Sacramento State women’s soccer will resume Big Sky Conference play this week as the Hornets return home to face Eastern Washington on Friday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. and Montana on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m. The Hornets hold a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series over the Eagles.

In the Hornets’ last meeting with Easter Washington, Dana Dydasco and Katie DeClercq each scored a goal and Amy Seely earned her first shutout of the year as Sacramento State defeated Eastern Washington, 2-0. The Hornets took the early advantage as Dydasco received a pass from Naomi Ennis and found the back of the net in the ninth minute. DeClercq then put the game away in the 73rd minute by placing a penalty kick in the top right corner after Jaymie Kocer was fouled.

Last season, Montana shut out Sacramento State with a 4-0 victory. Grizzly forward Erin Smith scored the first goal of the contest in the 30th minute when she took a cross from teammate Tara Schwager and shot it over the reach of Seely. Forward Heather Olson added a goal in the 43rd minute off of Schwager’s second assist of the match. In the second half, striker Tammy Hartung recorded an unassisted goal in the 49th minute and Olson recorded her second goal of the contest in the 76th minute off an assist by teammate Kerri Houck.

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

Last week, the Hornets fell to Portland State, 4-1, in a Big Sky Conference match at PGE Park on Oct. 13. The Vikings took a 1-0 lead into halftime when midfielder Katie Miyake found the net in the 25th minute off assists by Megan Plinksi and Amy Orr. Orr increased the Vikings'' lead in the 50th minute when she put a deflected corner kick past Hornet goalkeeper Michelle Balzoumann. Sacramento State freshman midfielder Hillaree Guay answered back in the 61st minute with her first collegiate goal to put the Hornets on the scoreboard. Bishop then added two goals in the 82nd and 86th minute for the final goals of the afternoon. The assists were credited to Ginney Seibel and Karly Larsen, respectively.

Last week, Eastern Washington split its games after shutting out Weber State (2-0) on Oct. 11, and being blanked by Idaho State (1-0) on Oct. 13. Against the Wildcats, Sarah Larson and Traci Jellison each recorded goals to lead the Eagles. Montana swept both Idaho State and Weber State, 1-0, in its first weekend of Big Sky play. Tammy Hartung scored the Grizzlies’ lone goal in the seventh minute against the Bengals and Liz Roberts gave Montana the win with a goal in the 21st minute.

The Wright Stuff

Senior Lisa Wrightsman, one of three captains on the squad, currently leads the team with seven points and three goals. Wrightsman, a native of Elk Grove, Calif., scored two of her three goals within the first minute of each match. Wrightsman also leads the team with 35 shots (20 shots on goal) and a .571 on-goal percentage.

Wrightsman, the only senior of the team, has made her mark on Sacramento State soccer by ranking third in the Hornet record book with 19 goals and 41 points. Wrightsman is also ranked second in the season record book with 12 goals (2000) and fourth in total points per season with 25 (‘00). She needs only two goals and seven points to surpass former Hornet Jessica Mackiewicz.