Women’s soccer gears to face explosive Ducks

Grag Hyatt

Sacramento State women’s soccer will host the University of Oregon Ducks at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hornet Soccer Field.

The Hornets (1-2) are coming off a 2-0 loss at Fresno State (2-1) Saturday, where they were outshot 20-6.

Freshman Lisamarie La Vallee and sophomore Kelly Law led the Hornets with two shots each. Freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Shaw recorded four saves in a the loss.

Bulldogs sophomore forwards Katri Nokso-Koivisto and Kortney Lewis scored their first goals of the season against the Hornets.

The Ducks will travel to Sac State this Sunday feeling confident with their first 3-0 start in school history. The Ducks are coming off a 2-1 victory over the University of San Francisco at Oregon on Sunday.

Sophomore Cristan Higa and freshman Sabrina Demonte scored their first career goals late in the first half to give the Ducks the come from behind victory. Their two other wins came against Boise State and Rice.

Sophomore Nicole Garbin, who has looked sharp in her return to the Ducks’ lineup after sitting out last season with an ACL knee injury, anchors the Oregon offense. In 2001, Garbin scored five goals, including four game winners while leading Oregon to a 5-1-1 start.

The defense is led by sophomore goalkeeper Domenique Lainez, who returns to the lineup after sitting out last season with a serious ankle injury. Lainez recorded her first career shutout against Rice in Oregon’s second win of the season.

Oregon did lose a preseason match against the Ghana National Team, whose 2-1 win was a tune-up for the World Cup.

Sacramento State will have to be more active offensively against Oregon, as their first three opponents outshot the Hornets 59-20. Oregon has outshot their opponents 53-33 and outscored them 7-2.

Lisamarie La Vallee leads the Hornets in scoring with two goals. Goalkeeper Stephanie Shaw is averaging 7.3 saves per game through three starts.