It’s a thankless job.

Running all over the field to not only prevent goals, but also trying to start scoring opportunities.

Everybody remembers the kids who played fullback in youth soccer. The kid who couldn’t really run, or kick, or-anything soccer related. He or she was usually just there for the halftime orange slices and the post game Capri Sun pouch. Rest assured, the position of defender is a whole different animal in college.

Seniors Mandi Siller, Marissa Condren and freshman Kara Taylor make up the back line for the Sacramento State women’s soccer team. It’s a sad proposition but it’s true; the only time they get noticed is when they make a mistake. “We are like the offensive linemen of soccer,” Condren said.

But like offensive linemen this group of defenders is strong, mean and crafty on the field. It’s a well-known fact in soccer that forwards try to get away with stuff. Falling down, pretending to be hurt to get a penalty kick, etc. How to combat this?

“We’re very sneaky,” Siller said. “We do stuff when the refs aren’t looking.”

So, what kind of stuff?

“There’s grabbing, shirt pulling, crotch grabbing all the time,” Siller said.

Then there’s what to do with a player who falls in love with a particular offensive move. “If someone is going to come in and use the same move every time, I am going to crack them hard,” Condren said.

Which leaves young Taylor, “I’m a shirt puller for sure,” Taylor said.

The group has helped the team to a 6-6-3, 3-0-1 record so far as well as a spot at the top of the Big Sky conference.

Siller scored the first goal of the year for the Hornets in a 1-0 victory over UC Davis. That’s the only time you may see a defender’s name in the paper.

They understand that. Siller has gained fame this year for another reason, however. During a 3-0 loss to UC Riverside Siller was covering a Riverside forward near the Hornets bench.

In a fit of rage Siller pulled down the forward’s pants to expose a thong to the entire Hornets bench.

A word to the wise: Do not anger Mandi Siller or your under things will be exposed.

When asked what she would have done had someone pulled down her pants during a game, head coach Katie Poynter said, “You just have to keep playing.” The image of Siller’s shenanigans still resonates in Poynter’s head. “Oh yeah, it was funny because of the style of undergarment she was wearing.”

Siller, Condren and Taylor know that they have the support of the team and that everyone who matters knows how important they are. But still, nothing compares to hearing it said.

When informed that the coach had said in an interview that the three of them were “the reason we are winning,” there were broad smiles all around.

“That really surprises me to hear that,” Siller said. “Because we never hear it.”

Poynter stands by her statement.

“They give the team so much confidence to know that they are always back there. It gives the forwards and midfielders a mental advantage to go all out on offense,” Poynter said.

When this year ends and Siller and Condren are gone it will be up to the young apprentice Taylor to keep the tradition alive.

The two elder statesmen of the back line have taught her well, and pretty soon it will be Taylor showing the ropes to a new crop of defenders.

She will have to make sure to tell the young ones that no matter how good they are, they will never receive credit. That’s just how it is.

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Benn Hodapp can be reached at [email protected]