Women's soccer plays host to Weber State and Idaho State in its final home games of 2012.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State women's soccer team will play host to Big Sky Conference foes Weber State and Idaho State this weekend for the Hornets' final home games of the 2012 season.
The Hornets (5-5-4, 3-1-2 Big Sky) are currently in second place in the Big Sky standings while the Wildcats (5-9, 3-2) are fifth and the Bengals (7-5-1, 2-2-1) are in eighth. With only two more weekends left on the schedule, the top four teams in the standings will advance to the Big Sky Tournament, with the top seed hosting.
Sacramento State will meet Weber State at 1:30 p.m. on Friday as part of a doubleheader with men's soccer (4 p.m. vs. Cal Poly). The Hornets will then battle Idaho State at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
SENIOR DAY
Sunday's game against Idaho State will be senior day as the Hornets honor the contributions of seven graduating players. It will be the final home game for seniors Megan Burg, Jordan Carlberg, Jessica Castaño, Christina Gomez, Elece McBride, Victoria Ramirez and Shelby Tomasello. The group has combined to make 340 career appearances and 241 starts.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Sacramento State is coming off its second straight undefeated weekend of conference play. In its last four games the Hornets are 2-0-2 with wins over Montana and Southern Utah and draws with Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona. Freshman Alyssa Anderson shined in the Hornets' 3-1 at Southern Utah, where she accumulated five points for just the 10th time in program history with two goals and one assist. Victoria Ramirez, who was assisted by Anderson against the Thunderbirds, leads head coach Randy Dedini's club with four goals and 11 points and she is tied with Jordan Carlberg with a team-high three assists. So far this season the Hornets have 17 goals on 219 shots while allowing 18 scores on 196 shots. Of those 18 goals allowed, however, just four have come through six conference games. Goalkeeper Shelby Tomasello has started all six Big Sky games this season and sports a stellar 0.62 goals against average with 30 saves and three shutouts. Overall this season, Tomasello has a 1.00 GAA with 58 saves and five shutouts.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Weber State lost its first four games of the season but has gone 5-5 since and is coming off two, 1-0, home wins against Southern Utah and Idaho State. The Wildcats have scored 11 goals this season on 179 shots while allowing 17 goals on 165 attempts. Mackenzie Harrison has a team-best four goals while Chansi Crompton's five assists not only leads the team but is tied for the top mark in the Big Sky. Keeper Ryann Waldman has started 13 of Weber State's 14 games and possesses a 1.10 goals against average with 59 saves and four shutouts.
SCOUTING THE BENGALS
In contrast to the Wildcats, Idaho State started out the season strong with four straight wins but has gone 3-5-1 since, including a loss last weekend at Weber State. Idaho State has scored 22 goals this season, which is the most in the Big Sky and five more than the Hornets, who are ranked No. 2 in the league with 17 goals. Fueling that potent attack is Rachel Strawn, who has a team-best 10 goals, which is the 19th most in the nation. Amanda Ellsworth has a team-high 10 assists. ISU has used both Maria Dela Cruz and Sheridan Hapsic in net this season and, while Dela Cruz has a slightly better goals against average, Hapsic has started the last three games and sports a 1.46 GAA with 27 saves.
LAST TIME OUT
Last year the Hornets lost to both Idaho State and Weber State in the final two games of the season. While Sacramento State lost, 1-0, at Weber State in the season finale, it was the Idaho State game which was particularly painful. The Hornets were leading the Bengals, 2-1, on Senior Day 2011 with just nine second remaining when ISU's Alyssa Kenney - a sophomore this season - launched a prayer from 40 yards that skipped off a defender's foot and sailed over the head of Sacramento State keeper Savannah Abercrombie. Then seven minute into the first overtime, Amanda Ellsworth scored the game-winner for the Bengals. The Hornets were down a player after a red card was issued in the 72nd minute.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Since starting the program in 1994, the Hornets are 7-10-2 against Weber State and 3-10-2 versus Idaho State. It has been better as of late against WSU, as Sacramento State is 4-2 in the last six meetings against the Wildcats. Included in those 10 loses to Idaho State was a heartbreaker in the Big Sky Tournament title game in 2006. After a 2-2 score prevailed through regulation and both overtime periods, the game moved to penalty kicks. Each team made two of their first five PKs, making the ensuing rounds sudden victory. Each team made their sixth penalty kick attempt, but Idaho State made a save on the Hornets' seventh try to give ISU a 4-3 penalty kick win in the title match.
BIG SKY STANDINGS
The top four teams in the Big Sky standings advance to the Big Sky Tournament, which is hosted by the No. 1 seed. (Teams earn three points for a win and one point for a draw.)
