Countdown to Griz soccer :: Preseason prospectus
8/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The Montana soccer team opens its 2014 season Wednesday with its first practices of the year. The preseason prospectus is a fan's first step in getting prepared for fourth-year coach Mark Plakorus's latest Griz squad.
The preseason prospectus is the first of a number of soccer articles coming out this week. The Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll is being announced Wednesday, redshirt sophomore Savannah Witt will be profiled later in the week, and the season preview will be released this weekend.
Just 16 days separate Montana's first practice on Aug. 6 and the Grizzlies' first match of the season, at Air Force on Aug. 22. In between, Montana will host Carroll in an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m. at South Campus Stadium.
Montana will be on the road the first four weekends of the regular season, a stretch of road games that concludes with matches at Texas and Missouri.
The Grizzlies will host the four-team Montana Invitational Sept. 19 and 21, then open Big Sky Conference play the final weekend of September.
Montana returns six starters and six other letterwinners from its 2013 team that went 7-8-4 and tied for sixth in the Big Sky with a 3-5-1 league mark.
Lost from last year's team are players who accounted for 12 of the team's 25 goals, including India Watne and Maddey Frey, who combined for nine goals to lead the team.
Junior midfielder Mackenzie Akins, who totaled three goals and a team-leading five assists in 2013, is the team's leading returning scorer.
