Friday, Oct. 8 - vs. Portland State, 1:30 p.m., Hornet Soccer Field

Monday, Oct. 11 - vs. Colorado College, Noon, Hornet Soccer Field

LAST WEEK

No games scheduled

NOTES

Sacramento State will return to Hornet Soccer Field at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, to open up Big Sky Conference play against Portland State. The match will be first-year head coach Katie Poynter’s first game against a Big Sky opponnet. The Hornets have not played since a 1-0 loss to Saint Mary’s on Sept. 26. At the time, the Gaels were ranked ninth in the West by Soccer Buzz Magazine. This season, Sacramento State has been led by junior midfielder Linda Sanchez, who has two goals and one assist in 2004. Senior Michelle Balzouman and freshman Brittany Auernig have been splitting time between the posts, with a combination of Amber Dragomir, Sarah Moses, Natalia Romo, Mandi Siller and Sela Suarez forming the backline. In midfield, the Hornets have found consistent production from Sanchez, Jennifer Iha, Maggie Murphy and freshmen Katie McCoy and Rebeccah Phillips. Sophomore Kelly Novak leads the forward line with Tiffany Fraser, Amber Gwinn, Jenae Kee and Kayelyn Satkowski.

STAT LEADERS

Sanchez is ranked fifth in the Big Sky, averaging 2.30 shots per game and she is also tied for eighth with her two goals this season. Balzouman and Auernig are ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Big Sky. Balzouman has made 35 saves this season and Auernig has 27.

UPCOMING MATCHES

Sacramento State will face Portland State (3-5-2) at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at Hornet Soccer Field. The Vikings come into the game after a 2-2 tie with Wyoming on Oct. 3 and a 1-0 win over Oregon State on Sept. 29. The Hornets hold a 5-2-1 advantage in the series against Portland State. Last season in Portland, the teams battled to a 0-0 tie. The Vikings are led by senior midfielder Annie Peccia, who has scored three goals on the season. Sophomore forward Jamie Blakesley and senior midfielder Karly Larsen have each scored two goals in 2004. The Hornets will interupt Big Sky play for a match with Colorado College on Monday, Oct. 11, at noon. The Tigers went 2-1 last week with a 1-0 win over Air Force on Sept. 29 and a 4-1 win over Big Sky Conference member Northern Arizona on Oct. 1. They also suffered a 1-0 loss to Arizona, who is ranked 15th in the West by Soccer Buzz Magazine. Colorado College is led by junior forward Stevie Kernan, who has scored six goals and tallied one assist in 2004.