ROHNERT PARK, CALIF.- Senior day is a bittersweet time for any program. Sonoma State Women's Soccer not only stepped onto Seawolf Soccer Field for the last time this year but honored six players who would play on their home field for the last time. Yet, the Seawolves made sure to make the final game on their home field of the 2024 season one fans and players alike would remember.

First and foremost, the six graduating seniors deserve to be congratulated and recognized for outstanding playing careers as members of coach Emiria Salzmann's program. These six players are the epitome of what a Seawolf should be on and off the pitch.

 For the past five seasons Julia Betti has been a staple of Sonoma State Women's Soccer. A native of Martinez, California, Betti has seen action in 70 games with 69 starts over four seasons including playing over 5,500 minutes in her time with the Seawolves. As one of the teams most well balanced players Betti has scored five goals with four assists on the offensive side of the field.  Over the course of four seasons Ashley Frye has started in 65 games and played a highly impressive 5665 minutes in her collegiate career. She ends her time at Sonoma with 28 shots on goal, five goals and two game winners. Renee Ketner has gone on to appear in 46 games, 45 of them starts. She has totaled five goals and five assists including three career game winners. Hailey Freeman has earned playing time during each of her seasons with 48 games played and 27 starts. Not only has she been a key piece of the Seawolves defensive line but she has chipped in three goals and an assist as well. In just two seasons with the Seawolves, Mia Solorio-Smith instantly made an impact for coach Salzmann's squad. Across 23 appearances, including 11 starts this year already, Solorio-Smith is up to four goals and two assists. Lastly, Lillian Terc has brought outstanding energy both on and off the field. So far this season, Terc has played in 11 games with three shots on goal. For her career Terc has seen action in 29 games.

As for the game itself it was a nailbiter down to the final minutes of action. One paper the Seawolves dominated across the 90 minutes of action. As a team Sonoma out shot San Francisco State 22 shots to eight, earned five corner kicks and only committed 10 fouls. Unfortunately, the Gators would strike first late into the second half. SF State was able to capitalize on a quick volley of shots that eventually resulted in Kaya Mitchem sneaking a ball past SSU's defense. Regardless, what followed was a masterclass in believing in one another and keeping composure no matter what the scoreboard says.

Sonoma would be able to even things up with just under 14 minutes of action remaining. Maya Courtenay got things started with a great run up the sideline before making a quick pass to Ashley Frye. Frye then took aim at the goal firing a right footed shot towards the upper left corner. Despite the Gators getting a piece of Frye's shot the ball found Kayleigh Acree behind the defense, unguarded at the back post. Acree was able to get her foot on the ball and find the back of the net in the lower right hand corner. It was Acree's first goal as a Seawolf while also serving as Frye's first assist of the year and Courenay's second.

From that point on the momentum completely swung in favor of the Seawolves. In the eight minutes that followed the game tying goal, Sonoma got off another four shots while keeping the Gators pinned on their side of the field and then the Senior Day magic took full effect. With under two and a half minutes of play Emily Morandi lofted a ball towards Ashley Frye right outside the Gators goal. Frye headed the ball directly into the air before hitting arguably the teams most impressive goal of the season. Frye fired a right footed bicycle kick into the upper left corner of the net that flew by the outstretched arms of San Francisco's goalie. It was only right that one of Sonoma's departing seniors would score the final goal of the season on Seawolf Soccer Field. 

While the team may no longer be taking the field on their home pitch the rest of the season, there is plenty of more soccer left to be played for coach Salzmann and the crew. This coming week will feature three games on the road with the first being a 6:00 PM showdown in Turlock against Stanislaus State!