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Snow flurries and sub-freezing temperatures provided a harsh farewell to the Sacramento State women’s soccer season which came to an end with a 3-1 loss at the University of Montana Sunday afternoon.

After dropping their final three Big Sky Conference matches, the Hornets were denied an invitation to the postseason tournament.

Coming into the weekend, the Hornets knew that both games were must wins – at Eastern Washington and Montana – in order to have any chance at getting into the tournament. Sac State’s playoff hopes were officially dashed on Halloween courtesy of their 2-1 loss at Eastern Washington.

The regular season Big Sky champion Weber State Wildcats will host the tournament beginning on Thursday. Idaho State, Montana, and Northern Arizona will also appear.

The Hornets finished their first full season under second year coach Karen Hanks with a 6-9-3 overall record, while finishing 0-4-2 in the Big Sky conference.

Lisamarie La Vallee finished the season as the team leader in goals with six. Jenae Kee and Mandi Siller both added four goals.

Kee and Maggie Murphy both led the team with five assists, while Kee also finished as the team leader in points with 13.

Seniors Jill Kollman, Nicole Novoa, Stacey Rowell, and Amy Seely all participated their final game on Sunday.

Kollman appeared in two games this season and recorded one collegiate goal in 2000. Novoa appeared in 13 games this season recording one goal in her career.

A three-time all Big Sky selection, Rowell did not miss a game in her four years at Sacramento State and her 65 starts rank third all-time in Sac State history.

Seely started 42 games at goalkeeper in her career although she did not appear this season. She holds a Hornet record with 4.5 shutouts in a single season and is second all- time with 251 saves.

While these seniors will be departing, 10 of 11 starters will return next season.