It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Not like this. If things had gone as planned it would have been the Sacramento State women’s soccer team hoisting the Big Sky trophy. But when two teams play for one prize, things will not go as planned for one of them.

The team is fresh off a heart-wrenching penalty kick shootout loss to Idaho State on Sunday in the Big Sky championship match.

In a way the season went as scripted. The team was picked to finish second in the preseason polls, which it did. They were picked to have the best freshman class in the Big Sky, and they may have.

But forgive the team for not believing that it went as planned after only the second shootout in Big Sky Conference history (the first taking place just two days earlier when Sac State defeated Montana). As several of the players sat on the field, allowing their emotions to pour out after the loss, expectations were of no consequence.

“We should have won,” senior forward Kelly Novak said.

Despite the tough loss, there were some things for the team to hang its hat on. The Hornets set a new program record in wins with 10 while making the tournament for a second straight year.

The team needed every one of those record wins just to advance to the four-team tournament. It was with the 10th win at Portland State that secured a spot for the team.

“It makes me proud that the conference is improving so much,” head coach Katie Poynter said. “It shows that the competition is better throughout the conference.”

Katie McCoy and Katie Burton were named all-conference and four players were named to the all-tournament team (McCoy, Sarah Howard, Maggie Murphy and Kara Taylor).

The team’s Achilles heel all season was the inability to score when the opportunity presented itself. The Hornets out-shot their opponents on a regular basis, yet were unable to bury teams when they had the chance.

All that remains now for the departed seniors are memories.

“It’s sad that it’s over, but this is the best team I’ve ever been a part of,” senior Maggie Murphy said. “I love all the girls.”

“I’ll remember all the girls and all the fun times on the road,” Novak said. “I’ve never been part of a team that was closer.”

Preseason expectations will likely be high again next season. What the team really wants is a happier ending.