McCOY'S GOLDEN GOAL PROPELS WOMEN'S SOCCER TO 1-0 VICTORY OVER UTEP

9/30/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Senior Katie McCoy blasted home a rebounded shot in the 94th minute to propel Sacramento State to a 1-0 victory over visiting UTEP on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Hornet Soccer Field.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 6-2-1 on the season, while the Miners fall to 6-4-1.

In a battle of two teams ranked in the top ten in the NCAA in goals per game, neither team was able to mount much offense in the ninety minutes of regulation. Hornet junior 'keeper Mandy Trojan and UTEP senior goalie Jessica Salvi kept both nets clear of goals during the first two halves. But both teams had close chances that just missed.

In the 33rd minute, the Miners' Lauren Hamson had a looping attempt from 20 yards out hit the crossbar and bounce directly down, narrowly missing the goal before Trojan was able to pull it away. In the 72nd minute, Hornet senior Katie Burton blasted a ball from the top of the 18 yard box that hit the crossbar and bounced away from goal. The fans were then fooled on a high bounding shot by junior Tiffany Fraser that landed on top of the net and rolled down.

Entering the extra session, each team had dominated a half in terms of shots. UTEP outshot the Hornets in the first half 8-5, while Sacramento State was able to outshoot the Miners 10-2 in the second.

The momentum the Hornets picked up the second half was able to carry into overtime as, after UTEP controlled the kickoff and turned the ball over, sophomore Danielle Holloway had a clear shot travel just wide. Following a long attempt from nearly 30 yards out by UTEP's Tameka Sumter, Sacramento State put a cross into the box that was headed by Holloway. Salvi was able to punch a save away, but onto the awaiting foot of McCoy, who had sprinted in out of nowhere from the top of the box. Her volley into the left side of the net gave the Hornets a 1-0 victory to keep their home record perfect at 6-0-0.

McCoy posted a game high six shots, which included three on goal. Burton, who has played primarily this season as a defensive midfielder, posted four shots after having just two on the season entering the game. Trojan posted her fourth clean sheet of the season and she has not allowed a goal this season at Hornet Soccer Field in 434:31 minutes. As a team, Sacramento State has outscored their opponents 20-1 at home this season.

UTEP was led by Hamson's four shots off of the bench, while leading scorer Tameka Sumter, who had tallied 10 goals on the season entering the contest, posted three shots including two on goal.

McCoy's goal was the 20th of her career, good for a third place tie with former Hornet Jessica Mackiewicz (1998-99) on the all-time goal-scoring list. Her 20 points this season through nine games equals her career-high output set in the 2005 season when she posted 7 goals and 6 assists, which is the same total she has currently this season.

Sacramento State will wrap up non-conference play on the road next weekend, as the Hornets face Pepperdine on Friday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. and Loyola Marymount on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.