The dream of a Big Sky championship ended Thursday for the Sacramento State women’s soccer team. The Hornets (8-8-3) were eliminated by the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona (10-10-0) in the first round of the Big Sky tournament in Ogden, Utah.

Early in the first half Lumberjacks forward Stefanie Smith scored to give Northern Arizona a 1-0 lead. Later in the first half Lumberjacks forward and leading scorer Cee Cee Odorfer ripped the net to strengthen the Northern Arizona lead. Hornet midfielder Sarah Howard headed home her second career goal towards the end of the first half to bring the Hornets within 2-1 at the half. Sac State was unable to tie up the game in the second half.

The Hornets, picked to finish last in the Big Sky by the coaches of the conference, played far above those expectations, coming within one game of hosting the conference tournament.

It was the first time Sac State played in the tournament since 2001 and their record of 8-8-3 is the team’s best since 2000. Northern Arizona avenged a 2-1 loss to the Hornets in the regular season with the win. The game marked the final Sac State game for Hornets seniors Amber Dragomir, Courtney Gorham, Marissa Condren, Linda Sanchez, Mandi Siller and Megan Frost. The Lumberjacks will play the winner of the Eastern Washington-Weber State game for the Big Sky championship on Saturday.

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Benn Hodapp can be reached at [email protected]