O'DONNELL NETS ANOTHER GAME-WINNER, ABERCROMBIE BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD IN 1-0 TRIUMPH AT NORTHERN COLORADO

10/11/2009

GREELEY, Colo. - Freshman Kelsey O'Donnell scored her third game-winning goal of the season in the 61st minute, and sophomore Savannah Abercrombie became the school's all-time leader in shutouts, as the Sacramento State women's soccer team defeated Northern Colorado, 1-0, on Sunday, Oct. 11.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 7-3-3, 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play, while the Bears fell to 4-7-1, 0-2 in Big Sky action.

After a day of snow in the Greeley area on Saturday, the match was delayed for an hour as the grounds crew readied the Jackson Stadium pitch. Once play started, the team's battled on a brisk, windy day with a frozen playing surface beneath them.

These factors, however, did not deter the Hornets from peppering the Northern Colorado goal with shots in the first six minutes of play. Junior Cori Shreve, who entered the contest leading the Hornets in points and shots from her defensive midfield position, wasted little time, attempting a shot just :29 seconds in.

O'Donnell followed with her first shot of the match in the 3rd minute, which was saved by Bear 'keeper Kirsten Salminen. Senior Danielle Holloway then had a header attempt blocked by the Northern Colorado defense in the 6th minute, and fellow senior Kim Kemper had her rebound shot go wide.

The Hornets would go on to post four more shots on goal in the half, with Shreve having an attempt saved in the 23rd minute, which was followed by an O'Donnell shot that was turned away in the 35th minute. Junior Erin Tarantino, who scored the game-winning goal in the Hornets win over Northern Arizona on Friday, had a shot corralled by Salminen in the 40th minute, and Shreve had another shot saved in the 41st minute of play.

At the half, the Hornets held a 10-3 advantage in shots, including a 5-3 lead in shots on goal, but the score remained tied at 0-0.

Sacramento State would break the tie in the 61st minute, as O'Donnell would blast a shot that went off of the 'keeper Salminen, off of the goal post and into the back of the net, giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead.

Northern Colorado would post four shots on goal in the remainder of the half, but Abercrombie and the Hornet defense held them scoreless, preserving the 1-0 victory.

Abercrombie posted seven saves on the way to her sixth clean sheet of the season. With the shutout, Abercrombie became the school's all-time leader with 14 in her short two season career, passing Stacy Himes (1994-97) for the all-time record.

O'Donnell has had all three of her career goals count as game-winners, providing game-winning goals against Dominican, No. 10 California, and now Northern Colorado. She led the Hornets with four shots, including three on goal, while Shreve and Tarantino each provided two shots on goal.

Sacramento State continues a three-game road swing when they travel to Montana to take on the Grizzlies on Oct. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Mountain time.