Soccer team looks to the clear Big Sky

Portland State soccer is hoping for the clouds to part this Sunday when it sails into the Big Sky Conference against Sacramento State University. Head coach Tara Erickson and company look toward a promising horizon as the Vikings make their Big Sky debut.

“We believe that we are the best team in our conference,” Erickson said. “We will definitely be coming out to compete for the championship in the Big Sky.”

After being thunderstruck 8-0 by the University of Portland Pilots, the Viks are going on to compete against the Sacramento State Hornets. Led by freshman forward Lisamarie La Vallee and goalkeeper Stephanie Shaw, the Hornets are armed with a few lightning bolts of their own. La Vallee is ranked third in the Big Sky for scoring and is this week’s Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week. Stephanie Shaw was also named one of the Big Sky Players of the Week, for defense. Although Shaw has 62 saves for the season, Erickson is not threatened.

Portland State battled the ultimate storm when it played the Pilots on Wednesday. The University of Portland managed to get off 18 attempted goals against PSU, while the Vikings only shot seven. University of Portland is ranked among the highest of national teams, and it proved it by shutting out the Viks.

The Viking’s ship began to sink as early as the 10th minute of play. Pilot forward Kristen Moore kicked a shot, like a tidal wave, from 25 yards back for the game’s first goal. Six minutes later, the Pilots’ Angie Woznuk, from 18 yards away, fired the shot for a second goal. The game was a landslide as the Vikings let six more pour in.

Despite being all washed-out by the Pilots, the Vikings were not discouraged by the loss to University of Portland. Erickson showed frustration but not regret when she said, “It’s always disappointing when you lose a game 8-0, but we have confidence. The team has confidence for the Big Sky.”

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The PSU women enter conference play with a clear record when they play their first Big Sky match-up of the season. Sunday’s game, against Sacramento State, will be held in PGE Park at 1 p.m. With any luck, the women will cause a torrent of their own by storming in with a winning attitude.