Novak registered the golden goal from just five yards out to help keep the Hornets undefeated in league play with a record of 2-0-1. The Clayton, Calif., native received a pass from sophomore Katie McCoy, who had broken free along the endline. With her back to goal, Novak sidestepped one defender and turned to place her shot past Lumberjack goalkeeper Darin Kleinsmith. For McCoy, who was dangerous most of the afternoon, it is her third assist of the year and the La Mesa, Calif., native now leads the team in scoring with three goals and three assists in 2005.

The Hornets also improve 5-6-3 overall this season and Northern Arizona falls to 6-9-0 and 2-1-0 in the Big Sky.

Sacramento State trailed 1-0 after the 14th minute, when Stephanie Smith scored her fourth goal of the season for the Lumberjacks. A cross from Kaitlyn Baum found CeeCee Oderfor in the penalty box and Northern Arizona’s leading goal scorer unleashed a shot that deflected to Smith, who tapped a two-yard shot past Hornet goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence.

Despite outshooting Northern Arizona 16-11 during the match, Sacramento State didn’t find the equalizer until the 86th minute. Sophomore Kayelyn Satkowski, a 2004 Casa Robles HS graduate, was open in the box and unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender and found its way past Kleinsmith. It was the Sacramento, Calif., native’s second goal of the season as she led the team with five shots on the afternoon.

Sacramento State had an 11-7 corner kick advantage and Lawrence finished with four saves for the Hornets, while Kleinsmith collected nine for the Lumberjacks. Offensively, Northern Arizona was led by Smith and Oderfor, who recorded three shots apiece.

Both teams came into the game without a loss and were playing for sole possession of first place in the Big Sky.

The Hornets are also off to their best start in conference play since 2001 and have scored 13 goals this year, topping last season’s total of 11.

Sacramento State plays two matches this week, hosting Cal State East Bay at 1:30 p.m. on Friday in a non-conference game before traveling to Portland State on Sunday. The Vikings are the only other undefeated team in the Big Sky with a 1-0-1 record. Friday''s game will be the home finale for seniors Marissa Condren, Amber Dragomir, Megan Frost, Courtney Gorham, Linda Sanchez and Mandi Siller. The match is also a part of a doubleheader with the men’s team, who plays Denver at 4 p.m.