Portland State may not have climbed to the top of the mountain, but the Vikings did make significant strides in 2007.

For the second straight year, the Vikings went into the regular-season finale against Sacramento State with a chance to either win or claim a share of the Big Sky Conference title. Both times, however, the Hornets came away with 1-0 wins to deny Portland State a shot at the Big Sky crown. Unlike in 2006 when the loss also kept Portland State out of the four-team Big Sky Tournament, the Vikings did advance to the conference tournament for the first time since hosting the event in 2004.

As the No. 4 seed at the Big Sky Tournament, the Vikings fell, once again, to Sacramento State, 2-1 in the semifinals. Despite not being able to overcome their nemesis, advancing to the conference tournament marked a significant milestone for third-year head coach Tim Bennett’s young squad that featured 15 freshmen or sophomores.

“Overall, it was a good season but short of the goals that we set,” Bennett said. “We gave some silly games away. Some of that was because of youth. Overall, it was a positive step forward.

“Again, we for the second straight year we had a chance to play for the conference championship in the final match. However, we came up short. The first time you can say it was a fluke, the second it’s a pattern. Now, we have to take some big steps to fix that pattern.”

While the 2008 edition of the Vikings will be top-heavy in experience, Bennett has a huge void to fill in the loss of lone senior Juli Edwards. Edwards graduates as one of the most decorated players in both Portland State and Big Sky Conference history. Edwards was a four-time all-conference selection, including a three-time first-team honoree. She capped her career by being named the Big Sky Defensive MVP for the second straight season, becoming one of five players in Big Sky history to win either Offensive or Defensive MVP honors twice in a career.

“I think it is harder to win a Defensive MVP than it is an Offensive MVP, just because Offensive MVPs are very much measured statistically,” Bennett said. “Juli was such a presence that we would depend on her too much and wouldn’t take up some responsibility. I think Juli is not only one of the best defenders to ever go through the Big Sky, but she’s also one of the top female athletes ever to play at Portland State.”

Despite the loss of Edwards, Portland State will still be strong in the defensive back as three starters are scheduled to return. Senior-to-be Laura Ellison will head up the back, along with a pair of juniors in Suzanne Hinton and Alissa Russell. Ellison also provided some scoring punch, recording one goal and three assists.

Cris Lewis will return for her third year between the pipes, after earning honorable mention All-Big Sky honors for the second straight season. Lewis recorded four shutouts en route to posting a 1.55 GAA with 82 saves. Rachel Jarvis is also slated to return to give the Vikings two veteran goalkeepers. Jarvis appeared in seven matches, going 2-1-0 with a 1.50 GAA and 24 saves as a sophomore in 2007.

In the midfield, sophomore Nathalie Wollmann, who served as tri-captain in 2007 with Edwards and Lewis, again earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors. Wollmann, scored the game-winner in the 2-1 win at Montana on Oct. 21, and will anchor a solid midfield corps in 2008. Freshman Frankie Ross had one goal and two assists in garnering honorable mention all-conference accolades and sophomore Tarah Authier provided the biggest scoring punch with a team-high five goals.

Sophomore forward Dolly Enneking tied Authier for the team lead in points with 10, as she tied for third in the Big Sky with six assists. The Tacoma, Wash.-native also had two goals and was named second team All-Big Sky after earning honorable mention honors as a freshman.

“Dolly didn’t have a good goal-scoring year and that will change next year,” Bennett said. “Dolly gave the ball up more this year and sacrificed that for goal scoring.”

With so many experienced players set to return in 2008, the Vikings’ biggest question heading into the offseason may be who will evolve into the team leader and fill that void left by Edwards.

“We have a group of leaders returning, a group of leaders by committee in a lot of ways,” Bennett said of his 2008 returnees. “However, in that group, we need one to dominate. At this time, I don’t know who it’s going to be. We’ll find out and watch it evolve. It’s going to be fun.”

The Vikings scored 17 goals in 19 matches last fall, an increase from 10 in 2006, and they averaged two more shots per match than in 2006.

“We’re continuing to make strides in attacking,” Bennett said. “Sometimes, with scoring goals and attacking, it takes rhythm and confidence, and that is starting to build.”

Bennett’s fourth year on the Park Blocks will feature his most experienced team during his tenure. After falling short of claiming the Big Sky regular-season title the past two years, the Vikings are looking to complete the job in 2008 and earn the school’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament berth.

“Our goal is to win both the Big Sky regular season and tournament,” Bennett said. “We have a much better home schedule, with four conference home games. I would be extremely disappointed if we don’t win. So hopefully, we’ll keep learning these lessons and can win the Big Sky. However, we have a player to replace in Juli Edwards. While Juli will be tough to replace, we may be a better team. Earlier this year when Juli was out with an ankle, we went 3-1 without her, and we learned that we could play without Juli.”

2007 Review Notes on page 2.