A ‘Kee” to victory

Image: A 'Kee" to victory:Freshman defender Jessica Hewins battles against a brutal Princeton offense. The Tigers scored two goals in the game's last ten minutes.:

Image: A ‘Kee” to victory:Freshman defender Jessica Hewins battles against a brutal Princeton offense. The Tigers scored two goals in the game’s last ten minutes.:

Grag Hyatt

Midfielder Jenae Kee scored two goals to lead Sacramento State to a 2-1 double-overtime victory at the University of Nevada, Reno on Sunday. With the win the Hornets snapped their three-game losing streak.

The Wolf Pack got on the scoreboard first with a goal by freshman Lauren Kinneman in the 31st minute. Four minutes later junior Jennifer Iha found Kee open for her first goal to tie the game at 1-1.

The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 until Kee’s game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 108th minute. Striker Kelly Novak won the penalty kick after she was pulled down in the penalty box by a Nevada defender. She had beaten the defender and was headed for the goal until the defender, attempting to save the overtime goal, fouled Novak before she was able to get the shot off.

Freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Shaw posted five saves in the win. Sac State improved their record to 2-4, while the Wolf Pack fall to 2-5.

The Hornets opened their weekend with a 3-1 loss to the Princeton Tigers on Friday at Hornet Soccer Field. Emily Behncke scored two goals and Esmeralda Negron added one to lead the Tigers. Princeton, ranked No. 25 in the nation, improved to 4-0 with the win.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the second minute of play. Behncke dribbled by Hornet defenders and placed a shot in the left corner of the net.

“We gave them the first goal,” head coach Karen Hanks said of Sac State’s early mistake. “You can’t spot teams like this.”

The Hornets would even the score in the 78th minute when Iha recorded her first collegiate goal. Kee found Iha open, who then went one-on-one against Princeton keeper Emily Vogelzang and placed a shot to the right corner of the net, tying the score 1-1.

Princeton would take the lead back in the 81st minute on Behncke’s second goal. Princeton’s Sylvia Morelli sent a pass into a crowded goal box where Behncke found the deflection and tapped it in for a 2-1 lead.

The Tigers would put the game away with Esmeralda Negron’s goal in the 87th minute to make it a 3-1 advantage.

“We competed, but they’re still not 100 percent believing we can play at this level,” Hanks said.

Sophomore Linda Sanchez remains sidelined with a knee injury, while freshman Katie Burton suffered a pulled muscle near midfield in the second half against Princeton but stayed in the game.

“We had to keep her in because she was making things happen for us,” Hanks said.

The Hornets will try for their third win of the season when they host Cal State Northridge at noon on Sunday at Hornet Soccer Field.