The Sacramento State women’s soccer team is NCAA-Tournament bound as it defeated Northern Arizona University 1-0 today in Flagstaff, Ariz. to win the Big Sky Conference Championship.

The win gives the Hornets their second conference championship in four years as they defeated Northern Colorado University 3-0 in 2007.

Sac State improves its record to 9-9-1 overall and 4-3-0 in the Big Sky. As for Northern Arizona, they finish the season 9-2-0 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play.

On Friday, the Hornets defeated No. 2 seeded Portland State University 2-1 to advance to the championship match where they awaited the winner of the Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado. The No. 1 seeded Lumberjacks defeated the Bears 1-0 in the late afternoon match up to advance against Sac State in the Sunday final.

In the final, neither team could find a clear shot to take the advantage as the first half ended in 0-0 tie.

Just barely two minutes into the second half the Hornets fortune came when sophomore forward Kelsey O’Donnell found the Elece McBride 20-yards in front of the goal for the assist. McBride took the pass and shot it high as the ball just barely missed hitting the crossbar and went through the outstretched hand of Lumberjack keeper Tori Rocke.

Sac State keeper Savannah Abercrombie added another clean sheet win to her credit as she had five total saves in the game.

McBride earned tournament’s most valuable player award for her game-winning goal that sent the Hornets to the NCAA College Cup for the second time in school history. The cup begins on Friday with first-round action at a host institution to be determined.

The 64-team bracket will be revealed live on ESPNU during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 1:30 p.m.

Matt Harrington can be reached at [email protected]