Friday, October 2
Missoula, Mont.
3:00 PM
Montana
vs
Southern Utah
Griz back home for two matches at South Campus Stadium
9/29/2015 4:00:00 PM | Soccer
Montana hosts Southern Utah on Friday, Northern Arizona on Sunday
The Montana soccer team, coming off a pair of road losses to open its Big Sky Conference schedule, will host Southern Utah and Northern Arizona this week at South Campus Stadium as the Grizzlies reach week two of five of their league schedule.
The Grizzlies will face the Thunderbirds Friday at 3 p.m. and the Lumberjacks Sunday at noon. Sunday's match is the only one of the week for Northern Arizona, as is Friday's for Southern Utah.
Coverage: This week's matches will have video coverage and live stats. All available options can be found on the soccer schedule page at gogriz.com.
At a glance: All 11 Big Sky Conference teams opened their league schedules last weekend. Montana went on the road and lost 2-1 at North Dakota and 3-2 at Northern Colorado. The Grizzlies (3-7-1, 0-2-0 BSC) were one of four teams to go 0-2-0, along with Southern Utah, Weber State and Idaho State.
Southern Utah (5-5-0, 0-2-0 BSC), which entered league on a four-match winning streak, lost 2-1 in overtime at Portland State and 4-1 at Sacramento State last weekend. Northern Arizona (6-5-0, 1-1-0 BSC) split the same trip, losing 1-0 in overtime at Sacramento State and winning 2-1 at Portland State.
Montana coach Mark Plakorus's blanket synopsis: "We're getting better, but we're a team that is still trying to figure things out as a team. We know how to play. We know how to attack teams and how to defend. With all the changes we've had to deal with, it's been difficult to find a rhythm and build some confidence. We're still choppy in everything we do.
"It's frustrating, and that's the biggest danger facing this team right now. We need to recognize that we're an incredibly talented team and trust that. We have to trust in each other and in the principles of the program and trust it will all fall into place, because I like our team and the talent we have. We just have to put everything on the line and play as hard as we can and hopefully find that rhythm as we go forward."
More on Southern Utah: The Thunderbirds went 4-4-2 in league matches last season and missed the Big Sky tournament by a single point. ... SUU was picked 10th out of 11 teams in this season's preseason coaches' poll. ... Southern Utah is coached by Becky Hogan, who is 21-34-6 in her fourth season. ... One of SUU's five wins this season was 2-1 over Utah Valley, a team that beat Montana 6-2. ... The Thunderbirds lost on a penalty kick in the 98th minute Friday at Portland State. They were outshot in the match 21-6 but stayed in it behind goalkeeper Taylor Bolding, who made eight saves. ... Bolding allowed four goals on 11 shots on goal in Sunday's 4-1 loss at Sacramento State. SUU's lone goal came in the 89th minute when it was 4-0. ... Sophomore forward Ally Thimsen and freshman forward Paige Robins lead the Thunderbirds with four goals each.
History: Montana, at 2-0-2, is unbeaten against Southern Utah. The teams have played each season since 2011. ... The teams' only previous meeting in Missoula was a 3-1 Griz victory in 2013. ... Last year in Cedar City, Montana built a 2-0 lead on goals by Hallie Widner and Mackenzie Akins, but two second-half goals by Southern Utah helped the Thunderbirds rally for a 2-2 draw.
More on Northern Arizona: The Lumberjacks finished third in the Big Sky last season with a 5-2-3 record. NAU won the tournament championship at South Campus Stadium with three one-goal victories in four days. Northern Arizona lost 4-2 to Arizona State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. ... With eight starters back, the Lumberjacks were picked first in the preseason coaches' poll, picking up five first-place votes to Montana's four. ... Northern Arizona dropped its league opener Friday at Sac State when the Hornets scored the game-winner in the 98th minute in a match that was near even statistically. ... On Sunday the Lumberjacks scored two second half goals, in the 65th and 86th minutes, to rally for a victory at Portland State. Junior forward Lindsay Doyle scored both goals. ... At 2.36 per match, NAU is the highest-scoring team in the Big Sky. Senior forward Haley Wingender, last year's tournament MVP, leads the team with seven goals.
History: Montana leads the all-time series with Northern Arizona 13-6-2, including an 8-1-1 mark in matches played in Missoula. ... The Lumberjacks picked up their first win in Missoula on their last visit, in 2013, when they won 2-1. ... Last season the teams played to a 0-0 draw at Flagstaff. ... Six of the teams' last seven meetings have been ties or one-goal matches.
North Dakota 2, Montana 1: The Grizzlies took 20 shots, their second-highest total of the season, and put a season-high 11 on goal, but only one got by UND freshman goalkeeper Olivia Swenson, who made 10 saves. North Dakota, which put three shots on goal, scored in the 28th and 87th minutes to rally for the victory.
Northern Colorado 3, Montana 2: After a high-scoring first half that had the teams tied 2-2 at the break, UNC's goal in the 74th minute proved to be the game-winner. The Grizzlies, who got goals from Ellie Otteson and Carlee Bates, put just three shots on goal for the match to the Bears' nine.
Montana notes: Mackenzie Akins put Montana ahead 1-0 in the 18th minute at North Dakota. It was her third goal of the season, moving her into a tie with Dani Morris for the team lead, and 13th of her career. She needs to reach 16 to move into the Montana career top 10. ... Akins' eight shots against UND matched her career high. Her six shots on goal were a career high by two. ... Emily Kardash's three shots were also a career high. ... Ellie Otteson and Carlee Bates both scored their first career goals in Sunday's loss at Northern Colorado. ... Montana's two goals Sunday were the most for the Grizzlies since scoring two at Utah Valley. Both of those matches were losses. ... Mary Gintz is tied for sixth in the Big Sky with three assists. ... Kailey Norman, who has two shutouts (Nevada, Iowa) and one shared shutout (Wyoming), ranks second in the Big Sky in that category.
Big Sky Conference standings:
Eastern Washington: 2-0-0 (6) (Big Sky) ... 8-1-1 (overall)
Idaho: 2-0-0 (6) ... 6-4-1
Sacramento State: 2-0-0 (6) ... 4-6-0
Northern Colorado: 1-0-0 (3) ... 6-5-0
North Dakota: 1-0-0 (3) ... 3-5-1
Northern Arizona: 1-1-0 (3) ... 6-5-0
Portland State: 1-1-0 (3) ... 3-7-0
Southern Utah: 0-2-0 (0) ... 5-5-0
Weber State: 0-2-0 (0) ... 4-6-1
Montana: 0-2-0 (0) ... 3-7-1
Idaho State: 0-2-0 (0) ... 1-9-1
Friday matches: SUU at UM, WSU at UND, ISU at UNC, SAC at EWU, PSU at UI
Sunday matches: NAU at UM, ISU at UND, WSU at UNC, PSU at EWU, SAC at UI
Non-Montana match of the week: Three teams started league with 2-0-0 records. Two of them meet up Friday at Cheney, Wash., when Sacramento State visits Eastern Washington. The Eagles are off to an 8-1-1 start and are on a six-match winning streak.
Upcoming: Montana will host Eastern Washington next Friday, then hit the road to play at Idaho a week from Sunday.
The Grizzlies will face the Thunderbirds Friday at 3 p.m. and the Lumberjacks Sunday at noon. Sunday's match is the only one of the week for Northern Arizona, as is Friday's for Southern Utah.
Coverage: This week's matches will have video coverage and live stats. All available options can be found on the soccer schedule page at gogriz.com.
At a glance: All 11 Big Sky Conference teams opened their league schedules last weekend. Montana went on the road and lost 2-1 at North Dakota and 3-2 at Northern Colorado. The Grizzlies (3-7-1, 0-2-0 BSC) were one of four teams to go 0-2-0, along with Southern Utah, Weber State and Idaho State.
Southern Utah (5-5-0, 0-2-0 BSC), which entered league on a four-match winning streak, lost 2-1 in overtime at Portland State and 4-1 at Sacramento State last weekend. Northern Arizona (6-5-0, 1-1-0 BSC) split the same trip, losing 1-0 in overtime at Sacramento State and winning 2-1 at Portland State.
Montana coach Mark Plakorus's blanket synopsis: "We're getting better, but we're a team that is still trying to figure things out as a team. We know how to play. We know how to attack teams and how to defend. With all the changes we've had to deal with, it's been difficult to find a rhythm and build some confidence. We're still choppy in everything we do.
"It's frustrating, and that's the biggest danger facing this team right now. We need to recognize that we're an incredibly talented team and trust that. We have to trust in each other and in the principles of the program and trust it will all fall into place, because I like our team and the talent we have. We just have to put everything on the line and play as hard as we can and hopefully find that rhythm as we go forward."
More on Southern Utah: The Thunderbirds went 4-4-2 in league matches last season and missed the Big Sky tournament by a single point. ... SUU was picked 10th out of 11 teams in this season's preseason coaches' poll. ... Southern Utah is coached by Becky Hogan, who is 21-34-6 in her fourth season. ... One of SUU's five wins this season was 2-1 over Utah Valley, a team that beat Montana 6-2. ... The Thunderbirds lost on a penalty kick in the 98th minute Friday at Portland State. They were outshot in the match 21-6 but stayed in it behind goalkeeper Taylor Bolding, who made eight saves. ... Bolding allowed four goals on 11 shots on goal in Sunday's 4-1 loss at Sacramento State. SUU's lone goal came in the 89th minute when it was 4-0. ... Sophomore forward Ally Thimsen and freshman forward Paige Robins lead the Thunderbirds with four goals each.
History: Montana, at 2-0-2, is unbeaten against Southern Utah. The teams have played each season since 2011. ... The teams' only previous meeting in Missoula was a 3-1 Griz victory in 2013. ... Last year in Cedar City, Montana built a 2-0 lead on goals by Hallie Widner and Mackenzie Akins, but two second-half goals by Southern Utah helped the Thunderbirds rally for a 2-2 draw.
More on Northern Arizona: The Lumberjacks finished third in the Big Sky last season with a 5-2-3 record. NAU won the tournament championship at South Campus Stadium with three one-goal victories in four days. Northern Arizona lost 4-2 to Arizona State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. ... With eight starters back, the Lumberjacks were picked first in the preseason coaches' poll, picking up five first-place votes to Montana's four. ... Northern Arizona dropped its league opener Friday at Sac State when the Hornets scored the game-winner in the 98th minute in a match that was near even statistically. ... On Sunday the Lumberjacks scored two second half goals, in the 65th and 86th minutes, to rally for a victory at Portland State. Junior forward Lindsay Doyle scored both goals. ... At 2.36 per match, NAU is the highest-scoring team in the Big Sky. Senior forward Haley Wingender, last year's tournament MVP, leads the team with seven goals.
History: Montana leads the all-time series with Northern Arizona 13-6-2, including an 8-1-1 mark in matches played in Missoula. ... The Lumberjacks picked up their first win in Missoula on their last visit, in 2013, when they won 2-1. ... Last season the teams played to a 0-0 draw at Flagstaff. ... Six of the teams' last seven meetings have been ties or one-goal matches.
North Dakota 2, Montana 1: The Grizzlies took 20 shots, their second-highest total of the season, and put a season-high 11 on goal, but only one got by UND freshman goalkeeper Olivia Swenson, who made 10 saves. North Dakota, which put three shots on goal, scored in the 28th and 87th minutes to rally for the victory.
Northern Colorado 3, Montana 2: After a high-scoring first half that had the teams tied 2-2 at the break, UNC's goal in the 74th minute proved to be the game-winner. The Grizzlies, who got goals from Ellie Otteson and Carlee Bates, put just three shots on goal for the match to the Bears' nine.
Montana notes: Mackenzie Akins put Montana ahead 1-0 in the 18th minute at North Dakota. It was her third goal of the season, moving her into a tie with Dani Morris for the team lead, and 13th of her career. She needs to reach 16 to move into the Montana career top 10. ... Akins' eight shots against UND matched her career high. Her six shots on goal were a career high by two. ... Emily Kardash's three shots were also a career high. ... Ellie Otteson and Carlee Bates both scored their first career goals in Sunday's loss at Northern Colorado. ... Montana's two goals Sunday were the most for the Grizzlies since scoring two at Utah Valley. Both of those matches were losses. ... Mary Gintz is tied for sixth in the Big Sky with three assists. ... Kailey Norman, who has two shutouts (Nevada, Iowa) and one shared shutout (Wyoming), ranks second in the Big Sky in that category.
Big Sky Conference standings:
Eastern Washington: 2-0-0 (6) (Big Sky) ... 8-1-1 (overall)
Idaho: 2-0-0 (6) ... 6-4-1
Sacramento State: 2-0-0 (6) ... 4-6-0
Northern Colorado: 1-0-0 (3) ... 6-5-0
North Dakota: 1-0-0 (3) ... 3-5-1
Northern Arizona: 1-1-0 (3) ... 6-5-0
Portland State: 1-1-0 (3) ... 3-7-0
Southern Utah: 0-2-0 (0) ... 5-5-0
Weber State: 0-2-0 (0) ... 4-6-1
Montana: 0-2-0 (0) ... 3-7-1
Idaho State: 0-2-0 (0) ... 1-9-1
Friday matches: SUU at UM, WSU at UND, ISU at UNC, SAC at EWU, PSU at UI
Sunday matches: NAU at UM, ISU at UND, WSU at UNC, PSU at EWU, SAC at UI
Non-Montana match of the week: Three teams started league with 2-0-0 records. Two of them meet up Friday at Cheney, Wash., when Sacramento State visits Eastern Washington. The Eagles are off to an 8-1-1 start and are on a six-match winning streak.
Upcoming: Montana will host Eastern Washington next Friday, then hit the road to play at Idaho a week from Sunday.
Players Mentioned
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