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http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story_2nd.php?story_id=128155948003213900

Although the Portland State women's soccer team may not carry as many national team prospects as their cross-town counterparts, it's clear that the players compete with as much heart and drive as the stars do at University of Portland.

Portland State, which won the Big Sky Conference regular-season championship last season, is looking to repeat and build on that success, including vying for a trip to the NCAA playoffs.

"We're capable of taking that next step into the NCAA tournament," says head coach Laura Schott, who has been at the helm  for the past two years.

Schott, 29, was a member of the U.S. national team, making four starts in the 2001 Algarve Cup, among other appearances. She was a two-time state player of the year for Jesuit High and played collegiately for California.

PSU returns its young core, with nine sophomores and only a handful of upperclassmen to a team that has plenty of freshmen, as well.

"I think one of our bigger challenges will be to get everyone working together and getting familiar with each other," says starting midfielder Amanda Dutra, a second-team all-Big Sky selection as a freshman last season and one of several players with local ties.

Dutra graduated from Sherwood and was the Class 5A player of the year as a senior.

Fronting the senior class is midfielder Frankie Ross from Oakland, Calif., who joined Dutra on the all-conference second team last season.

Ross was second on the Vikings in shots and shots on goal in 2009.

"I'd like to see myself score more, especially in nonconference games," she says.

She leads a group of seniors who Schott believes can step up at different times.

"Although they are a small group, they can be dangerous," Schott says.

Ross will try to lead an attack that almost put PSU in the NCAA postseason last season. In the semifinal of the Big Sky tournament, the Vikings drew 1-1 in a match against Northern Arizona that lasted into double overtime and resulted in the first penalty-kick shootout in school history. The Vikings came up short, 4-3.

"The rematch against NAU will be big," Schott says.

The Vikings will get an early test when they open the season at UP on Aug. 20. After a home game Aug. 22 against Boise State, the Vikings will travel to Las Vegas to play Louisiana-Monroe and Albany on Aug. 27 and 29. Then comes a Sept. 10 match at 2009 NCAA tourney team Oregon State. On Sept. 17, the Viks will go to San Diego, also an '09 NCAA playoff qualifier.

The first of seven Big Sky games is at home (Hillsboro Stadium this year) on Oct. 8 against Eastern Washington.

The Vikings will face four teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season.

Schott says there is no reason why PSU cannot repeat as Big Sky champs this season, but she adds that the players must be hungry for the next step.

"They're focused and ready to put the work in," Schott says. "They're capable of doing it."