In a season that produced many more lows than highs, StephanieShaw surprisingly beams with optimism when she imagines nextseason.

As one of nine freshmen that tasted collegiate soccer for thefirst time this season, she may have cemented herself as SacramentoState’s goalkeeper for the next few years.

The San Pedro, Calif native made the move to Northern Californiain order to be a part of the Hornets’ renaissance under theleadership of second-year coach Karen Hanks.

Shaw took the chance to team with Hanks, a fellow SouthernCalifornian, and pursue a degree in Sac State’s respectedcriminal justice program as a can’t miss opportunity.

“All my teammates knew her or played for her,” Shawsaid of Hanks and her time spent in Southern California.

The coach’s reputation grew from her four-straight titlesat Division II, Cal State Dominguez Hills. When she brought herwinning ways up Interstate 5 to Sacramento, Shaw and several otherSoCal freshmen followed.

“It’s cutthroat, I like that,” Shaw says ofHanks’ coaching style. “She tells you how itis.”

Shaw was a key factor this season starting at goalkeeper in allbut one game, tallying all six of their wins, including a shutoutagainst the nationally ranked University of Utah.

A physical forward for nine of her youth soccer years, Shaw wasoften whistled for yellow cards, which prompted the move togoalkeeper her sophomore year at San Pedro High School.

The Pirates were a dominating force with Shaw guarding the net,as her squads won four consecutive Marine League titles from2000-2003. In that span, the Pirates never lost a game.

After breaking her leg a year ago, Shaw has made a completecomeback and says she is more focused than ever to succeed.

“In my mind I’m going 100 percent. After breaking myleg last year, I’m really motivated now.”

Upon arriving at Sac State, Shaw’s status as the startinggoalkeeper was not a sure thing. There were upper classmen alsocompeting for the job and Shaw admits she had doubts at first.

“I honestly thought I was going to redshirt,” sheremembers. “There were three of us and I was scared todeath.”

The competition for the starting job included senior Amy Seely,last season’s most reliable starter, while juniors MichelleBalzouman and Elizabeth Kirkland were also in the mix to getplaying time.

Ultimately her hard work paid off and Shaw was given the shot tostart the program’s first full season under Hanks. Her firstcollegiate start was a memorable one, as she grabbed 11 savesdespite a 2-1 loss against visiting Navy in late August.

Keeping the status as starting goalkeeper wasn’t alwayscertain for Shaw, who struggled early on during the team’sthree game losing streak.

In a 3-1 loss against the visiting University of Oregon on Sept.14, Shaw’s frustration peaked when she shoved an Oregonforward to the ground while chasing after a loose ball.

The penalty resulted in a penalty kick and a goal giving theDucks a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

The next game she got a taste of Hanks’ cutthroat style.She was benched against Princeton, in favor of Balzouman. But thenext game she returned to the starting role, responding with fivesaves in a 2-1 victory over the University of Nevada, Reno, puttingan end to the losing skid.

She wouldn’t lose her starting job for the remainder ofthe season.

In an 18-game season where the Hornets only won six times andfailed to win any matches in the Big Sky conference, there isobviously much room for improvement.

Shaw points to her mental toughness following lastseason’s broken leg as a strength, but admits she needs workon distributing the ball, specifically her placement of goal kicksand punts.

Off the field she cites playing the piano as one of her favoritehobbies and also enjoys the tight knit atmosphere surrounding theteam.

“We’re like a family, we’re reallyconnected,” she said.

Despite a rough ending to the season, which saw the Hornets leftout of the Big Sky playoffs, Shaw is genuinely optimistic about thenear future of the soccer program. She has lofty expectations fornext season, as she and the many other freshmen of Hanks’recruiting class return with experience.

“We should finish first in league next season,” shesays. “Every team we played against we could have taken. Thiswas a building year. For the next few years it’s going to beremarkable.”