The Hornets had five additional players receive all-MPSF honors including senior goalkeeper Matt McDougall and junior defender Utodi Madu, who earned all-MPSF first team honors. Senior midfielder Marco Ramirez and junior forward Oscar Sandoval were named to the second team, while junior midfielder Pedro Lupercio and Buddenbohn received honorable mention accolades.

Linenberger, who completed his 17th season, led Sacramento State to its best record (9-7-2) since 1992. The Hornets were ruthless on their home field, finishing 7-1-1 and setting a new program record with an eight-match home unbeaten streak. The team also posted four shutouts, a feat not reached since 1995. Linenberger’s 2005 recruiting class, considered the best in program history, included Buddenbohn, the program’s first NSCAA High School All-American, and Sandoval, who led the team in scoring with eight goals and four assists. The team’s most memorable accomplishments included winning the Long Island Soccer Classic championship in September, shutting out Causeway-rival UC Davis, 2-0, in October, and tying then second-ranked New Mexico, 1-1, on Nov. 6. Linenberger, who was also named MPSF Coach of the Year in 2001, shares the award with Lobos’ head coach Jeremy Fishbein.

Buddenbohn, in his first year out of St. Francis High School in La Cañada, Calif., made an immediate impact on the Hornets’ back line, starting 16 of 17 matches. A dangerous threat in the air, the 6-foot-4 Buddenbohn, picked up his first assist of the season, setting up Eliot Ricks-Chambers’ goal against San Jose State.

Buddenbohn teamed with Madu in the central defense. It is the third time in his three seasons that Madu has received all conference honors. He was named to the second team in 2004 and honorable mention in 2002. The Sacramento, Calif., native helped organize the back line and led a defense that allowed just 21 goals.

McDougall, in his fourth and final year with the program, earned all-MPSF honors for the third time in his career. The 2001 Jesuit High School graduate, has been a mainstay in the Hornets’ goal since 2002 and holds the Division I program record with 306 career saves. For the second consecutive season he led the MPSF in saves with 89 and finished the year with a 1.15 goals against average, second in the MPSF. His career goals against average of 1.45 leaves him second in program history.

For two seasons, Ramirez was Sacramento State’s defensive midfielder and the engine of the team. This year he turned things up on the offensive end, scoring four goals and adding one assist. Three of his goals were game-winners and he was also named tournament MVP at the Long Island Soccer Classic, co-MPSF player of the Week and to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

Sandoval ended his season three matches early after suffering a knee injury, but still led the team and finished third in the conference with eight goals and four assists. The transfer from Moorpark Junior College, was named co-MPSF Player of the Week twice, after tallying three goals and two assists in victories over Denver and Air Force, and after helping the Hornets shutout UC Davis, 2-0, with a goal and an assist. He was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

Lupercio, one of Sacramento State’s most offensively creative players, was a fixture at right mid and finished his season with a career best two goals and two assists. The 2003 Dixon High School graduate, scored the game winner in a 2-1 victory over Oregon State and also assisted on Ramirez’s game winner in the Hornets’ 2-1 win at Long Island.

The Hornets’ six all-conference selections are the most in program history and it is the first time since 2002, that Sacramento State has had a player named to MPSF first team. It also marks the first time in program history that two Hornets have been named to the first team in a single season.