Sacramento State women’s soccer assistant coach Randy Dedini added another reason to smile to an already long and happy day.

At 4:02 a.m. Dedini’s wife gave birth to Jacob Randall Dedini, the couple’s first son. About 10 hours later the Hornets put the finishing touches on a 2-1 victory over Idaho before a small, but lively crowd at Hornet Soccer Field.

The Hornets came out strong in the first half, dominating the game in every area. They were faster to balls and won most challenges. However, in the 41st minute Hornet defender Marissa Condren was called for a foul in the penalty box. Vandals forward Jenny Springer knocked the ball past Sac State goalie Jenny Lawrence to make the score 1-0 on the penalty kick.

At halftime Hornets coach Katie Poynter made sure to tell the team what was obvious from the stands.

“I told them that we played great soccer in the first half and that we just needed to stop missing the little things.” Poynter said.

The second-year coach added that that the team would need to stop committing stupid fouls or they simply will not win games. The first half stats show the dominance that Sac State showed with the Hornets taking seven shots to Idaho’s two. Unfortunately the scoreboard didn’t help the Hornets much.

In the second half it was more of the same with Sac State coming out as the clear aggressor. In the 67th minute Hornets midfielder Rebeccah Phillips scored on an open net off an assist from forward Katie McCoy. McCoy drove toward the goal from the left side, faking out Idaho goalie Lindsay Smith so badly that Smith jumped to the side, leaving Phillips open for the easy pass and tap in. The goal was Phillips’ second goal in the last two games. With the game tied at one in the 84th minute, McCoy was at it again. This time she drove down the right side, again faking out Smith, but this time McCoy took the shot herself, cracking the net to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead with six minutes and change remaining.

The Vandals (2-7) had absolutely no idea what to do with McCoy as she dazzled the Idaho defense with little trouble.

On her efforts for the day McCoy said, “I just played the ball over the top and tried to beat (Idaho) to the ball all day.”

Said Poynter, “We moved her to center forward which has given her a lot more freedom to be more creative and use her great speed.”

McCoy, who made 2nd team All-Big Sky last season, has come on strong lately, scoring two goals and serving up two assists in Sac State’s last three games.

Phillips, who became the second Hornet player this season to score a goal on the day she adorned the cover of the game program (along with Linda Sanchez), said that it felt great being able to score in back to back games. Phillips attributed her goal to McCoy saying, “My best friend Katie McCoy did all the dirty work, all I had to do was tap it in.”

The Hornets had numerous opportunities to add another goal for insurance, but were unable to connect. The best chance came in the 75th minute when the game was still tied at one. Forward Kelly Novak, who entered the game as a sub, kicked a ball by the goalie, but the shot ricocheted hard off the crossbar.

Said Novak, “I was robbed!”

The win puts the Hornets at 3-4-2 on the season, matching last year’s win total just nine games into the season.

Though she was scored on in the first half, Lawrence was not too busy on the day, getting credit for just one save as the Hornets out-shot the Vandals 19 to three. Only two of Idaho’s shots were on goal. The game marked the first time since Sept. 5 and 10 of last year that the team scored multiple goals in consecutive games.

Sac State’s next game is Pacific on Sunday at noon.