The hunger for more has been apparent on the Portland State women's soccer program since securing the Big Sky Championship ending its season early in a shootout against Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Tournament, 4-3. After training hard throughout the winter and spring off-seasons, the Vikings will return to action in 2010 in hopes of punching their first ticket to the NCAA Tournament and repeating as Big Sky Champions.

Head Coach Laura Schott, now in her third-year, is excited by the prospects of this season. "This year's team has both depth and talent, which has brought a tough and competitive atmosphere to practice day-in and day-out. Everyone has been motivated throughout the preseason and has gotten to play in our scrimmages and exhibitions.

"We've had time to evaluate our players and it's nice to see players competing for the starting spots," added Schott on the atmosphere of preseason. The program has made history the last two seasons under Schott, but the team expectations of writing history this season are strong, with the school's first bid to the College Cup the subject and focus.

Schott, the reigning co-Big Sky Coach of the Year, sports the best record in conference play over the last two seasons, 8-2-4. The Portland native coached the team to a second-place finish and a 4-1-2 conference record in her first year and followed with the Big Sky Regular Season Championship in 2009 with a similar 4-1-2 record.

Portland State's schedule features five opponents that competed in the NCAA Tournament last year, including two in their opening week of play (crosstown rival Portland and Boise State). PSU will also meet San Diego and Oregon State, whom it defeated last year in the 2009 season-opener, 1-0, and conference foe Northern Arizona. OSU went on a tear following the loss to the Viks and advanced to the third round of the College Cup.

In order to repeat last year's success, the Viks will look to the returning veterans and newcomers to fill void of last year's top scorer and goalkeeper in the Big Sky, Dolly Enneking and Cris Lewis, respectively. Enneking led the team last season in scoring with 12 goals and three assists, while Lewis tallied eight shutout wins and recorded a goals against average of 0.96.

Senior Frankie Ross is the Vikings leading returning scorer with three goals and assists a year ago playing both forward and midfielder. She is tied for 10th on the all-time scoring list at Portland State with 21 points and is the only active player on the list. Ross is a three-time All-Big Sky selection and was the conference's scoring champion in 2008. Ross has also been named Academic All-Big Sky three times and has received distinction from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Feeding Ross and the rest of the forwards from the midfield will be sophomore Amanda Dutra, who earned second-team All-Big Sky honors a year ago after leading the Vikings with five assists and scoring a goal. Classmate and Sherwood High School teammate Michelle Hlasnik will also return to the midfield in 2010 after tallying four assists last season.

Also returning to the frontline is sophomore Megan Martin, who scored two goals a season ago, both gamewinners. The quick and talented Oregon City native scored two goals in the Vikings five contests last Spring season.

On the backline, junior Tish Wise leads a mixture of seasoned veterans and playmaking defenders. Wise served as a captain last season on the Big Sky Championship team and dished one assist during the season and is a two-time All-Big Sky. Wise was married last December to her husband Teagan in her hometown of Camas, Wash.

Defender Emily Rohde, also from Lake Oswego, is the Vikings final senior in 2010. Rohde came to PSU last fall, transferring from Division III Whitworth in Spokane, Wash. Rohde made her impact felt as a defender, aiding in the teams eight shutout. Offensively, Rohde was no slouch either as she recorded a goal and four assists. Following two assists, one goal performance versus Idaho State and helping with a shutout against Weber State, she was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week.

The final returning piece to the Vikings backline is junior Toni Carnovale, who received first-team and all-tournament honors from the Big Sky a year ago. She started in 19 games last season, missing one after accumulating five yellow cards.

Returning for her fifth year, Rachel Jarvis will likely take the starting goalkeepers position after sitting out last season behind Lewis' phenomenal season and early season injuries. The Lake Oswego native has made 16 appearances in her career and 10 starts in her first three seasons She is tied for fifth in shutouts all-time on the Park Blocks.

For the first time in the program's 17 previous seasons, Portland State will call Hillsboro Stadium home for the next two seasons. Over the last two seasons, PSU has played its matches at PCC-Rock Creek and Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Center.

The team's schedule will feature six matches at the stadium with the first on Sept. 12 against Western Oregon at noon.

Portland State will begin its quest for the cup Friday night at No. 5 Portland. The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Merlo Field.

Fans can also catch the Vikings Sunday at the Nike World Campus against Boise State at 11 a.m. Admission is free.