This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Logan • Utah State has been middle-of-the-pack competitive in soccer during its first two years of Mountain West Conference.

This season, the Aggies want more.

"It's been a transition and we've made it well," said coach Heather Cairns. "The league has been good for us. But the bottom line is, we haven't challenged for a championship."

Will that change in 2015?

"That's the plan," Cairns said.

Last season, Utah State finished 10-8-2 overall and 5-3-2 in the Mountain West, good for fifth place. The Aggies return 16 letter-winners and seven starters, including junior forward Jessica Brooksby and senior goalkeeper Jeannie Woller.

With such a solid nucleus coming back, Utah State finished tied for fourth in a preseason poll of Mountain West coaches.

Three-time defending champion San Diego State was picked first, followed by affiliate conference member Colorado College and Wyoming. New Mexico shared fourth place with the Aggies.

"It doesn't mean anything," said Cairns, who enters her 12 season at Utah State. "It's just a bunch of opinions. We're flattered to picked in the top half of the league, but our goal is winning that championship."

Brooksby, who is from nearby Sky View High, leads the Utah State attack. In 20 games last season, including 17 as a starter, she finished with a team-high four goals and three assists.

"Traditionally," Cairns said, "we've been a tight defensive team. We've had a low goals-against average and our all-conference players have been defenders. So we want to continue that. But we're also looking to put a few more balls in the back of the net."

Woller, a senior from Waterford School in Sandy, anchors the defense. She allowed 1.03 goals in 20 starts last year and registered eight shutouts.

"She has some great experience on the field and brings a lot of leadership to our team," Cairns said. "… She's really the whole package."

Utah State must replaced Taryn Rose along the back line. She was last season's Mountain West defensive player of the year. But senior Lexie Henrie-Parrish and sophomore Rachelle Warner, who both prepped at Timpanogos High School, provide experience in front of Woller.

"We want to play total soccer, with everybody defending and everybody attacking and everybody having fun," Cairns said. "… We want to play with a high tempo on both sides of the ball." —

USU's 2015 schedule

All times Mountain

Aug. 21 • Central Arkansas, 4 p.m.

Aug. 23 • Missouri St., 1 p.m.

Aug. 28 • Utah Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 • Houston, noon

Sept. 4 • vs. Iowa at Missoula, Mont., 2 p.m.

Sept. 6 • at Gonzaga, 1 p.m.

Sept. 10 • at BYU, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 • vs. Idaho St., 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 • at Utah, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 • vs. New Mexico, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27 • vs. San Diego St., 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 • at Fresno St., 8 p.m.

Oct. 4 • at San Jose St., 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 • at Nevada, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 • at UNLV, 2 p.m.

Oct. 16 • vs. Air Force, 3 p.m.

Oct. 18 • vs. Colorado College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 • at Colorado St., 3 p.m.

Oct. 25 • at Wyoming, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 • vs. Boise St., 3 p.m.