After starting two seasons for Sacramento State’s women’s soccer team, junior goalkeeper Amy Seely has been moved to second string in favor of sophomore Michelle Balzouman, who started in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Saint Mary’s.

“She just hasn’t stepped up and taken the leadership role that we needed,” coach Karen Hanks said. “She is going to be the backup goalkeeper and she has to make sure she still steps up as a leader and supports the team. She needs to be ready if we need her to go back in.”

Seely has started six games for the Hornets this season, posting 45 saves, allowing 1.72 goals per game and was also the starting goalie in the Hornets first win on Friday. She recorded nine saves including a penalty kick in save Sac State’s 3-2 victory over the University of Idaho.

“I was surprised that the call was against us,” said Seely, regarding the penalty kick. “I heard some of my teamates cheering me on and it really felt good. I just went after the ball, I knew I was going to save it. You have to have that confidence.

“(The win) felt good and we deserved it,” Seely said. “We got a new coach in late and have a lot of new players. It was definitely a good win.”

The West Linn, Ore. native chose the Hornets over the University of San Diego, San Diego State and Northern Arizona because she wanted to stay close to home.

Seely was intimidated at first when she began traveling to California to play for her club team.

“You could tell (California players) were a bit quicker and a little bit more physical. But I felt like that was the right step I needed to take,” she said.

Seely will be the first to admit that her play has not been up to expectation yet this season. Happy with her shot stopping, she knows her ability to come out on crosses and corners has been below average this season.

“Her problem has been not winning the ball in the (6-yard box),” Hanks said.

The entire defense has been changed. Junior Amber Dragomir has been out with an injury, junior Stacey Rowell has come into to the sweeper position replacing Karalee Narimatsu, and freshman Kelly Law is also starting in the back; a lineup Seely is not used to.

“I know I could be playing a lot better; it’s frustrating right now for me,” Seely said. “But I plan on stepping it up and getting ready for conference. The last game I played I did let up some pretty stupid goals. My understanding is that (Hanks) is going to start stuff off with Michelle and see if she works well with the defense.”

Seely feels a lot more pressure this year than she did as a freshman because of the leadership role she now has to take.

Lisa Wrightsman is the only senior on the team and Seely wants the junior class to step up and help guide this team.

But Seely has been regulated to a position she is not too familiar with, and her leadership will have to come from the bench.

“The job is Michelle’s to lose,” coach Hanks said. “If (Seely) gets another shot she needs to be ready to step up. She has to be in the right frame of mind with the right attitude.”

For inspiration to reclaim her starting job she must look no further than a quote the team received from Wrightsman, “the most important play is the next play.”