After tasting victory in the Big Sky Conference last season, Sacramento State women’s soccer looks to repeat the euphoria they felt winning the penalty shootout against Idaho.
The Hornets’ first test in the Big Sky Conference this season is away Thursday to Northern Colorado, who only won one game during non-conference play. Last season, UNC finished in the conference standings at a record of 2-5-1.
Going into the game, Sac State has experienced a rollercoaster of a season so far. Having been impacted by injuries, the Hornets had to turn to younger players and new transfers to help shine a light on the inconsistent season.
With facing defeat in their final l two non-conference matches, the Hornets will be in search of a way to find their footing again when they start their Big Sky journey.
Sac State has struggled to get their attack going recently. Unable to get off to fast starts in their previous two games, the Hornets managed just two combined shots in their respective first halves. When the attack eventually got going, it was already too late in the game for Sac State to salvage something
Sac State has several key forwards that can turn the game around in an instant. The key will be to get those players in good positions and let them work their magic.
“We’re trying to play too direct, when we just need to secure the ball and play,” head coach Randy Dedini said. “Play through our midfield, swing the point of attack.”
Dedini is entering his 19th season with Sac State, leading the Hornets to two Big Sky conference titles in 2010 and 2024. Coming into 2025, Dedini has led the Hornets to 125 victories.
The Sac State coaching staff managed to retain most of the squad from the successful previous season, but there are also newcomers that will be experiencing conference play for the first time.
Junior midfielder Tea Reyes, a transfer from Folsom Lake College, has been one of the main attacking outlets in her debut season, leading the team with the most shots on goal this season. Reyes is tied with sophomore defender Jaety Mandaquit as the Sac State top scorers so far this season, with two goals during non-conference play.
“I think that we all have a lot of potential,” Reyes said. “We just need to keep building our chemistry together and keep working together to reach where we can reach.”
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Reyes will be accompanied by a cast of Sac State creators and scorers that have experienced what it feels like to win the Big Sky conference.
Junior forward Lexi Schroeder was a part of last season’s triumph and has been key in attack for the Hornets, with two assists so far this season.
“We’ve had some big wins like the one against Oregon,” Schroeder said. “Every win that we get, especially racking up the goals, just helps us with our confidence with the Big Sky.”
Injuries have plagued Sac State this season, and that could factor into the confidence and cohesion the team has going into Thursday.
Fifth year defender Sydney Sharts, who is crucial in defense for Sac State, is out for the rest of the season due to an injury. Last season’s conference campaign saw Sharts earn a spot in the All-Big Sky conference first team and all-tournament team.
One of the players stepping up in Sharts’ absence is freshman defender Aryana Martinez. Martinez has been an important part of the Hornets’ back line this season. She’ll feature alongside several other Sac State defenders that have helped steady the ship
Mandaquit has been integral for Sac State this season, both defensively and chipping in with a few goals this season.
“We know conference comes with a lot of pressure,” Mandaquit said. “I think we’re the group to rally up and play as hard as we can to make a statement in the Big Sky.”
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier has started in between the sticks for the majority of the season, keeping four clean sheets so far.
Palmatier has been in a goalkeeping rotation with freshman goalkeeper Cynthia Waller.
“Izzy’s been doing a great job this year, so there’s nothing wrong with Izzy. Cynthia is also a very good freshman goalkeeper that just needs some minutes,” Dedini said. “So we felt like, before conference time, we just needed to give her as many minutes as possible.”
When it comes to the competition, Montana and Weber State can be seen as early favorites for the tournament. These are the two teams that go into conference play with the best form.
Montana has won their last five non-conference matches;
beating either side will send a statement to the rest of the Big Sky conference.
Sac State will look to start the conference play off strong. An opening win against Northern Colorado could be the start of another great tournament run for the Hornets. The Big Sky clash takes place Thursday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m.
“If we start thinking positively rather than negatively, we can build momentum,” Dedini said.
