this year was 16 (5-2-1) in 2019. Fresno State finished that season with 17 points.

EFFICIENCY OVER ALL
Shots are a deceiving stat. The more you get may mean more chances but how good are those chances. Fresno State has taken 85 shots in eight conference matches (54 behind the leader) which ranks 11th in the league. The Bulldogs also sit 11th in shots on target with 34 (20 behind the leader). What matters most, Fresno State has scored a league-best 16 goals in conference.

Fresno State is putting 40.0 percent of its shots on frame.
When it comes to goals, the 'Dogs have scored on a conference-best 18.9 percent of their shots since the start of conference play. Those shots that have been on target, 47.1 percent of those have found the back of the net.

OFFENSE OR DEFENSE... WE CHOOSE BOTH
The Bulldogs are at the top of the league both offensively and defensively through eight conference games.

Fresno State is first in goals (14), shots on goal percentage (.471), points (47), goals allowed (7) and scoring margin (1.12) and is also third in save percentage (.825).
Kassandra Ceja leads the offense, pacing the conference in goals (4), points (11) and game-winning goals (2), and is tied for fifth in assists (3). Defensively, Ella Wilson is in the Top 4 in goals against average (.924) and save percentage (.810).

LOOKING TO MAKE A RETURN

The Bulldogs are eight matches into Mountain West play in which means every point going forward matters. In each of the last three seasons that saw them reach the Mountain West tournament (2017, 2018, 2019), Fresno State has finished in the top six of the conference to earn a spot in the postseason tournament.

The Bulldogs finished with 17 point twice and 18 points once. The 'Dogs are more than halfway to those numbers with seven games remaining.
Last spring, the 'Dogs recorded 19 points while playing only five teams from the West Division (Boise State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV) though only the top team in each division made the championship match.

ALL STREAKS WILL END AT SOME POINT
Until Sunday's defeat to New Mexico (2-1), Fresno State had not lost at home match since Oct. 3, 2019, a stretch of 15 straight matches. The Bulldogs were 12-0-3 during the streak, outscoring their opponents 34-9.

The previous longest streak was nine which was set under Brian Zwaschka during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The 'Dogs have allowed nine goals during the streak.
Fresno State won Game 2-9, a program-long eight match home win streak.

RISING TO THE TOP
After not recording a point during the opening week of conference play, Kassandra Ceja quickly vaulted herself up the conference rankings following Week 2. The Bulldogs' offensive engine who is a threat any time she has the ball at her feet, Ceja sits is No. 1 in points (11), goals (4), game-winning goals (2) and is No. 4 in assists (3) through eight conference matches.

On Oct. 4, Ceja was named MW Offensive Player of the Week as she was involved six of the team's eight goals, and scored three goals on just four shots.
Overall, Ceja has a team-high 18 points, leading the Bulldogs in both goals (7) and assists (4).

A NOSE FOR GOAL
Searching for goal scorers during the summer, Fresno State head coach Brian Zwaschka looked to last year's freshman sensation Kassandra Ceja, moving the midfielder up top. While Ceja hasn't disappointed in her second season, coming on in conference play to join her has been an overlooked freshman from Northern California--Kaelyn Miller. Underrecruited, the Bulldogs looked to have struck gold as the freshman has continued to grow her game and her production since stepping on campus.

It took Miller six matches to find her first collegiate goal (Sept. 9). During the last seven, she has found the back of the net four times on eight shots.
Miller recorded her first career game-winner on Oct. 14, scoring with just two-and-half minutes remaining in the second overtime in a scoreless game against San Diego State.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?

Jordan Brown entered the season with three goals and two assists during her first three seasons at Fresno State. This year, the senior has already delivered for the Bulldogs by surpassing that output through 15 games. Following the Wyoming game in which the Brown assisted on the opening two goals, she then tallied her third goal of the season to make that match 3-0 before 25 minutes had passed. Two weeks ago, Brown delivered a game-winner at Utah State in the 80th minute.

This season, with a bigger role, Brown has scored a game-winner at CSU Bakersfield, an equalizer at Colorado College and assisted on game winners against Wyoming and Utah State.

SERIES HISTORY WITH NEVADA

The 'Dogs are 19-2-4 all-time against the Wolf Pack with their only two losses coming in Reno.
The Bulldogs are 9-2-4 in Reno.
During the last 10 seasons, Fresno State holds a 8-1-2 record.
Since 2017, the Bulldogs have outscored Nevada 9-2 in their five matches.

SERIES HISTORY WITH UNLV

UNLV holds a slim 8-7-1 record in the all-time series.
The last five matches are just as a tight with the Bulldogs winning three of them.
Fresno State has lost its last three matches in Las Vegas.
The Bulldogs' last win in Vegas came in 2014 (1-0).

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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Eyeing a rebound in Silver State

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Brown

Kassandra Ceja

Kaelyn Miller

Ella Wilson

Fresno State Athletics

Eyeing a rebound in Silver State

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Brown

Kassandra Ceja

Kaelyn Miller

Ella Wilson

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