The North Dakota women’s soccer team will head out west to begin Big Sky Conference play this weekend.

UND will match up against Sacramento State on Friday at 7 p.m. Following that game, the team will travel north to Portland State to face the Vikings at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

UND will open up its Big Sky Conference play against Sacramento State, a team that enters the weekend with a 4-4-1 record.

When the two teams faced each other last year, UND was edged out 1-0 on its home turf. Sacramento St. scored in the 14th minute, and out-shot UND 20-12 in the contest.

Sacramento St. has scored eleven goals this season, six of which were scored by sophomore forward Alyssa Anderson. But UND is ready to shut down Sacramento St.’s offense.

“We are going to play a compact back, not let her through,” senior captain Amada Dahl said.

Portland State also defeated UND 3-1 last year in Grand Forks. North Dakota got on the board first with a goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, the Vikings recorded two goals and a UND goal to take the 3-1 win.

After suffering a loss against both opponents, North Dakota has unfinished business to attend to.

UND is prepared to show the teams that it is ready to play this year, despite its 1-8-1 record.

“It’s time to turn it around now that it is conference play,” junior goalkeeper Kristi Hestdalen said. “It is time to pick up the pace.”

Dahl also has a good feeling about the conference opener.

“I am excited to go to the West Coast and give it another crack,” Dahl said. “We are going to show the Big Sky how much we have changed and improved. I think we are going to surprise them.”

She emphasized that the team was confident and ready to go, saying they are in the point of the season when things start coming together.

Both Dahl and Hestdalen agreed team chemistry is what stands out.

“We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses more and it helps us on the field,” Dahl said.

The team is pinpointing its resources and focusing on improvement. Impact players are starting to emerge, with five players scoring their first collegiate goals this season: Zoe Foster, Caitlin Dahl, Robyn Wujkowski, Marissa Ricci and Andrea Hyduke.

While UND will head out west in hopes of a strong start to Big Sky Conference play, Dahl has a few other wishes as well — in addition to seeing new places and things — that may happen during the climb to the top.

“Maybe we will see a mountain bigger than the speedbumps in Grand Forks,” she said.

Live stats for Friday’s game can be accessed at Hornet-Sports.com and Sunday’s game is available at GoViks.com. A live video stream is also available for Sunday’s game against Portland State on AmericaOne-Sports.com/BigSky.asp.

Allison Moore is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at allison.h.moore@my.und.edu.