ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- What a difference a year has made for the Sonoma Leghorns.

In 2009, the Leghorns were one of the doormats of the Adrenaline Shootout. In 2010, they are heading to the quarterfinals for the first time in club history.

On Friday night, middie Matt Samet scored a co-game-high three goals to lead hometown Sonoma to an 8-6 victory over San Diego LaxDawgs Brown in the decisive game in South Swell Group 1 at Sonoma State University.

With the victory, the Leghorns (4-0-1) ran their unbeaten streak to five at this year’s tournament and won the six-team group. Sonoma will play Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m., PDT, in the quarterfinals.

“We could only go up after last year,” Samet said. “We had some scrimmages, and the way we were playing felt really good. We actually have fewer players than we did last year. It just must have been the extra year we’ve had playing, and we’ve all worked really hard. It’s definitely paid off.”

Attackman Jake McIntyre and middie Blake Olsen each scored twice, and attackman Tony Milano had a goal and an assist to round out the scoring for the Leghorns.

In defeat, attackman Alex Bookout scored three goals, attackman Kyle Runyon had a pair and middie Sergio Flores finished with a goal and an assist for San Diego (3-1-1). Despite the loss, LaxDawgs Brown finished second in the group and snuck into the quarterfinals on a tiebreaker. They will also play at 8:30 a.m., Saturday morning.

On Friday, the game was tied, 4-4, in the second half when Sonoma went on a decisive four-goal run. Samet started the run when he scored to put Sonoma ahead to stay with 17 minutes remaining. By the time McIntyre concluded it with five minutes left, the Leghorns led 8-4.

Runyon scored back-to-back goals in the final four minutes to bring San Diego within two, but Sonoma withstood furious pressure in the end to take the group.

“We’re just stoked,” Samet said. “We’re all going to just go home and get a bunch of sleep and come out ready to play lacrosse. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”