Hornet sophomore goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier directs teammates during the Hornets’ NCAA Tournament first round playoff match against USC on Nov. 17. Photo courtesy of Sacramento Sate Athletics

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Big Sky Conference Tournament champion Sacramento State women's soccer team made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 14 years on Sunday Nov. 17, but its run through the postseason was cut short at the hands of top-seeded USC, falling to the Trojans by a 5-0 score at the Dignity Health Sports Park Track Stadium in Carson, Calif.

The Hornets, who entered the postseason unbeaten in their previous nine matches, finishing their year at 5-7-9 overall and placed fifth in the Big Sky with a 3-2-3 overall record. Sacramento State's nine-match unbeaten streak was tied for the second-longest in school history while the nine draws set a new school single-season record.

USC, which improved to 16-1-3 overall with the win and moved its unbeaten streak to 14 consecutive contests, advanced to the second round where it hosts eighth-seeded Saint Louis.

Sunday's appearance in the NCAA postseason was the program's third, but the first since claiming the conference's automatic berth in both 2007 and 2014. The Hornets were fresh off a Big Sky Tournament run that saw them become the first school to advance and claim the title via penalty kicks in all three of their contests, upsetting the No. 4 (Northern Arizona), No. 1 (Montana), and No. 2 (Idaho) seeded teams along the way.

Five Sacramento State players were named to the All-Big Sky team while six student-athletes were named to the Big Sky All-Tournament team, including gaining the MVP.

The Trojans opened the scoring just 3:16 into the match when they were awarded a penalty kick following a tackle in the box that was deemed overly aggressive by the official. USC converted for the 1-0 lead and led 3-0 at the break following scores in the 13th and 17th minutes. 

After the break, the Trojans tacked on two more, scoring just 4:26 into the second half and capping the day with a goal with 48 seconds remaining in regulation.

With her seven saves on Sunday, sophomore goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier finished the year with a Big Sky-best 107 stops, a mark that ranks third on the school's single-season list behind only Stacy Himes (123 in 1996) and Amy Seely (108 in 2001). Her seven shutouts this year were also tied for fifth on the single-season list, two of those scoreless draws against the Grizzlies and Vandals in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals and finals, respectively.

In all, 17 players gained NCAA Tournament experience on Nov. 17, with Candace Ching, Ariana Scholten, Ellie Farber, and Ali Fuamatu-Ma'afala, all attempting shots.