SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Nevada’s Karen Zmirak scored two goals in the span of five minutes to lead the Wolf Pack to a 2-0 shutout of Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon at Hornet Soccer Field.
In the season opener for both teams, the Hornets out shot Nevada 14-4, and forced Nevada goalkeeper Caitlin Holmes to make seven saves.
From the opening whistle, the Hornets had the better of the scoring chances. Just five minutes into the match, freshman Beverly Goebel connected with forward Katie McCoy on a diagonal pass from the midfield, forcing Holmes out of her goal for a sliding save at McCoy’s feet.
In the 12th minute it was another Hornet freshman, defender Katie Rorabaugh, making her presence known with a 20-yard shot that curled in near the left post, forcing another diving stop from Holmes.
Kim Kemper, a 2006 graduate of Bella Vista High School, came off the bench into the forward attack for Sacramento State and quickly made an impact. With arguably the best of the Hornet scoring opportunities during the match, Kemper used her breakaway speed to get past Nevada’s back line. Holmes came off her line to get her fingertips on Kemper’s shot, getting just enough of a touch to deflect it off the left post.
Zmirak then buried Sacramento State in a two-goal deficit with two blasts within five minutes of one another. Zmirak first struck in the 35th minute with a shot from the top of the box that dropped in over Hornet goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence. Five minutes later, Zmirak again used a bending shot that crept in just below the crossbar and over Lawrence’s grasp.
In the second half, Sacramento State unleashed 10 shots in an effort to get on the scoreboard. Again it was Kemper reeking havoc with another breakaway that was stopped by Holmes. Minutes later Kemper had a shot sail just wide of the far post.
McCoy also had three shots during the match, while juniors Kayelyn Satkowski and Katie Burton recorded two apiece.
In the second half, freshman goalkeeper Mandy Trojan replaced Lawrence in gaol and recorded her first career save.
Sacramento State will next host Saint Mary’s at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in its second match of 2006. On Sunday, Sept. 3, the Hornets will host Causeway-rival UC Davis in the final match of their opening homestand at 12 p.m.
