For three consecutive seasons (2002-04), Sacramento State failed to qualify for the Big Sky postseason tournament, but 2005 proved to be the Hornets’ breakthrough year, giving fourth-year seniors Marissa Condren, Mandi Siller, Linda Sanchez and Courtney Gorham their first taste of the tourney.

The Big Sky Tournament takes the top four finishing teams from conference competition, with this year’s regular season championship coming down to Sacramento State’s match with Weber State last Saturday. The Wildcats defeated the Hornets 4-1 in Ogden, Utah and the loss dropped the Hornets (4-1-1) to second place in the Big Sky, while Weber State (5-1-0) earned the right to host the championship for the second time in three years. Sacramento State’s appearance is the first for the program since 2001 and just the fourth time the team has advanced to the tourney in its 10 seasons competing in the Big Sky. This year''s 4-1-1 conference record is also a program best. It also is a remarkable turnaround for a team that finished seventh in the Big Sky just a year ago.

TOURNAMENT SET UP

With its second place finish in the Big Sky, Sacramento State will play third-place finisher, Northern Arizona (9-10-0, 4-2-0) at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. PDT) on Thursday afternoon. The Lumberjacks are led by Cee Cee Odorfer’s nine goals and six assists. When the two teams played during the regular season at Hornet Field, Sacramento State came from behind in the final minutes of the match to tie things up at 1-1 before junior forward Kelly Novak registered the golden goal in the 96th minute for the Hornets’ 2-1 victory in overtime. The winner of Sacramento State and Northern Arizona’s match will then play the winner of Weber State (12-4-1, 5-5-1-0) and Eastern Washington (4-10-3, 2-3-1) on Saturday in the tournament championship game. The winner earns the conference''s automatic berth to the NCAA College Cup. The Hornets have never advanced to the championship game, suffering three losses (1997, 2000, 2001) in the semifinal match.

NEW TRADITIONS

While Sacramento State finished its last four seasons under .500, the Hornets turned in an 8-7-3, record for their first regular-season finish above .500 since the 2000 team''s 9-6-2 record. Other marks Sacramento State reached this season was its six-match unbeaten streak and five-game winning streak that was maintained from Oct. 7-27. The unbeaten streak is the program''s best since 2000 and the winning streak was the Hornets'' best mark since its inaugural season in 1994. The Hornets also maintained a six-match home unbeaten streak, a new program record.

THE NEW CLASS

The sophomore and freshmen classes have played a major role in Sacramento State''s offensive revival. Last year, the Hornets set a new program low, scoring just 11 goals in an 18-match season. How quickly things change - Sacramento State has already doubled that number with 23 goals in 2005. Of the Hornets’ five top leading scorers, four are freshman and sophomores, with Novak the only elder statesman in the group. In fact, the 2004 and 2005 classes have accounted for 17 goals and 12 assists this year, led by sophomore Katie McCoy. Last year''s team MVP, McCoy once again rose to the occasion with a team-leading seven goals and five assists, including four goals and two assists coming against conference competition. Sophomore Rebeccah Phillips has three goals and three assists to her credit and 2004 Casa Robles HS graduate Kayelyn Satkowski has scored two goals and added two assists. Freshmen Missy Matzen and Sarah Howard also picked up their first career goals during the season. On the defensive end, freshmen defender Kara Taylor and goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence have also made tremendous contributions. Taylor is Lawrence''s last line of defense in front of the goal and both are the only two players to start all 18 matches this year. As a central defender, Taylor''s effort in the back has led to the Hornets giving up just 25 goals this year, 1.39 per game. The mark is third in the Big Sky. Lawrence has already placed herself in the program''s record books with five shutouts, tying her for second in single season history. Her 94 saves place her fifth in single season history and her 1.33 goals against average leaves her third. Compared to her conference competition, Lawrence has played more minutes than any of her opponents, and her five shutouts are matched only by Weber State''s Kandice Golar.