Griz, Bears to meet in Big Sky semifinals

Friday, November 3

Cheney, Wash.

11AM (MT)

Montana

Northern Colorado

11/1/2017 4:38:00 PM | Soccer

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By: Montana Sports Information

MONTANA VS. NORTHERN COLORADO
Friday, Nov. 3 / 11 a.m. MT / Cheney, Wash.
Eleven Sports Network / Video Stream / Pluto TV (channel 234) / Live Statistics

GRIZZLIES BELIEVE BEST SOCCER IS STILL AHEAD
Head coach Mark Plakorus likes the way his team is playing. With seven results in its past eight contests, it's hard to reason against him. But as the Grizzlies prepare for the postseason and a semifinals appearance vs. Northern Colorado, the seventh-year head coach also believes his team is capable of even more.

"I think we're playing well and playing as a team," he said. "I also think that we can play even better. I don't think we've reached our ceiling yet."

Montana earned five points over its final three contests to move into second place and lock up a bye in this week's Big Sky Soccer Championship. The bye is nice, because it means the team got to practice at home through Wednesday, without having to rush to Cheney, Wash. On the flip side, Northern Colorado has already spent several nights on the road and played 90 minutes of soccer.

Montana has a perceived advantage because of the bye, but as Plakorus and the Grizzlies know well (2014, as an example), sometimes it doesn't always work out that way.

"We've been in this position before and it didn't work out for us," he said. "I think there are some advantages to it, but I also think some teams benefit from playing a game and getting their footing."

The thing he does like about having a bye is being able to have a normal week – the team has been playing a Friday/Sunday format nearly every week this season – and being able to get rested, especially at this point in the season.

The two teams met less than two weeks ago in Greeley, battling to a scoreless draw. Much of the same is expected on Friday, as both teams allowed just six goals during conference play – the two best defenses in the league. The Bears followed up their regular season with a 2-0 shutout over Sacramento State on Wednesday in the quarterfinals round.

"Northern Colorado is very good and is a team that could have won the league, in my opinion," Plakorus said. "They play somewhat similar to us in terms of trying to keep the ball. They have a young lady in the middle of the field (Mariel Gutierrez) who's really good. We have to contain them, but I think it's going to come down to us. Can we execute in the final third? Can we put the ball away?

The Grizzlies have reached the point in the season where they know it's win-or-go-home. They also know they're still peaking and need just two more victories to win their fourth conference title in seven seasons under Plakorus, and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2011.

"Excitement is definitely one of the feelings," junior midfielder Janessa Fowler said. "I think we feel prepared. We're eager to get out there and get playing. We feel like we're still on our way to peaking this season, so we're ready to get out there and execute. Playing in the tournament brings up the intensity and energy. It takes everything to a whole new level."

Friday's match is slated to kick off at 11 a.m. MT from Cheney, Wash. Fans can watch the national TV broadcast through Eleven Sports Network (DirecTV: 623, AT&T U-verse: 1665, Verizon FiOS: 597), on Pluto TV (channel 234) or on www.WatchBigSky.com. With a win, Montana would advance to Sunday's championship vs. either No. 1 Eastern Washington or No. 4 Portland State.

BIG SKY SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Montana will be playing in its 16th Big Sky Soccer Championship, more than any other school. The program has advanced to the conference tournament six times in Mark Plakorus' seven-year tenure, winning it all in 2011. That year, Montana won the title in a shootout over Weber State.

The Grizzlies are 11-9-4 all-time in the tournament, winning titles in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2011.

Montana By The Numbers

16 Big Sky Soccer Championship appearances (1st)
11 wins in Big Sky Soccer Championship (T-1st)
37 points in Big Sky Soccer Championship (1st)
33 total goals scored (1st)
4 Big Sky Soccer Championships (T-2nd)
8 appearances in the finals (T-1st)

Overall in Big Sky play, Montana's 255 points are more than any other school (79-49-18).

GRIZ IN THE TOURNAMENT
Charlene Burger, Allie Lucas, Ashlee Pedersen and Chanelle Pederson have played in each of Montana's past four Big Sky Championship games, with Pederson earning the start each time. Five others (Kaitlin Crowell, Janessa Fowler, Taryn Miller, Ellie Otteson and McKenzie Warren) have played in the last three, with Crowell tallying a goal in the Grizzlies' 2015 meeting vs. Idaho. Lucas had an assist the year before, vs. Idaho State, while Pedersen has had plenty of success, scoring two goals and an assist in the 2015 tournament, on her way to earning all-tournament honors.

MONTANA AT A GLANCE

Montana enters the postseason with a 10-6-4 mark, already surpassing its 2016 win total. It marks the 12th time in school history that UM has won at least 10 matches.
The Grizzlies have earned a result in seven of their last eight contests, securing the No. 2 in the Big Sky Soccer Championship and a bye into the semifinals.
Montana has been ranked each of the past two weeks in the United Soccer Coaches West Region ranking.
Junior defender Taryn Miller was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She was joined on the all-conference team by teammates Ashlee Pedersen (second team), Hallie Widner (second team), Janessa Fowler (honorable mention), Claire Howard (honorable mention) and Chanelle Pederson (honorable mention).
First-year goalkeeper Claire Howard has posted seven shutouts in goal. In 20 contests, the Griz have allowed zero or one goal 19 times.
The Grizzlies' defense rank in the top-10 percent nationally, allowing just 0.70 goals per game.
Five different newcomers have accounted for 19 of the team's 52 points (36.5 percent). Freshman Alexa Coyle has started 19 contests, leading the Griz with three goals and eight points.
UM went 9-6-5 in 2016 and tied for third in the Big Sky with a 5-2-3 league record. The No. 4 Grizzlies lost 1-0 to No. 5 Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky tournament.
UM was picked to finish third out of 11 teams in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll.
UM is led by seventh-year coach Mark Plakorus, who has guided the Grizzlies to six Big Sky tournaments. UM has won three Big Sky Conference titles under Plakorus (2011 tournament, 2012 and 2014 regular-season).

SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO

Northern Colorado is 12-6-2 following a 2-0 victory over Sacramento State on Friday in the quarterfinals. The Bears are playing as the No. 3 seed.
Junior midfielder Mariel Gutierrez finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Sky Conference for points, with 22. She ranked sixth with eight goals. She earned first-team All-Big Sky honors for the third time.
Senior goalkeeper Madeline Burdick was named to the All-Big Sky second team, ranking second in the conference with an .873 save percentage and 0.76 goals-allowed-per-game average. The Bears posted a school-record 10 shutouts on the season.
Aside from Gutierrez, senior Brooke Braden (15 points, 5 goals) and junior Maddie Roberts (12 points, 6 assists) are players to watch for offensively.
Freshman Taylor Bray (40th minute) and sophomore Olivia Seddon (53rd) were the goal-scorers vs. Sacramento State.
Tim Barrera is in his 24th season in Greeley, winning 242 games.
Like Montana, Northern Colorado has not lost since playing Eastern Washington. The Bears are 3-0-2 since. Overall since the start of October, the Bears are 5-1-2.
UNC is playing in the Big Sky Soccer Championship for the seventh time, going 3-5-2. However, the Bears are 3-1-1 in the past three seasons, including a title in 2015.
UNC ranks in the top 20 percent nationally for goals allowed per game (0.759) and shutout percentage (47.4 percent).

SERIES VS. THE BEARS
Northern Colorado is one of only two teams in the Big Sky Conference to hold a winning record against Montana, going 5-4-4. Under Plakorus, the Grizzlies are 2-2-3, including scoreless draws in both 2016 and 2017. In 2014, Hallie Widner scored the game's only goal. Ellie Otteson scored in the 2015 meeting vs. UNC.

Less than two weeks ago, Montana and Northern Colorado played to a double-overtime draw, despite the Grizzlies out-shooting the Bears, 16-7. Widner had seven of them – a career high – including five in the final 30 minutes of the contest.

The two teams have met just once in the Big Sky Soccer Championship, with the Grizzlies winning in a shootout to advance to the 2011 championship game – which they would win.

GRIZZLIES EARN REGIONAL RANKING
Montana has spent the past two weeks ranked No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches West Region ranking. The United Soccer Coaches – formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) – unveils the top 15 Division I women's soccer teams in each region on a weekly basis.

The Grizzlies earned their first regional ranking under head coach Mark Plakorus in August 2016 after they opened the season with a win over Purdue. They were ranked for the first several weeks, reaching as high as No. 9. In 2016, however, there were eight regions, with each one consisting of 10 teams. New this year, a total of 75 teams are recognized each week, 15 from five different regions. The West Region is arguably the most challenging in the entire country, featuring schools from the Big Sky, Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12 and West Coast.

The nation's overall No. 1 team, Stanford, is in the West Region, as are three of the top six teams. In addition to Montana, Big Sky foe Eastern Washington (No. 13) is featured in this week's ranking. Two other 2017 opponents, Washington State (No. 8) and San José State (No. 12) are also ranked. Montana held the Cougars scoreless in a double-overtime draw in September. In late August, the Grizzlies soundly beat the Spartans, 4-1.

MILLER NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, 5 OTHERS RECOGNIZED
By vote of the league's head coaches, junior Taryn Miller was named the top defensive player in the Big Sky Conference on Tuesday. Miller headlined a group of six Griz players who earned all-conference recognition.

In addition to Miller's first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades, defender Ashlee Pedersen and midfielder Hallie Widner were named to the second team. Midfielder Janessa Fowler, goalkeeper Claire Howard and defender Chanelle Pederson earned honorable mention recognition.

"I'm happy for our players," head coach Mark Plakorus said. "We always say, 'You take care of the team and the team takes care of you.' When you're working hard on trying to be the best you can be and help the team be as successful as it can be, hopefully people recognize the work you do and the impact you make. Individual awards are a great thing to celebrate at the end of the year, but they're a byproduct of your team being successful."

Widner has now earned all-conference honors in all three of her seasons, becoming one of six Grizzlies in program history to be recognized three or more times. Pedersen was an honorable mention selection in 2015, while Pederson earned honorable mention honors in 2014 and a second-team nod in 2016.

The best defensive player in the Big Sky Conference? That would be Montana's Taryn Miller!https://t.co/5N1nnfg3AN #FightUniteWin pic.twitter.com/8iC68VSGpg
— Montana Griz Soccer (@MontanaGrizSOC) October 31, 2017

SCORE & WIN
When Montana scores, good things happen. It seems like a simple concept, really, but when looking at the results, one finds an interesting trend. The Grizzlies are unbeaten in the 12 games they have scored in (10-0-2). They have been shut out eight times, going 0-6-2 in those contests (Montana lost three 1-0 decisions to Power-5 opponents and earned a 0-0 draw with another, Washington State).

GETTING SHOTS OFF
Montana's offense averaged just 9.9 shots per game through non-conference action, but has nearly doubled its average during conference play, taking at least 15 in all 10 matches and averaging a league-best 19.30 per game.

During Big Sky play, Montana is out-shooting its opponents 193-99. The Griz have 78 shots on goal compared to just 29 for its opponents.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Grizzlies continue to rely on their defense to win games. They have posted seven shutouts on the season, including five in their past 11 games. During that stretch, Montana went more than 315 consecutive minutes (parts of four games) without allowing a goal.

Out of the nation's 332 Division I women's soccer programs, Montana ranks 30th, allowing 0.70 goals per game (first in the Big Sky and on pace to be the best average in UM history). That number is even better during conference play, with Montana allowing just six goals in 10 games (0.60 per game).

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Claire Howard gets plenty of credit – she ranks second in the Big Sky Conference with seven shutouts and eighth in the entire country for minutes played. However, the defense's success goes well beyond just Howard.

"Defense is a whole team effort," Mark Plakorus said. "A lot of people don't realize this, but it starts with our forwards making it difficult on teams, along with the midfielders. Then you have the back line. They're well versed and stay disciplined."

While Howard's saves percentage is strong (.800), Howard's 52 total saves rank eighth in the conference, meaning opponents aren't getting good looks off of Montana's defense. The Grizzlies' seven shutouts are tied for the ninth-most in school history and their current goals-allowed-per-game average would be a school record (passing the 1996 team).

Even more impressive, the Griz defense is excelling even after having to replace 2016 first-team All-Big Sky defender Tess Brenneman and the league's Goalkeeper of the Year, Kailey Norman.

COYLE & CO. LEADING THE FRESHMEN
Despite returning 12 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's squad, Montana also added 14 newcomers during the offseason. The young players are making names for themselves, led by Bozeman native Alexa Coyle.

In back-to-back games in October, Coyle had the game-winning goal against Sacramento State and the game-winning assist vs. Northern Arizona. On the year, she leads all Griz players for points (8) and is tied for the team lead for goals (3) and shots on goal (15). Coyle is far from the only freshman making an early impact, however:

Eight players have made their collegiate debuts this season, including six who have earned starts. Coyle and Claire Howard started Montana's first 19 contests.
Seven of UM's 19 credited goals scored have come by freshmen, in addition to more than one-third (19 of 52) of the team's total points.
In its Sept. 10 win at Northern Iowa, both of UM's goals and both assists were credited to freshmen. Rita Lang scored her first collegiate goal (assisted by Coyle). Lang received the assist for Raye Burton's game-winning goal.
During the Montana Cup (Aug. 25-27), UM's first three goals were scored by freshmen.

"It's always good to have talent," Mark Plakorus said in September. "I think every class that comes through here has come in with the expectation that they have to perform. It's good on them to make sure they did the preparation coming in, and the upperclassmen have done a fantastic job of bringing them into our family and preparing them for our expectations. I'm happy for them, but it's still very early in the season. They've started strong, but they have to find consistency and stay humble."

IRONWOMAN MILLER
Junior defender Taryn Miller has played in 19 of Montana's 20 contests this season, totaling five points and playing a vital role in the Grizzlies' dominant defense. However, what's just as impressive is the number of minutes she's played.

Miller has played in 1,698 of Montana's 1,853 minutes. The only time she's missed was a Sept. 17 double-overtime draw against Washington State and the first half of the following match, both due to injury. Aside from that minor hiccup, she has not been taken off the field. At her current pace, she will finish in the school's all-time top-10 for minutes played in a season, and depending on Montana's success in the Big Sky Soccer Championship, could reach the top three.

SENIOR SALUTE
During Montana's regular-season finale vs. Portland State (Oct. 27), the team honored 10 members who were playing their final game at South Campus Stadium: Madison Adams, Charlene Burger, Kaitlin Crowell, Maddy Emerick, Natalie Hein, Allie Lucas, Lily Obrigewitch, Ashlee Pedersen, Chanelle Pederson and Maddie Vincent. In a gesture to those suiting up at home for the final time, Mark Plakorus started the senior class.

The group has been part of one of the most successful in program history:

40 wins, the most in a four-year period since 1999-2002.
22 home wins, the most in a four-year period since 2000-2003.
23 Big Sky Conference victories, tied for the most in school history (also 23 from 1997-2000)
An unbeaten conference record in 2014 (8-0-2), winning the Big Sky Conference regular-season title.
Four trips to the Big Sky Conference tournament.

"It's going to be a special day and I'm just very proud of this group"--Coach Plakorus

Get to know our senior class https://t.co/ViVOIcsaQE pic.twitter.com/9wrCuy3AcZ
— Montana Griz Soccer (@MontanaGrizSOC) October 27, 2017

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
For just the second time in school history, the Grizzlies went unbeaten on their home turf this season (6-0-2), posting victories over Air Force, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, San José State and Southern Utah, and double-overtime draws against Washington State of the Pac-12 and Portland State.

The Grizzlies also went unbeaten at home in 2012, going 3-0-2.

HOWARD HONORED BY BIG SKY
Montana goalkeeper Claire Howard allowed just one goal to a pair of Pac-12 opponents in mid-September, recording 12 saves and facing 30 shots in 200 minutes of action. She was rewarded by being named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19.

Facing an attack-focused Oregon squad, Howard saw nine shots in the opening 20 minutes. After allowing a goal in the fourth minute, she was perfect, recording a career-high six saves. Two days later, at home vs. Washington State, Howard tied her previous mark with six saves. She shut out the Cougars for 110 minutes during a double-overtime draw, including the final 17 minutes when Montana was down a player due to a red card. Washington State was held without a goal for just the second time this season. Entering that contest, the Cougars were averaging 3.67 goals per game over their previous three matches.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
UM's victory over Georgia Southern on Sept. 1 ran its win streak at the time to three matches and improved its season record to 4-1, tied for its best five-match start to a season in school history (also done in 2000).

MILLER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior defender Taryn Miller was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 29.

Miller's defensive play was critical to Montana's wins over Air Force and San José State, with the Griz allowing just one goal over the two matches. In UM's shutout victory over Air Force, Miller and the Griz defense allowed just two shots on goal. Two days later against the Spartans – who won the 2015 Mountain West championship and played in the NCAA tournament – the Griz held SJSU to one goal in a 4-1 win.

Not limited to defense, though, Miller also scored a goal and tallied an assist in the win. Her goal came in the 71st minute to give UM a three-goal advantage.

NEXT PLAYER UP
Redshirt freshman Claire Howard had a strong start to her collegiate career, posting shutouts in two of her first three contests. However, leading 3-1 against San José State on Aug. 27, she went down with a leg injury that required 10 stitches. In came Maddie Vincent, who recorded two saves and faced five total shots to preserve the win for the Griz.

SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS
With Montana's Aug. 18 win over Boise State, UM improved to 5-0-2 in season openers under Plakorus. Six of those matchups have been against Mountain West foes, facing Air Force, Boise State and Wyoming twice each. All-time, UM is 12-9-3 in season openers.

PICKED TO FINISH 3RD
The Big Sky Conference announced the 2017 preseason soccer poll on Aug. 7, with Montana picked to finish third out of 11 teams. UM received 76 points in the poll, which was voted on by the league's head coaches.

Eastern Washington, which won the Big Sky tournament as a No. 5 seed in 2016, was the preseason favorite, earning 95 points and eight of the 11 top votes. Northern Arizona was predicted to finish second, receiving 80 points and one first-place vote; EWU beat NAU in last year's championship game. Idaho, the 2016 regular-season champion and last year's preseason favorite, was just behind UM with 75 points and one first-place vote. Northern Colorado was the other school to earn a first place vote, receiving one and 68 total points, for fifth place.

The Griz faced those four teams consecutively earlier this month, going 2-1-1.

LOOK WHO'S BACK
The Griz returned 12 letterwinners from last year's squad, including six players who started three-quarters of its contests or more. That group includes McKenzie Warren and Hallie Widner – who tied for the team lead with four goals apiece – plus a slew of offensive talent. Overall, UM returned 78.3 percent of its goals scored and total points from 2016, plus 73.9 percent of its assists.

BRINGING IN REINFORCEMENT
Joining second-year assistant coach Micaela Castain, Katie Benz was added to the Griz coaching staff over the summer.

Benz's collegiate career at Cal included four trips to the NCAA tournament. Following graduation, she played professionally before getting into coaching in 2016, as volunteer director of operations at the University of Denver. Castain was a standout player at Washington State, leading the Cougars to three NCAA tournament appearances and being named the 2013 Pac-12 Player of the Year and a second-team NSCAA All-American.

"Micaela and Katie are, first of all, two great people," said Mark Plakorus, noting their character, work ethic and drive to be successful. "You look at these two young ladies and nothing came easy for them. They had to work extremely hard and went on to be successful. They're great coaches but great role models as well."

AN OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
As the only Division-I women's soccer team in the state of Montana, Mark Plakorus takes his job seriously. It's a big flag to carry, but something he enjoys doing.

"It's an unbelievable opportunity," Plakorus said. "As I began my coaching career, I always had my eye on Montana. I thought it was special what this school and these athletics teams mean to this state and this community. To be a Grizzly and run this program and be responsible for it is very special."

SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM
A total of 19 student-athletes from the 2016 soccer team earned Academic All-Big Sky Conference recognition in February for obtaining a 3.2 grade-point average or better. The figure was tied for the most in the league.

Of the 19, 13 are on this year's roster, in addition to true freshman Alexa Coyle, who was one of just 49 high school seniors nationally named to the NSCAA High School Scholar All-America Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

.@alllyyshelton shows off her personality and belts some Miley Cyrus, in this week's #MeetUMMonday! pic.twitter.com/KVMbDWWsuT
— Montana Griz Soccer (@MontanaGrizSOC) October 30, 2017