In a two-game home stand the Sacramento State women’s soccer team put the sting on the University of Idaho, registering their first win of the year, but lost 2-1 against Saint Mary’s College.

The Hornets emerged not only with their first win of the season, a 3-2 victory, but also with a new leading scorer, Katie DeClercq, who scored her first three goals of the season.

Friday’s game against Idaho started with an offensive blitz, when less than a minute into the match the Hornets’ Jaymie Kocer passed to Lisa Wrightsman, who lured the goalkeeper out, and scored her second goal of the season.

“I felt like I was going to die. I haven’t scored a goal in a while,” Wrightsman said. “It felt great.”

The Vandals retaliated in the eighth minute to tie the game when Sarah April pounded a goal in off a cross from Adriane Kehl.

Neither team scored again before halftime.

DeClercq erupted after the 52nd minute. Surrounded by opponents, DeClercq caught the opposing goalie off balance and smashed a header into the net off a cross from Kelly Law.

Again, in the 77th minute, DeClercq made a run through a mass of Vandals and received a cross from Linda Sanchez. In a repeat of the previous play, DeClercq leapt into the air and flattened her opponents with a well-placed header.

“I was thinking, ‘oh my God, that’s dead on, I’m going to score'” DeClercq said. “I was so happy, those were my first goals this season.”

With only four minutes remaining, the Vandals scored for the final time. Idaho’s Sarah April scored her second goal of the game, sending a slow-rolling sleeper past Hornet goalkeeper Amy Seely.

“I don’t know what happened. I’ll need to look at the video tape,” assistant coach Maureen Whitney said.

The Hornets out-shot their opponents 27-17.

Linda Sanchez led the Hornets in shooting with eight shots, tallying one assist. Wrightsman took six shots and was able to convert one into a goal.

Jenell Miller, goalkeeper for the Vandals, had 13 saves, with Seely securing nine for Sac State.

The Idaho Vandals, who have lost their last four games, issued a 3-0 defeat to Sacramento State last year.

“It was a good win,” Hornet coach Karen Hanks said. “The Vandals were a good team. They had a lot of good opportunities and good offense. They really took advantage of our defense. They became dangerous at the end.”

In Sunday’s game against Saint Mary’s the Hornets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. DeClercq, still red-hot from Friday’s game, was in front of the Gaels goal as Saint Mary’s defense failed to clear the ball out of the box.

Wrightsman got her foot to the ball, setting up DeClercq’s third goal of the weekend.

“The ball was just pinging around. I was like, ‘come on, just get it in,'” DeClercq said.

Seconds later, the Gaels tied the game when Sara Burgess scored after drawing the Hornets goalkeeper Michelle Balzouman out of her goal. In the 16th minute, Shauna Rech struck the final goal of the game.

“We had plenty of opportunities, we just didn’t finish,” Hanks said. “We played much better today.”

The Gaels were outshot by the Hornets, 19-16. Both teams placed six shots on goal. Lisa Wrightsman led Sac State with four shots, two being on goal.

DeClercq’s debut game as a forward came against Idaho, where she stunned the crowd with two well-placed headers. DeClercq normally plays as a midfielder, but Hanks recently moved her to the starting forward position alongside Wrightsman.

“She had a good game and she’s working hard,” Hanks said. “She’s a really strong girl. She has to focus on just really ripping the ball.”

The Hornets will play at the University of California Riverside on Friday at 3:pm.

Box Score: Vs Univ or Idaho

Box Score: Vs Saint Mary’s College