Photo by: Todd Goodrich
10/26/2017 12:57:00 PM | Soccer
Ten Grizzlies will be recognized at South Campus Stadium on Friday (3 p.m. vs. Portland State), part of Senior Day festivities prior to Montana's final home soccer game of the season.
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With the Grizzlies currently holding a West Region ranking and the possibility of a No. 2 seed in next week's Big Sky Soccer Championship, the season is – hopefully – far from over. However, let's take a moment to reflect on what these 10 players have meant to the soccer program and university, because the group has been part of plenty of successes – both on and off the field.
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The team has won 40 games over the past four seasons (with more possible victories on the horizon). It's the program's best four-year stretch since winning 44 games from 1999-2002. Not only that, but the team has been even better at home and during conference play.
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The team's 22 home wins over the past four years (22-7-4) are the most since 2000-2003, and a victory on Friday would secure an unbeaten home record in 2017 (currently 6-0-1). Also with a win on Friday, it would mark Montana's most Big Sky Conference victories ever over a four-year period (currently tied with 1997-2000 teams at 23).
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The senior class has advanced to four Big Sky Soccer Championships – the first class to do so since Montana went to eight in a row from 1997-2004 – and went unbeaten in 2014 on its way to a Big Sky regular-season title.
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"You couldn't ask for a better freshman year for them," head coach Mark Plakorus reflected. "From the time they were freshmen, they made an impact on the team and have made us better."
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A Grizzly team has won nine or more games in a season 12 times. Four of those have been with this class.
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Ashlee Pedersen earned All-Big Sky Tournament honors as a sophomore in 2015 (in addition to honorable mention accolades during the season), while Chanelle Pederson was named to the All-Big Sky second team in 2016 and honorable mention in 2014 as a freshman. Pederson will likely finish her career in the top three all-time for games played and minutes played. Additionally, Allie Lucas is three games away from setting Montana's all-time record for most games played for the Griz.
Off the field, eight different players have earned 18 Academic All-Big Sky selections, with more surely to come this winter.
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"When you recruit a young student-athlete to come to your program, you don't just want them to be successful on the field," Plakorus said. "As much as we want to compete for championships, they're here to get an education and grow as individuals. College is where a young person starts to find themselves and figure out what they want to do in their lives. This group has done that."
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The class is particularly special to Plakorus, who, because of how recruiting generally works, considers this class the first he recruited from start to finish, and has been with each step of the way.
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"It's a bittersweet day," he said. "It's one of those milestones in a young person's career and life that so few people get the chance to experience, and they've been so successful at it, both on and off the field. It's going to be a special day, and I'm just very proud of this group."
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Senior Class by the Numbers
Charlene Burger | M | Vancouver, Wash.
Kaitlin Crowell | M/D | Klamath Falls, Ore.
Maddy Emerick | M | Billings, Mont.
Natalie Hein | M/D | Valencia, Calif.
Allie Lucas | F | Billings, Mont.
Lily Obrigewitch | F/D | Bismarck, N.D.
Ashlee Pedersen | D/F | Mead, Wash.
Chanelle Pederson | D | Puyallup, Wash.
Maddie Vincent | G | West Des Moines, Iowa
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With the Grizzlies currently holding a West Region ranking and the possibility of a No. 2 seed in next week's Big Sky Soccer Championship, the season is – hopefully – far from over. However, let's take a moment to reflect on what these 10 players have meant to the soccer program and university, because the group has been part of plenty of successes – both on and off the field.
Â
The team has won 40 games over the past four seasons (with more possible victories on the horizon). It's the program's best four-year stretch since winning 44 games from 1999-2002. Not only that, but the team has been even better at home and during conference play.
Â
The team's 22 home wins over the past four years (22-7-4) are the most since 2000-2003, and a victory on Friday would secure an unbeaten home record in 2017 (currently 6-0-1). Also with a win on Friday, it would mark Montana's most Big Sky Conference victories ever over a four-year period (currently tied with 1997-2000 teams at 23).
Â
The senior class has advanced to four Big Sky Soccer Championships – the first class to do so since Montana went to eight in a row from 1997-2004 – and went unbeaten in 2014 on its way to a Big Sky regular-season title.
Â
"You couldn't ask for a better freshman year for them," head coach Mark Plakorus reflected. "From the time they were freshmen, they made an impact on the team and have made us better."
Â
A Grizzly team has won nine or more games in a season 12 times. Four of those have been with this class.
Â
Ashlee Pedersen earned All-Big Sky Tournament honors as a sophomore in 2015 (in addition to honorable mention accolades during the season), while Chanelle Pederson was named to the All-Big Sky second team in 2016 and honorable mention in 2014 as a freshman. Pederson will likely finish her career in the top three all-time for games played and minutes played. Additionally, Allie Lucas is three games away from setting Montana's all-time record for most games played for the Griz.
Off the field, eight different players have earned 18 Academic All-Big Sky selections, with more surely to come this winter.
Â
"When you recruit a young student-athlete to come to your program, you don't just want them to be successful on the field," Plakorus said. "As much as we want to compete for championships, they're here to get an education and grow as individuals. College is where a young person starts to find themselves and figure out what they want to do in their lives. This group has done that."
Â
The class is particularly special to Plakorus, who, because of how recruiting generally works, considers this class the first he recruited from start to finish, and has been with each step of the way.
Â
"It's a bittersweet day," he said. "It's one of those milestones in a young person's career and life that so few people get the chance to experience, and they've been so successful at it, both on and off the field. It's going to be a special day, and I'm just very proud of this group."
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Senior Class by the Numbers
- Games Played: 490
- Games Started: 203
- Goals: 28
- Assists: 23
- Points: 79
- Shots: 262
- Shots on Goal: 118
- Minutes Played: 22,380
Madison Adams | M/F | Lake Tapps, Wash.@MontanaGrizSOC plays the final home game of the season TOMORROW & it's senior day! Get out to South Campus & help us get a W! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/zKf7Isjpal
— Montana Grizzlies (@UMGRIZZLIES) October 26, 2017
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? My experience at Montana has been nothing like I thought my college career would be. There have been so many ups and downs, as in most peoples' college experience, but the ups have been so incredible in so many ways. Not only have I gotten to live my dreams by playing college soccer, but I have met some of my best friends that I know will be in my life forever. I am forever in debt to Missoula for bringing me the best friends I could ever ask for.
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? My favorite soccer memory has been getting to go to camp in Kalispell for our team bonding trips the past two years. It was so fun getting to spend time with my teammates and create relationships with people that I never thought I would. Getting to hike parts of Glacier and explore the outdoors was always so amazing!
- Madison is a psychology major and will be graduating in December.
Charlene Burger | M | Vancouver, Wash.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? My experience at Montana has led me to some of my best friends who have helped shape me into the person I am today.
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? My favorite memory has just been all of the amazing relationships that I have built within the program, and all of the memories that I have shared with each of these people.
- Charlene is an elementary education major and will graduate this spring.
Kaitlin Crowell | M/D | Klamath Falls, Ore.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? My experience here has meant the world to me because I have gotten to spend the last four years with the most amazing group of girls who have all turned out to be my best friends. Through the highs and the lows, it has been the most meaningful and important four years of my life.Â
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? My favorite memories are all of the bus rides and great times spent with my team, because those are the times I will miss the most.
- Kaitlin is double majoring in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, also adding a minor in biology. She will graduate this spring.
Maddy Emerick | M | Billings, Mont.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? It has been an absolute pleasure playing for my home state. Â I love the atmosphere at Montana, and most importantly the pride everyone here has for this university and state. Â
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? The last two preseasons driving up to Kalispell and hiking and hanging out in Glacier with the team. It seemed so special being in such a beautiful place with the team.
- Maddy is studying elementary education and will graduate this spring.
Natalie Hein | M/D | Valencia, Calif.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? My experience at Montana has meant a lot to me. I've met some of my best friends here, through soccer and through joining a sorority. Along with that, I've learned valuable life lessons and how to overcome adversity. Hurting my knee twice in the same year during my freshman and sophomore years was not how I planned them going originally, but it taught me a lot about myself. In addition to that, I've found that the people you surround yourself with in college are the people who make your college experience worthwhile, and I'm so lucky to have met all of the people who impacted my experience in such a positive way.
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? There are a lot of memories to choose from, but my favorite soccer memory had to be when Allie Lucas went in for the first time in the whole game with 3Â minutes left in overtime and scored her first time touching the ball. That was seriously just the best moment.
- Natalie is double majoring in marketing and psychology, and will graduate this spring.
Allie Lucas | F | Billings, Mont.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? Montana brought me the most amazing people. It brought me friendships that will last for my whole life.Â
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? When Hallie (Widner) came back from a year-long injury and had three goals in the first three games.
- Allie is double majoring in business management and organizational communication, and is expected to graduate in December 2018.
Lily Obrigewitch | F/D | Bismarck, N.D.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? Being able to say I'm a part of Grizzly Athletics has been such a blessing. It's such an amazing feeling to be able to wear 'Montana' across your chest. To say I'm proud to be a part of this program is an understatement.
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? I don't know if I have a single favorite soccer memory; I've just shared so many special moments with my class that have been amazing. We've grinded through the toughest times and the best times together, and every single moment of it has been my favorite since I got to do it with all my best friends.
- Lily is a human health and performance major and is on track to graduate May 2019.
Ashlee Pedersen | D/F | Mead, Wash.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? My experience at Montana has helped shape the person I am today. It has taught me the importance of friendship, patience and perseverance. However, most importantly, friendship. My teammates have made the last four years so special and I wouldn't have made it this far without them. They lift me up when I am down and continue to make me laugh when I am happy. Out of the last four years, I am most thankful to my teammates that have become some of my best friends.Â
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? This is hard. I think one of my favorites would be when Kaitlin (Crowell) scored her first goal of the season last year. The look on her face was priceless and we jumped up to hug/cheer/laugh for way longer than we probably should have.Â
- Ashlee will graduate this spring with a major in exercise science and a minor in math.
Chanelle Pederson | D | Puyallup, Wash.
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? My experience at Montana has meant the world to me. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been given this opportunity to get to play for this amazing school and with my best friends. Looking back on my years here at Montana, I am overwhelmed with emotions. There have been so many amazing memories with this team that I am so grateful for.
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? I don't have one particular memory that is my favorite, but I would say my favorite memories as a Grizzly would be when I was with the team. These girls truly turn into your best friends, and every time I am with them it is always so much fun. From blasting music in the locker room to singing on the bus to playing 'what are the odds?', these are the memories I'll look back on.
- Chanelle will graduate this spring with a degree in communications.Â
Maddie Vincent | G | West Des Moines, Iowa
- What has your experience at Montana meant to you? Montana soccer introduced me to the funniest, quirkiest, most supportive and incredibly talented people I've ever met. I wouldn't trade anything for the experiences I've had with them.
- What is your favorite memory as a Grizzly? Every time I get to watch my teammates come out of a sweet tackle, make a brilliant pass, score an amazing goal or make a sick save is my favorite memory. I love being able to support them in their successes.
- Maddie will earn her master's degree this spring in environmental science and natural resource journalism.
Players Mentioned
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G
/ SoccerMonday, November 09
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Sunday, November 08
Monday, November 02
