Sacramento State starts play in the Big Sky Conference on Friday, Oct. 7, with a 3 p.m. match against Eastern Washington at Hornet Field. The Hornets, who are 2-2-1 at home, will play their first three conference matches at home and end the season with their final three games on the road. After each team plays its six Big Sky matches, the top four teams will advance to the conference tournament.

Last week, Sacramento State went 1-2, with a 2-1 victory over Idaho on Tuesday, Sept. 27, before consecutive one-goal losses on the road to Pacific ,1-0, and Saint Mary’s, 2-1. Eastern Washington and Montana are the only two teams who have already begun play in conference, with the Eagles coming away with a 1-0 victory over the Grizzlies last Friday.

SECOND-YEAR STARTERS

Last season, head coach Katie Poynter threw her freshman class into the fire, regularly starting six first-year players by the time the season ended. Now sophomores, the 2004 class is continuing to prove why Poynter staked so much faith in them.

Sophomore Rebeccah Phillips leads the team in scoring with three goals and one assist, tallying her three scores in the last four matches. The Lake Forest, Calif., native continues to cause problems in front of the goal, paired with longtime teammate, sophomore forward Katie McCoy. The duo played club soccer together with the San Diego Spirit and McCoy, who was named to the Big Sky Conference second team last season, is just behind Phillips in scoring with two goals and two assists. Also in the scoring column for the Hornets is sophomore Kayelyn Satkowski, who registered her first career goal against San Jose State on Sept. 25.

MEASURED IMPROVEMENT

Last season, Sacramento State’s biggest struggle was putting the ball in the back of the net, coming up with just 11 goals in an 18-match season. Things have changed in 2005, the Hornet offense has already scored eight goals with seven matches remaining. In 2004, the Hornets scored multiple goals on just three occasions and this year, Sacramento State has accomplished the feat twice. The Hornets were also shutout 13 times last year, while this season, the offense has found the goal in six of its 11 games.

MORE THAN 90 MINUTES

The Hornets have played in four overtime matches this year, but have yet to come up with a golden goal, having a record of 0-2-2 in games that extend into extra time.

OPPONENTS

Eastern Washington comes into to Friday’s match with a 3-7-2 record and is led by Cyeeta Mott’s three goals in 2005. Mott scored the game-winner in the 25th minute over Montana with Beth Russell on the assist.

The Grizzlies are 2-7-1 and are on a two-match losing streak after falling to Eastern Washington, 1-0, and Washington State, 2-1, last week. Lindsay Winans leads Montana with four goals this season, followed by Mahlleace Tomsin’s two goals.