TODAY

The Sacramento State women’s soccer team won its fifth consecutive home game Friday at Hornet field, shutting out the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners 2-0. It is the Hornet’s fourth shutout this year, all of which have come at home. Sophomore Katelin Hopping scored the first goal for the Hornets in the 16th minute, knocking in her second of the season off of a cross from sophomore Kim Kemper. Sac State had chances to add to the lead in the first half but was unable to take advantage of them. The Hornets took seven shots, but walked away from the first period with only one goal to show for it. They also had seven corner kicks, but many of them were spoiled by Roadrunner defenders. “I felt like we had a couple of good looks,” said Sac State coach Randy Dedini of the team’s scoring opportunities. “We just didn’t capitalize on them.” The game would take a dramatic shift in the second half, with both teams playing much more physically and earning multiple fouls. Never was the physical play more apparent than in the 52nd minute, when Sac State senior Amanda Gray was hit with a yellow card. It started when Cal State Bakersfield freshman Faith Perry fouled senior Katie McCoy and sent both players to the ground. As soon as Perry stood to her feet Gray flung her back to the grass and was given the caution. “It looked like (Perry) was going to hit (McCoy),” said Gray after the game. “I had my teammate’s back.” The Hornets immediately responded in the 53rd minute, when their second goal was scored by none other than Gray off of an assist from sophomore Danielle Holloway. “It definitely made my day,” said Gray. An insurance goal would end the scoring for the game, but both teams continued to play physical soccer. Ten fouls were called in the second half after the teams combined for only four before halftime. “It was on the scouting reports that they’re a physical team,” said Dedini of the Roadrunners. “Obviously, we didn’t just take it and we came back at them.” “They were pretty physical but we expected it,” said junior Tiffany Fraser. Cal State Bakersfield drops to 2-7-0 with the loss, which is its third straight. The Roadrunners have been shut out in all seven of their losses and have scored only four goals on the year. “We’re still too young and we don’t have that top forward to bring in goals,” said Roadrunners assistant coach Fabian Sandoval. “As our girls get more games under their belts they’ll get more confident.” “They battled hard and never gave up,” said Dedini. “They just don’t have the talent yet to take us on our home field.” Sac State improves to 5-2-1 with the victory and remains undefeated at home. The team has outscored its opponents 19-1 at Hornet field. “We’re pretty confident playing at home,” said Gray. “We play really well together as a team.” The Hornets next game will be Sunday at 12 p.m. against the UTEP Miners at Hornet Field. The Miners are 6-3-1 on the season and had their four-game unbeaten streak snapped today by Fresno State. The game will be part of a double-header with the men’s soccer team, which will face off against the Oaks of Menlo College at 2:30 p.m.

Contact Fernando Gallo at [email protected]