Montana Soccer comes home; Tough weekend ahead
10/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Griz fans, meet the Montana Soccer team. Montana Soccer, welcome back to South Campus Stadium and Missoula.
Introductions may sound ridiculous nearly halfway through the season, but after spending the past month on the road, the Griz may need introductions.
"It has been such a strange and disruptive season so far," assistant coach Eric Snyder said. "We are thrilled to be back at home and playing in front of our fans."
Playing in front of the home fans hopefully will provide a spark to what has been an anemic offense in the past two games. For the first time in the Grizzlies' eight-year history, Montana has been shut-out two games in a row, losing to Cal Poly 1-0 two weeks ago and then 2-0 to Idaho last Friday. UM only managed to get a combined 13 shots off in the two loses.
Annie P. Warren/Montana Kaimin
Griz senior forward Heather Olson kicks around during practice Thursday at the South Campus Stadium. The Grizzlies face Washington at 4 p.m. Friday and Colorado College at 1 p.m. Sunday.
While most of the blame may fall on the offense, it takes a total team effort to score goals, Snyder said.
"Our defense needs to win more balls," Snyder said. "We have not had the ball on offense that long and to get more time with the ball. The defense needs to get the offense the ball."
The kicker in being at home, is having to play No. 14 University of Washington Huskies Friday.
After racing out of the gate with four straight wins to start the season, UW's offense is in a lull similar to Montana's. The Huskies scored 12 goals in their first four games, but have scored only one goal in their last three.
Washington has gone 0-2-1 in those games, tieing Brigham Young 1-1 before losing 1-0 to No. 12 Texas A&M and No. 3 Portland.
If Montana is going to break out of its offensive struggles on Friday, it won't be easy. Hope Solo, Washington's goalkeeper, has been nothing short of spectacular this year, giving up 0.76 goals a game with two shutouts.
Solo has been battling injuries all year. She tore her groin Sept. 8. Solo has not missed any games, but she is still hampered by the groin injury that must be tightly taped for matches.
"She is a member of the U.S. National Team and is a great goalkeeper," Snyder said. "We are going to have to take advantage of the good shots we get."
Despite focusing on getting goals on the board, Montana will have to step up their game defensively Friday as well, especially early on. Washington has done most of their damage in the first half, scoring 10 goals compared to only three after the break.
Revenge will also be a factor, as Montana tries to atone for last year's 5-0 loss to the Huskies in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
"The team really wants to battle hard, especially after last year's loss," Snyder said.
UM will then wrap up non-conference play Sunday by hosting Colorado College. The Griz will face another tough defense in Colorado College, as the Tigers have shut out its last three opponents.
"They are a quality opponent, one we can't look by while concentrating on Washington," Snyder said. "It should be a good game."
Regardless of how Montana does this weekend, the Grizzlies ultimate goal is to keep improving and get fully prepared for the start of the Big Sky Conference schedule the following weekend.
"We are going into this weekend with the attitude to win the two games," Snyder said. "However, if we lose this weekend but beat Weber State and Idaho State to open the Big Sky season then we have done our job."
Friday's game against Washington starts at 4 p.m. and Sunday's game against Colorado College gets under way at 1 p.m. Both games are at South Campus Stadium.
Introductions may sound ridiculous nearly halfway through the season, but after spending the past month on the road, the Griz may need introductions.
"It has been such a strange and disruptive season so far," assistant coach Eric Snyder said. "We are thrilled to be back at home and playing in front of our fans."
Playing in front of the home fans hopefully will provide a spark to what has been an anemic offense in the past two games. For the first time in the Grizzlies' eight-year history, Montana has been shut-out two games in a row, losing to Cal Poly 1-0 two weeks ago and then 2-0 to Idaho last Friday. UM only managed to get a combined 13 shots off in the two loses.
Annie P. Warren/Montana Kaimin
Griz senior forward Heather Olson kicks around during practice Thursday at the South Campus Stadium. The Grizzlies face Washington at 4 p.m. Friday and Colorado College at 1 p.m. Sunday.
While most of the blame may fall on the offense, it takes a total team effort to score goals, Snyder said.
"Our defense needs to win more balls," Snyder said. "We have not had the ball on offense that long and to get more time with the ball. The defense needs to get the offense the ball."
The kicker in being at home, is having to play No. 14 University of Washington Huskies Friday.
After racing out of the gate with four straight wins to start the season, UW's offense is in a lull similar to Montana's. The Huskies scored 12 goals in their first four games, but have scored only one goal in their last three.
Washington has gone 0-2-1 in those games, tieing Brigham Young 1-1 before losing 1-0 to No. 12 Texas A&M and No. 3 Portland.
If Montana is going to break out of its offensive struggles on Friday, it won't be easy. Hope Solo, Washington's goalkeeper, has been nothing short of spectacular this year, giving up 0.76 goals a game with two shutouts.
Solo has been battling injuries all year. She tore her groin Sept. 8. Solo has not missed any games, but she is still hampered by the groin injury that must be tightly taped for matches.
"She is a member of the U.S. National Team and is a great goalkeeper," Snyder said. "We are going to have to take advantage of the good shots we get."
Despite focusing on getting goals on the board, Montana will have to step up their game defensively Friday as well, especially early on. Washington has done most of their damage in the first half, scoring 10 goals compared to only three after the break.
Revenge will also be a factor, as Montana tries to atone for last year's 5-0 loss to the Huskies in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
"The team really wants to battle hard, especially after last year's loss," Snyder said.
UM will then wrap up non-conference play Sunday by hosting Colorado College. The Griz will face another tough defense in Colorado College, as the Tigers have shut out its last three opponents.
"They are a quality opponent, one we can't look by while concentrating on Washington," Snyder said. "It should be a good game."
Regardless of how Montana does this weekend, the Grizzlies ultimate goal is to keep improving and get fully prepared for the start of the Big Sky Conference schedule the following weekend.
"We are going into this weekend with the attitude to win the two games," Snyder said. "However, if we lose this weekend but beat Weber State and Idaho State to open the Big Sky season then we have done our job."
Friday's game against Washington starts at 4 p.m. and Sunday's game against Colorado College gets under way at 1 p.m. Both games are at South Campus Stadium.
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