Some say sophomore forward Katie McCoy is the best player on the Sacramento State women’s soccer team.

Such a statement would not be argued against by members of the team. Some, like junior forward Kelly Novak, say McCoy is a leader by example and that she quietly gets her stuff done without a lot of fanfare or ‘look at me’ theatrics.

Some may credit McCoy for the team’s recent offensive improvements. “Katie is a key part of our attack, she’s confident and takes players on,” head coach Katie Poynter said.

Through the team’s first six games the Hornets were outscored 6-2 by their opponents and were sporting a record of 2-3-1, thanks to a pair of 1-0 victories.

Since then the team has scored nine times (three goals coming from McCoy) in seven games, going 2-3-2 in that time. “The offense is finally clicking,” Novak said.

The improvement may be in part because of a move made by Poynter after McCoy’s slow start to the season. McCoy was moved to the center forward position just prior to the team’s scoring binge. Poynter knew a change had to be made. “Katie had a hard time in the beginning of the year, but the change in her position has been great,” Poynter said. “It has allowed her to be more creative and she can see the whole field. What we are seeing now is the return of all-conference Katie.”

McCoy was named to the 2nd team All-Big Sky Conference team last year as a freshman, the first Hornet to gain that honor since 2001.

McCoy is an award-winning offensive force who can run forever and make an opposing defender look like a youth soccer player with two left feet. But you would never know it by talking to her. To McCoy, the team comes first. If given the option of winning the award for Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year or the Big Sky Conference championship, McCoy would take the league championship trophy in a second.

“Winning the league championship would be the best thing that could ever happen,” McCoy said. There are 26 other players and two coaches who would agree.

So with all these great things that can be said about Katie McCoy, what does sophomore midfielder Rebeccah Phillips have to say?

“Katie doesn’t shower very often,” Phillips said. (Giggles)

Wait, what?

“Neither does she,” McCoy said. (More giggles)

McCoy fires back with another. “Yeah, well, you leave all your stuff in the hallway.” (Laughter ensues)

McCoy and Phillips, who prefers to be called Beccah, are best friends and roommates. When the two of them are together they weave a wildly entertaining tapestry of soccer, friendship and innumerable episodes of giggling. When asked which one of them is more like Oscar Madison (the grotesque slob) and which one is more like Felix Unger (the anal retentive neat freak) from “The Odd Couple,” they just looked at each other.

Both of them quite obviously knew what the other would say, and both began the process of denial within their own minds. Before either could answer, there was more giggling.

“Beccah never cleans the hallway,” McCoy said. (Giggles)

“Katie’s stuff is messed up too, you just can’t see it because it’s upstairs,” Phillips said. One time Phillips, an admitted adamant animal lover, wanted to buy a hamster for the apartment. McCoy said she did not want a hamster, so naturally Phillips bought two. “Their names were Barbie and Ken,” explained Novak. “I named them. Plus we bought a big pink cage for them.” (Giggles)

This is, in a nutshell, the Sac State Women’s soccer team. It is a team made up of 27 good-hearted goofballs all coming together to try and do something great. But they are going to have fun doing it. To watch the girls interact with each other at practice is just about the funniest thing ever. There is always competitiveness and aggressiveness, but also a refreshing scene of camaraderie, laughter and goofiness.

On this team you won’t find end zone dances involving cell phones, contract holdouts or players bad-mouthing the coach behind her back. The team remembers what sports are for.

Freshman goalie Jenny Lawrence explained how she, McCoy, Phillips and sophomore defender Katie Burton make up a friendship clique known as “the Quad.” Not only that, but the four use what are called “Best Friend Dollars” in which they bet imaginary money on certain events.

According to Phillips there is a $100 best friend dollar bet on who can score more goals this season between Phillips and McCoy. As it stands right now, the two are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece. As for why they use imaginary money and not real money, McCoy said, “you can’t take your friend’s money.”

On the field McCoy leads quietly. She can let her feet do all the talking that is needed. Take, for example, Sac State’s 2-1 victory over Idaho on Sept. 27th. McCoy assisted on the equalizing goal then scored the game-winner later in the game.

On the first goal McCoy faked out the Idaho goalie so badly on the left side that the goalie jumped early and in the entirely wrong direction, leaving McCoy with a wide open pass to best bud Phillips for an open net tap in.

The game-winning goal saw McCoy running down the right side, faking out the goalie again and this time blowing it past the keeper for the 2-1 lead that effectively ended the game.

Regardless of whether or not McCoy is the best player on the team, it is quite clear that she is an integral piece of the puzzle both on and off the field.

So far the team has come out of the gates well, already eclipsing last season’s win total. With a couple more big wins the Hornets can take the first step to achieving their ultimate goal of winning the conference championship. And maybe, just maybe, McCoy will lead the way-personal hygiene notwithstanding. (Giggles)

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Benn Hodapp can be reached at [email protected]