The graduation of last year’s starting goalkeeper Leo Marin has left a vacancy between the posts for Sacramento State’s men’s soccer team The vacancy has been filled by junior goalkeeper Jeff Gibson who came to the Hornets after winning a national championship with Santa Rosa Junior College last season.

In four games, Gibson has posted a 2.37 goals allowed average. “A goalkeeper can keep you in the game,” Hornet coach Michael Linenberger said. “Jeff did that for us against Cal Poly, he gave us a chance to win that game.”

In the Hornets first victory of the season against Poly, Gibson had seven saves, guiding Sac State to a 3-1 win.

Linenberger has high expectations for the season, which includes no less than another Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship.

“We lost eight seniors, so we are younger this year.” Linenberger said. “But we may actually be more talented.”

Gibson is in his first year at Sac State, but has been playing soccer since the age of six in Redding. After graduating high school, where he didn’t play goalie, Gibson went to Santa Rosa where he started in goal his freshman and sophomore years.

His first year playing in junior college, Gibson’s team lost the championship on penalty kicks. They rebounded the following season to win the national championship over the three-time defending champions.

His experience with the Hornets so far this season has been impressive. The coaches are convinced that with his maturity he will be solid in goal this season.

“I want to get my goals-against average down to one goal a game. It’s too high right now,” Gibson said. “I’d like to get some shutouts and win league. Being all-conference is a goal too.”

Freshman Matt McDougall, a 2002 Jesuit High School graduate, has also seen time in Sac State’s goal, playing in two games including the Hornets latest win, a 2-0 victory over Dominican University of California on Sunday.

Gibson did not get the start against Dominican due to a knee injury. Linenberger chose to rest him in order to get him ready for upcoming games.

As a first-year goalkeeper for the Hornets, Gibson is still working on communicating with his defenders.

“He has to work on it a little bit more,” Linenberger said. “He has to feel how we play as a team and be a little bit more demanding. He is kind of soft-spoken.”

Gibson’s strong points lie in his kicking ability, his play in the air in front of his goal as well as making strong saves. But he acknowledges he still feels the need to improve his performance in one-on-one and breakaway situations.

“I feel pressure if I get beat,” Gibson said. “But if I make a save I am the hero. You don’t really get to feel (excitement) until a couple minutes after the save, and then after the game.”

Sac State’s next game will be Friday against Loyola Marymount at the Hornet Soccer Field at 4:00p.m.