Miller earns Big Sky honors for defensive play

OGDEN, Utah – Junior defender Taryn Miller played a key role in Montana's two victories over the weekend, and on Tuesday she was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

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. Making it even more impressive, the Griz were forced to make a change in goal after starter Claire Howard left Sunday's contest against San José State due to injury.

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 71^st minute to give UM a three-goal advantage.

Taryn Miller with a goal for Montana! Griz lead 4-1 with 19 minutes to play. #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/1m9TEeqsyh
— Montana Griz Soccer (@MontanaGrizSOC) August 27, 2017

Miller, a business administration major from Greenacres, Wash., is a two-time Academic All-Big Sky recipient. After averaging 47 minutes per match a year ago, she is the only Griz to play all 360 minutes so far this season. She is UM's first player-of-the-week award winner since Kailey Norman was named the league's top defender on Aug. 30, 2016. Katie Forsee of Portland State was named the offensive player of the week.

UM will play its next five matches away from home, starting this weekend against Georgia Southern (Friday) and Nebraska (Sunday) in Pullman, Wash. Also during non-conference play, UM will play three other schools from Power-5 conferences (at Iowa, at Oregon, home vs. Washington State).

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Claire Howard

Taryn Miller

Kailey Norman

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