Sacramento State’s women’s soccer team improved to 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play by defeating the Portland State University Vikings 4-1 at Hornet Soccer Field Friday.

Lisa Wrightsman led the way for the Hornets by recording two goals and one assist. Wrightsman’s first goal gave the Hornets the lead in the 17th minute. The assist came from midfielder Summer Douglas.

“The goal gave us a boost and made everyone want to be more aggressive,” Wrightsman said.

Despite the early momentum, Sac State could not hold its lead against the Vikings. Portland State’s lone goal was scored in the 31st minute off a rebound given up by Sac State goalie, Amy Seely.

The ball bounced off Seely and directly to Viking forward Melanie Langley, who in turn knocked the ball to the back of the net. The goal was Langley’s first of the year.

In the second half, with the score tied at one, the Hornet offense came out swarming.

Lori Kerswell gave the Hornets a lead that they would never relinquish, when she scored her second goal of the season in the 53rd minute off a pass from Wrightsman.

“It definitely turned the momentum, and opened up the flood gates,” Kerswell said about the goal.

Dana Dydasco continued the offensive assault with a breakaway goal in the 77th minute. Dydasco used her blazing speed to sprint past the Viking defense and slide in her second goal of the season by Portland State goaltender Gretchen Pietras.

It was Wrightsman again, who put a cap on the scoring with her second goal of the game in the 79th minute with the assist from Kerswell. The goal was Wrightsman’s team leading sixth of the year.

Prior to Friday’s match, the Hornet offense had only mustered one goal in their previous three games. This made Friday’s four goal offensive frenzy even more gratifying for head soccer coach Sandra Asimos.

“It was great to see the ball in the back of the net again,” Asimos said.

While Sac State’s offense was still finding itself in the first half, the Hornet defense, nicknamed “The Rock”, toyed with the Viking forwards. The defense made clutch slide tackles and forced key turnovers all game long. Seely ended up having to make only two saves on the day, compared to Pietras’ 11.

“We had great communication between our midfielders and our fullbacks,” Asimos said of her team’s defensive effort.

With the win, the Hornets improved their overall record to 4-6-1. The Hornets’ other conference win came in a 2-0 shutout over Eastern Washington University.

“It is nice to have a 2-0 record in conference, but we have to continue to take things one game at a time,” Asimos said.

Sac State’s next test will be a conference match against Northern Arizona University. The match will be held Sunday (Oct. 14) at noon, on the Hornet soccer Field.