The Hornets’ leading goal scorer, sophomore Katie McCoy, and freshman defender Kara Taylor were both named to the first team. McCoy leads the team with a career-high seven goals and five assists, ranking her fourth amongst the Big Sky’s top scorers. It is the second time the La Mesa, Calif., native has been selected as all-conference, after earning second-team honors just a year ago.

In addition to being named to the first team, Taylor was also named Big Sky co-Defensive MVP. Just a freshman in her first collegiate season, Taylor has started all 18 matches and helped organize a back line that has allowed just 1.39 goals per game this year, third in the Big Sky. Eastern Washington goalkeeper Tiera Como shares the honor after leading the conference with 108 saves. It was the first time since 2001 a Hornet has been named to the first team and the first time since 2000 that two players received the honor during the same season.

Junior midfielder Maggie Murphy earned all-conference second team honors. The Walnut Creek, Calif., native has played in all 18 matches this season (17 starts) and has been a force on the outside of midfield defensively and offensively. The 2003 Las Lomas HS graduate handles corner kick duties for the Hornets, who lead the Big Sky with 93.

Freshman goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence earned honorable mention honors along with freshman midfielder Sarah Howard, junior forward Kelly Novak and senior defender Mandi Siller.

Siller is in her fourth and final season at Sacramento State and has helped the Hornets to five shutouts this year, the most the team has totaled since 2000. It is also the second time the 2002 Rio Americano HS graduate has earned all-conference honors.

Novak is second on the team in scoring, putting forth her best season yet. The Clayton, Calif., native has four goals and one assist under her belt, including putting away two goals and tallying one assist against conference competition.

Howard worked her way into the starting lineup early on and has been the teams link between the back line an the offensive attack in the central midfield. The Chino, Calif., native has recorded a goal and assist against Big Sky competition.

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.

Sacramento State finished the regular season 8-7-3, its best record 2000 and the Hornets’ 4-1-1 record in the Big Sky Conference also earned the team its best league record in program history and a berth in the postseason tournament for the first time since 2001. Sacramento State is the second seed in the tourney and will play third-seeded Northern Arizona at 10 a.m. (PDT) on Thursday in Ogden, Utah.