Sacramento State women’s soccer will enter Big-Sky Conference play this week as the Hornets face Northern Arizona on Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. PST, before returning to Hornet Soccer Field to host seventh-ranked Wake Forest in a non-conference match on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. Friday’s contest will open up conference play for both teams as the Hornets hold a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series. Last season, the Hornets defeated the Lumberjacks, at Hornet Soccer Field on Oct. 14. Lisa Wrightsman recorded a goal in the first minute of the second half to give Sacramento State a 1-0 advantage before former Hornet Naomi Ennis sealed the victory. Lumberjack midfielder Adria Barchi responded with a goal in the 88th minute, but Sacramento State came away with the victory. The Hornets will be facing Wake Forest for the first time in program history. Last week, Brandy Johnson broke a stadium and school record by scoring the fastest first goal in a match at 1:02 as Northern Arizona shut out Southern Utah, 1-0 on Sept. 27. This was the only goal for the Lumberjacks, despite outshooting Southern Utah, 27-3. Later on in the weekend, Northern Arizona was shut down by Utah State in the final match of the NAU Soccer Mountain Tournament, 3-0, on Sept 29.
Last week in North Carolina, Wake Forest remained undefeated, tying with North Carolina State 1-1 in Raleigh on Sept. 29. Junior midfielder Katherine Winstead tied the score for Wake Forest at the 56:16 mark for her eighth goal of the season. The Demon Deacons will travel to California to face fourth-ranked Cal on Friday, Oct. 4, before facing Sacramento State on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Head Coach Karen Hanks
After establishing Cal State Dominguez Hills as one of the strongest NCAA Division II programs in the country, Karen Hanks will look to continue her success with the Hornets as she becomes the second coach women’s soccer in Sacramento State history (1994-present).
In seven years with the Toros, Hanks recorded a 93-36-13 overall record and a 62-17-5 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The 13th winningest active Div. II coach in the nation, Hanks guided the Toros to four-consecutive CCAA titles (1995-98) and four NCAA Div. II Women’s Soccer Tournament appearances (1997-99, 2001). She also guided the Toros to the 1997 NCAA semifinals and was named 1997 NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year. Hanks also earned CCAA Coach of the Year honors in 1995 and 1996.
A Look at Last Week
UC Riverside’s Kerri Fahres’ scored the only goal of the contest as the Highlanders defeated Sacramento State, 1-0, on Sept. 27 at UCR Soccer Field. Freshman midfielder Linda Sanchez led the Hornets with four of the teams five shots. UC Riverside out shot Sacramento State 19-5 as the Highlanders posted their fifth-consecutive shutout.
Cal State Northridge’s Marcy Barnes’ scored in the 20th minute of the first half off a cross from teammate Alex Fisher as the Warriors defeated the Sacramento State women’s soccer team, 1-0, on Oct. 2 at Hornet Soccer Field. Barnes headed the eventual game-winner past sophomore goalkeeper Michelle Balzouman for the only goal of the afternoon.
Head of the Class
Katie DeClercq, one of three captains on the squad, currently leads the team in scoring with three goals and six points. For her efforts, she earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 24.
DeClercq recorded a career-high two goals, including the game-winner, to give Sacramento State a 3-2 victory over Idaho on Sept.20. DeClercq also scored the only goal for the Hornets against Saint Mary’s on Sept. 22. On the year, DeClercq has scored three goals out of three shots on goal.
Notables
Sacramento State is 3-0 when playing Northern Arizona at Hornet Soccer Field...Linda Sanchez and Lisa Wrightsman hold the No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the Big Sky Conference for shots per game with 26 and 24, respectively.
