Box Score: vs Creighton

The Sacramento State women’s soccer team lost 1-0 to Creighton University on Friday at Hornet Soccer Field.

With 11 minutes to go in regulation Kelan Brill scored over Hornet goalkeeper Amy Seely for the game winner.

The Bluejays used a size advantage up front to overpower the smaller Hornet defenders.

“You think our team is big? There are some real horses in our division,” Creighton head coach Bruce Erickson said. “We’re talking some really big girls.”

Erickson used a 3-5-2 (three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards) formation to put pressure on the Hornet midfielders and defenders.

“I just tried to push the ball forward,” Erickson said.Playing with a 4-4-2 formation Hornet coach Karen Hanks sought to push the ball up field to forwards Kelly Law and senior Lisa Wrightsman.

“I wanted them to play where (the Bluejays) were weak, and they were slow in the back. I wanted to get the ball to our forwards,” Hanks said. “We played well. We created our own shots, we just couldn’t finish.”

The Hornets used Wrightsman’s speed to put pressure on the Creighton defense throughout the game.

“They kept coming right at us,” Erickson said. “They’re very organized, and did a good job against us. (Wrightsman) in particular played really well.”

Wrightsman led Sacramento State with four shots, two of which were on goal.

One of those shots was a header that sailed just wide of the post with under ten minutes to play.

Marissa Condren contributed with two shots, both of which were on target.

In the 79th minute forward Lulu Quigley managed to get the ball to Brill who, surrounded by defenders, scored a goal over Seely.

The Hornets were unable to answer back, and the match ended in defeat for Sac State.

Seely managed five saves, while Bluejay’s goalkeeper Jaimie Thompson had six.

Shooting for both sides was nearly even, with the Hornets taking 14 shots, with six on target, and Creighton with 16, with six on goal.

Despite the loss, the Hornets remain optimistic about their team’s future. Despite having only one senior player, the team has rallied behind Wrightsman.

Every Hornet loss, with the exception of a 4-1 loss at Wyoming, has been decided by one goal.

Wrightsman has only managed to score once this season. She still remains confident of her team’s impending success.

“Last year I was scoring,” Wrightsman said. “It’s frustrating losing, but we’re starting to come together as a team. Katie DeClercq in particular has really improved her game.”

Hanks, who coached California State Dominguez Hills to four division titles, believes that the team is improving.

“We were trying to battle from the beginning to end, and the team did,” Hanks said. “Lisa and Kelly (Law) played really well. The whole team was stepping it up. They’re definitely improving.”

The Hornets will next host Idaho State University on Friday, at 4 pm. The Hornets also play Sunday at 1:pm against Saint Mary’s College at home.