GREELEY, Calif. - Sacramento State put together an incredible performance on Friday, but ultimately came up short against the No. 2 Montana Griz, 1-0, in the Big Sky Semifinals at Jackson Field in Greeley, Colo.  

The loss brings an end to Sacramento State's tournament push and its season. The No. 6 team in the tournament, the Hornets upset the No. 3 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, 1-0, on Wednesday to advance to Friday's semifinal matchup against the Griz. 

The Hornets close out the 2021 campaign with a 5-12-2 overall record and a 3-6 mark in Big Sky play. 

Montana will advance to the Big Sky Championships final match on Sunday against either No. 4 Weber State or No. 1 Northern Colorado. 

On paper, Friday's match looked like it would be all Montana as the No. 2 Griz came in with a 7-1-1 Big Sky record and one of the nation's top defenses. 

But it was Sacramento State who came out the aggressor in Friday's semifinal bout, piling up eight first half shots, including three on goal, while limiting Montana to just two shots, neither of them on frame. 

The Hornets' first great look came late in the first half when Jasmyne Dunn forced a turnover just over midfield. Charging down the field, Dunn had only the keeper to beat, but her shot was a mere inches too high, clanging off the crossbar. Ele Avery was there for the follow up attempt, but her shot was saved by Montana's keeper, Camillia Xu. 

Sacramento State had another excellent look, again banging one off the cross bar in the 78th minute. After Avery drew a foul just outside of the box, Aubrey Goodwill sent a the free kick screaming toward the net. The ball slammed off the bottom of the crossbar and, for a moment, appeared to have enough of an angle to cross the goal line. 

Instead, the ball bounced around to Isabella Vinsonhaler, who's header would have put the Hornets ahead, 1-0, were it not for an incredible team save and clearance by a Montana defender. 

Despite Sacramento State's second close call of the match, it was Montana who took control offensively in the second half, outshooting the Hornets, 11-3 in the final 45. And after 86 minutes of gritty, scoreless soccer, it was Montana who scored the game's first and only goal. 

After a long service into the box, a perfectly placed header found the feet of open Montana forward Charley Boone. Boone's shot slipped just underneath the charging Mia Shalit and just past a diving Julia Herrera and into the back of the net. 

In the end, the two teams were nearly identical on paper.

Montana led in shots, 13-12, as well as in saves, 4-3. Both teams had four shots on goal. Sacramento State was whistled for 11 fouls, just two more than Montana's nine. 

The biggest difference in the box score came in corner kicks, where the Hornets piled up eight corner kick attempts to Montana's two. 

Dunn led Sacramento State with three shots while both Avery and Danna Restom had two. Dunn, Avery, Vinsonahler, and Tiffany Miras each placed a shot on goal for the Hornets. 

In goal, sophomore keeper Mia Shalit made three saves while helping direct a backline that put together an excellent pair of matches in the Big Sky Tournament. 

Friday's game was the last of the season and also the last for a number of instrumental Hornets. First among them is senior captain Julia Herrera, Sacramento State's all-time games played leader. Herrera played in 86 games for the Hornets, six more than the program's previous record. 

In addition to Herrera, seniors Shay Valnzano, Samantha Craig, Jessica Mann, Aubrey Goodwill, Tiffany Miras, and Ele Avery all competed in their final match on Friday. They are joined by seniors Kacie Pou, Ashlee Schouten, Katie Price, and Danielle Davis.