Griz soccer opens regular season with Montana Nike Cup
8/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The University of Montana women's soccer team, coming off exhibition wins over Carroll College and MSU-Billings last weekend, begin the 2004 regular season this week as they host the Montana Nike Cup at South Campus Stadium. The Grizzlies square off against the University of Idaho Vandals on Friday at 5 p.m., and the Washington State University Cougars on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Also participating in the Montana Nike Cup will be the University of Denver Pioneers (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) who will face Washington State in the early match at 3 p.m. on Friday. The Pioneers will also compete in the early match on Sunday at noon against conference foe Idaho.
Both Grizzly matches will be webcast live on MontanaGrizzlies.Com, the official website of Montana Grizzly Athletics. A link to the webcast will be prominently displayed on the website's home page.
Sedgwick Sound Bytes
On the tournament field...
"It's a good balanced field that should provide a great deal of entertainment for soccer supporters around Missoula. Washington State and Denver have done very well over the last few years. It will be a definite challenge for us this weekend."
On starting the regular season...
"Our team is ready to go. Although last weekend's exhibition play was against outside competition, there will be greater excitement this week as we start the regular season."
On the Grizzlies' early season progress...
"I think we've made progress in both attack and defense. We're putting that ground work in so we can build on it throughout the season."
Idaho Vandals
The University of Idaho women's soccer team is led by third-year head coach Arby Busey. Busey has an overall record of 5-26-7 at his alma mater.
The 2003 Vandals finished 3-12-4 overall, and 1-8 in Big West play. All three wins came on their home turf at Wicks Field in Moscow.
Idaho returns 18 letterwinners and nine starters for the 2004 season. Junior Adriane Kehl and sophomore Alyson South are two forwards that spearhead the offensive attack for the Vandals. Kehl was second on the team last season with six points (two goals, two assists) while South recorded four points (one goal, two assists).
The Vandals beat the Grizzlies last season 4-2 in a match played in Moscow. Idaho leads the all-time series over Montana 2-1.
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State University women's soccer team is led by second-year head coach Matt Potter. Potter finished his first season at the helm with an overall mark of 6-11-2, 2-5-2 in Pac-10 play.
The Cougars return 16 letterwinners and four starters from last year's squad. WSU will be led by junior goalkeeper Katie Hultin. Hultin received 2003 All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors for her stout play in goal. Hultin recorded seven shutouts, made 77 saves en route to a 6-9-1 overall record.
Montana leads the all-time series over Washington State 5-4-1.
Denver Pioneers
The University of Denver women's soccer team is led by head coach Jeff Hooker, now in his 12th year at the helm of the program. During his tenure at Denver, Hooker has compiled an overall mark of 132-54-20, which includes four league titles (then Colorado Athletic) between 1992-1995.
The 2003 Pioneers had the best season in school history with an overall mark of 17-2-2 and a league record of 7-1 on their way to the Sun Belt title.
Denver returns 16 letterwinners and 10 starters this season. Sophomore forward Lleane Grimditch is the top returning scorer for the 2004 Pioneers. Grimditch accounted for 14 goals and seven assists in the 2003 season. Grimditch was named freshman of the year in the Sun Belt Conference and was also a first team all-league selection.
Montana 3, MSU-Billings 1
The University of Montana women's soccer team defeated MSU-Billings 3-1 Sunday afternoon at South Campus Stadium in Missoula. The Grizzlies out-shot the Yellowjackets 17 to six in their final exhibition match of the 2004 season. Nineteen Grizzlies saw action in the match that was broken down into three 30 minute periods.
"At this point in the season we have some things to work on, which is expected with exhibition play," First year head coach Neil Sedgwick said. "We need to continue to improve and get to a point where we can play our best soccer by the time conference play begins."
For the second time in as many exhibition matches, sophomore forward Lindsay Winans registered the Grizzlies' first goal. The 5-11 Winans scored in the eight minute when she headed a cross off a corner kick that was taken by freshman defender Tatiana Kaiser.
UM held the one-goal advantage until the 15th minute, when MSU-Billings' Ally Taylor got in behind the Grizzly defense and was able to chip junior goalkeeper Sarah Braseth to tie the game at 1-1.
Montana regained the lead in the 50th minute with aggressive offense by forwards Meghan Chambers and Stephanie Davis. Chambers, a freshman from Lake Oswego, Ore., beat a Yellowjacket defender down the right side and fired a shot on goal. MSU-Billings goalkeeper Megan Plank punched the ball in the direction of the junior Davis, who put-back the rebound to give UM a 2-1 lead.
The Grizzlies put the game out of reach in the 63rd minute when senior forward Tara Schwager, on the receiving end of a long ball from sophomore forward Lily Coble, beat a Yellowjacket defender one-on-one. Schwager, who knotched a team-high four shots on the day, ricocheted her attempt off MSU-Billings' Plank and put-back her own rebound for the score.
Despite the two wins this weekend, Schwager feels that there are improvements that need to be made. "This week we need to work hard at practice and get ourselves ready for the upcoming regular season," Schwager said. "As a team we're learning as we play, it's going to take time. Each game we learn more and more and eventually we'll be at the top of our game."
Montana 4, Carroll College 0
Lindsay Winans scored two goals to lead The University of Montana women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Carroll College Saturday afternoon in exhibition play at South Campus Stadium in Missoula. The Grizzlies out-shot the Saints 19 to four, in a dominant performance which was UM's first outside competition since the beginning of fall camp.
"A positive with a first game is always that we have an opportunity to see how the players are performing, to see if the things we worked on in training camp are coming through in our game," First year head coach Neil Sedgwick said. "Things can get a little scrappy and it was today, but there was some progress made."
19 of the 23 players on the 2004 Grizzly soccer roster saw action in the exhibition match that was broken into three 30 minutes periods. The Grizzlies aggressive style of play was evident in their 13 total fouls, to the Saints six.
The Grizzly scoring spree started in the 10th minute when Winans, UM's leading goal scorer from a year ago, played a header off a long pass from freshman defender Tatiana Kaiser. Carroll College goalkeeper Nikki Skaggs rushed Winans at the top of the 18-yard box, but the 5-11 forward was able to head the ball over the goalkeeper into the net.
"We've been practicing really hard, we definitely stepped it up today," Winans said. "We all came out excited and ready to play. We were able to put a few in the back of the net and that's always good."
Senior co-captain Nikki Bolstad scored Montana's second goal of the exhibition contest in the 40th minute. The senior from Clancy, Mont. netted an electrifying left-footed goal from just inside the 18-yard box.
Junior Stephanie Davis came off the bench to add a spark to the Grizzly offensive attack. Davis fired off a team-high four shots, scoring on one opportunity in the 56th minute off a feed from freshman Meghan Chambers.
In the 60th minute, Davis was on the attack again when she was taken down in the box by Carroll's Skaggs. The foul allowed for Winans to score her second goal of the game on the ensuing penalty kick to round off the day's scoring.
Also participating in the Montana Nike Cup will be the University of Denver Pioneers (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) who will face Washington State in the early match at 3 p.m. on Friday. The Pioneers will also compete in the early match on Sunday at noon against conference foe Idaho.
Both Grizzly matches will be webcast live on MontanaGrizzlies.Com, the official website of Montana Grizzly Athletics. A link to the webcast will be prominently displayed on the website's home page.
Sedgwick Sound Bytes
On the tournament field...
"It's a good balanced field that should provide a great deal of entertainment for soccer supporters around Missoula. Washington State and Denver have done very well over the last few years. It will be a definite challenge for us this weekend."
On starting the regular season...
"Our team is ready to go. Although last weekend's exhibition play was against outside competition, there will be greater excitement this week as we start the regular season."
On the Grizzlies' early season progress...
"I think we've made progress in both attack and defense. We're putting that ground work in so we can build on it throughout the season."
Idaho Vandals
The University of Idaho women's soccer team is led by third-year head coach Arby Busey. Busey has an overall record of 5-26-7 at his alma mater.
The 2003 Vandals finished 3-12-4 overall, and 1-8 in Big West play. All three wins came on their home turf at Wicks Field in Moscow.
Idaho returns 18 letterwinners and nine starters for the 2004 season. Junior Adriane Kehl and sophomore Alyson South are two forwards that spearhead the offensive attack for the Vandals. Kehl was second on the team last season with six points (two goals, two assists) while South recorded four points (one goal, two assists).
The Vandals beat the Grizzlies last season 4-2 in a match played in Moscow. Idaho leads the all-time series over Montana 2-1.
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State University women's soccer team is led by second-year head coach Matt Potter. Potter finished his first season at the helm with an overall mark of 6-11-2, 2-5-2 in Pac-10 play.
The Cougars return 16 letterwinners and four starters from last year's squad. WSU will be led by junior goalkeeper Katie Hultin. Hultin received 2003 All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors for her stout play in goal. Hultin recorded seven shutouts, made 77 saves en route to a 6-9-1 overall record.
Montana leads the all-time series over Washington State 5-4-1.
Denver Pioneers
The University of Denver women's soccer team is led by head coach Jeff Hooker, now in his 12th year at the helm of the program. During his tenure at Denver, Hooker has compiled an overall mark of 132-54-20, which includes four league titles (then Colorado Athletic) between 1992-1995.
The 2003 Pioneers had the best season in school history with an overall mark of 17-2-2 and a league record of 7-1 on their way to the Sun Belt title.
Denver returns 16 letterwinners and 10 starters this season. Sophomore forward Lleane Grimditch is the top returning scorer for the 2004 Pioneers. Grimditch accounted for 14 goals and seven assists in the 2003 season. Grimditch was named freshman of the year in the Sun Belt Conference and was also a first team all-league selection.
Montana 3, MSU-Billings 1
The University of Montana women's soccer team defeated MSU-Billings 3-1 Sunday afternoon at South Campus Stadium in Missoula. The Grizzlies out-shot the Yellowjackets 17 to six in their final exhibition match of the 2004 season. Nineteen Grizzlies saw action in the match that was broken down into three 30 minute periods.
"At this point in the season we have some things to work on, which is expected with exhibition play," First year head coach Neil Sedgwick said. "We need to continue to improve and get to a point where we can play our best soccer by the time conference play begins."
For the second time in as many exhibition matches, sophomore forward Lindsay Winans registered the Grizzlies' first goal. The 5-11 Winans scored in the eight minute when she headed a cross off a corner kick that was taken by freshman defender Tatiana Kaiser.
UM held the one-goal advantage until the 15th minute, when MSU-Billings' Ally Taylor got in behind the Grizzly defense and was able to chip junior goalkeeper Sarah Braseth to tie the game at 1-1.
Montana regained the lead in the 50th minute with aggressive offense by forwards Meghan Chambers and Stephanie Davis. Chambers, a freshman from Lake Oswego, Ore., beat a Yellowjacket defender down the right side and fired a shot on goal. MSU-Billings goalkeeper Megan Plank punched the ball in the direction of the junior Davis, who put-back the rebound to give UM a 2-1 lead.
The Grizzlies put the game out of reach in the 63rd minute when senior forward Tara Schwager, on the receiving end of a long ball from sophomore forward Lily Coble, beat a Yellowjacket defender one-on-one. Schwager, who knotched a team-high four shots on the day, ricocheted her attempt off MSU-Billings' Plank and put-back her own rebound for the score.
Despite the two wins this weekend, Schwager feels that there are improvements that need to be made. "This week we need to work hard at practice and get ourselves ready for the upcoming regular season," Schwager said. "As a team we're learning as we play, it's going to take time. Each game we learn more and more and eventually we'll be at the top of our game."
Montana 4, Carroll College 0
Lindsay Winans scored two goals to lead The University of Montana women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Carroll College Saturday afternoon in exhibition play at South Campus Stadium in Missoula. The Grizzlies out-shot the Saints 19 to four, in a dominant performance which was UM's first outside competition since the beginning of fall camp.
"A positive with a first game is always that we have an opportunity to see how the players are performing, to see if the things we worked on in training camp are coming through in our game," First year head coach Neil Sedgwick said. "Things can get a little scrappy and it was today, but there was some progress made."
19 of the 23 players on the 2004 Grizzly soccer roster saw action in the exhibition match that was broken into three 30 minutes periods. The Grizzlies aggressive style of play was evident in their 13 total fouls, to the Saints six.
The Grizzly scoring spree started in the 10th minute when Winans, UM's leading goal scorer from a year ago, played a header off a long pass from freshman defender Tatiana Kaiser. Carroll College goalkeeper Nikki Skaggs rushed Winans at the top of the 18-yard box, but the 5-11 forward was able to head the ball over the goalkeeper into the net.
"We've been practicing really hard, we definitely stepped it up today," Winans said. "We all came out excited and ready to play. We were able to put a few in the back of the net and that's always good."
Senior co-captain Nikki Bolstad scored Montana's second goal of the exhibition contest in the 40th minute. The senior from Clancy, Mont. netted an electrifying left-footed goal from just inside the 18-yard box.
Junior Stephanie Davis came off the bench to add a spark to the Grizzly offensive attack. Davis fired off a team-high four shots, scoring on one opportunity in the 56th minute off a feed from freshman Meghan Chambers.
In the 60th minute, Davis was on the attack again when she was taken down in the box by Carroll's Skaggs. The foul allowed for Winans to score her second goal of the game on the ensuing penalty kick to round off the day's scoring.
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