WOMEN'S SOCCER ADVANCES TO BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL WITH 2-1 VICTORY OVER PORTLAND STATE

11/9/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State women's soccer team posted a timely insurance goal in the 81st minute to hold off the late charging Portland State Vikings on Friday, Nov. 9 at Hornet Soccer Field. With the win, the Hornets advance to Sunday's Big Sky Conference championship final.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 11-3-5, with the 11 wins setting a new school mark for victories in a season. Sacramento State also picked up its first win in the Big Sky Tournament after posting a 0-5-2 mark in six previous appearances. With the loss, the Vikings end their season with a 7-10-2 mark, falling in back-to-back games against Sacramento State to end the season.

In a first half that saw neither team take control offensively, Sacramento State was able to score early, as junior Missy Matzen headed home a corner kick off of the right foot of sophomore Danielle Holloway in the 20th minute to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead.

The lead would remain 1-0 until late in the contest, when freshman Leah Larot dribbled past Viking 'keeper Cris Lewis in the 81st minute and scored an empty net goal to push the Hornet advantage to 2-0. Portland State did not give up, however, as Frankie Ross delivered an excellent through ball to Kat Roberston, who hammered it past Hornet 'keeper Mandy Trojan in the 89th minute to pull the deficit down to one.

The Hornet defense was the star, as the Hornets collected a pair of team saves back-to-back to stop scoring opportunities by Tarah Authier and Dolly Enneking in the 32nd minute, while Trojan collected four saves. Lewis collected seven saves to lead the Portland State charge.

Sacramento State posted 16 shots in the contest, with sophomore Kim Kemper leading the way with four shots, included three on goal. Portland State had 13 shots, with Big Sky Defensive MVP Juli Edwards collecting three shots.

In the day's other semifinal, No. 3 seeded Northern Colorado defeated No. 2 seeded Weber State by a score of 3-1. Teresa Prais and Jessica Zimmerman collect three points apiece to lead Northern Colorado to the championship final in their first ever tournament appearance. The No. 1 seeded Hornets and No. 3 seeded Bears will do battle on Sunday, Nov. 11 in the Big Sky Soccer Championship Final at Hornet Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.