Soccer program adds six

The Montana soccer program, which won a Big Sky Conference tournament title in 2018 and regular-season championship this fall, signed six prep players to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

Joining the Grizzlies as freshmen next fall will be Elizabeth Basile, of Renton, Wash.; Reese Elliott, of Blacklick, Ohio; Alejandra Melendez, of Oakland, Calif.; Meredith Udovich, of Puyallup, Wash.; Josie Windauer, of Columbia Falls, Mont.; and Camellia Xu, of Coquitlam, B.C.

"The incoming class is very talented. Our focus was adding more competition to the front line and depth to the defensive and goalkeeper positions, and we did that. I can't wait to have them step on the field next fall," said coach Chris Citowicki.

"From a culture standpoint, the focus was on finding the right people who will continue to build this program into a regional power. They are solid students with great character and highly competitive people who love Missoula, UM and especially the Griz."

Udovich headlines the group, if for no other reason than this: She'll be playing in the High School All-American Game early next month in Orlando, Fla., a selection made even more notable that the list of players goes just 40 deep and that 26 of those are headed to Power 5 programs.

Her older sister, Jessica, is a fifth-year senior on a Washington team that defeated Washington State last week and will be opening the NCAA tournament on Saturday at home against Seattle.

A 5-foot-2 forward, she plays for Washington Premier ECNL, which is a regular at nationals, and it goes without saying her collection of all-league and all-state awards would fill boxes.

"She is the type of attacker that defenders don't like going up against because she's relentless and plays with an aggressive attitude. She'll do anything and everything to get the ball in the back of the net," said Citowicki.

"She can score from distance, out of the air or from within the box. We expect her to be a strong addition to our group."

The team's other incoming forward, Windauer, may not have Udovich's high-level experiences, but she does have seven inches on Udovich, which makes her a big, athletic target up front.

She scored a school-record 33 goals this fall for her Class A state semifinal team, which upped her school-record career total to 83. She is also a standout in basketball and track and field.

"The first time I saw her last November, my jaw just about hit the ground. She was a high school junior who looks athletically like she could be a junior in college," said Citowicki.

"When you put her in front of the net, she's a lethal finisher. We can't wait to get her here and watch her flourish like our other local Montana players, Alexa Coyle and Quinn Peacock."

Udovich won't be the first of the group to head to Florida to go up against the best of the best. Already a decorated player for Ohio Elite ECNL, Elliott, a 5-foot-10 center back, relocated to IMG Academy in Bradenton in August to finish off her prep career.

She helped Ohio Elite to the ECNL Final Four in 2018, after which the ECNL tabbed her a Player to Watch. And a Montana defense that was already formidable just got a little deeper.

"She's strong in the air, great with the ball at her feet and has the type of presence that all great center backs have," said Citowicki.

"The past two seasons we have had one of the best back lines in the Big Sky Conference, and Reese makes us even better. She is training at the highest level possible this year at IMG Academy, so I expect that she will come in and be an impact player for our program."

If Elliott is training at the highest level in her country, so is Xu in Canada, with the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite program.

It was established in 2015 in an effort to identify western Canada's top prospects, then provide them the training and pathway to one day earn a spot on their country's national team.

"Needless to say, Camellia is playing and training at the very highest level and is regarded as one of the top goalkeepers for her age group," said Citowicki. "She is very talented and a brilliant shot-stopper who is excellent with her feet and has great range and ability to organize.

"We are extremely lucky in our program to have a pool of goalkeepers that any other mid-major would love to have. Camellia is the type of person and player who will help us remain atop the Big Sky for years to come."

Basile is a 5-foot-4 defender who can play multiple positions across the back line or holding midfielder. She was a first-team All-North Puget Sound League selection as a sophomore and junior, the latter season resulting in a trip to the Washington Class 4A state tournament.

She competes for the Washington Premier Football Club.

"The first time I got to evaluate her up close was at our camp last November," said Citowicki. "She has a fiercely competitive attitude and will run through walls for her team.

"You don't need to motivate her to do anything. You just need to help her focus that energy and talent. She'll be a perfect fit for our environment. I can't wait to get her here."

From the high school (Bishop O'Dowd) that gifted the Montana soccer program freshman goalkeeper Elizabeth Todd comes Melendez, a 5-foot-1 midfielder.

She plays for California Thorns DA and was a member of Bishop O'Dowd's team a few years back that had the first perfect season in the history of its league: a 10-0-0 record with no goals allowed.

"She is a very technical attacking midfielder who comes out of a club that is one of the most competitive in the DA. I know that experience has prepared her well for what's next," said Citowicki.

"She is very comfortable with the ball at her feet, sees spaces that most players don't and has the ability to make something out of nothing. All great teams have players who can unlock defenses and make things happen. That's exactly what she'll provide us."

Montana did not have a senior on its 2019 roster and still won the Big Sky regular-season championship with a 6-0-3 record in Citowicki's second season.

The Grizzlies have gone 12-3-7 against Big Sky opponents under Citowicki.

What the signees are saying:

Elizabeth Basile (defender, Renton, Wash.): I chose Montana because of the atmosphere centered around family. To me it reminded me of home, and I knew I would be pushed to be the best student-athlete possible. When I went to Missoula for the first time, I just knew I had to be a part of the program and the Griz family.

Reese Elliott (defender, Blacklick, Ohio): I chose the University of Montana because of the unique connection I had with Coach Citowicki, Katie Benz and the girls in the program. I have always played on winning teams and I believe the program will be at the top of the Big Sky Conference and has a chance to make an impact in the NCAA tournament during my four years, and that was very important to me. I also fell in love with Missoula, the university and am excited to pursue a business degree. It is hard to describe how welcoming the people of Montana are. This was extremely important to me given the distance Montana is from my home and family.

Alejandra Melendez (midfielder, Oakland, Calif.): Once I learned about the program's culture and philosophy, I knew Montana was the perfect fit. I made an immediate connection with Katie and Chris, so that made the decision easy for me. I am so excited to be a part of this incredible team and hope to make an immediate impact.

Meredith Udovich (forward, Puyallup, Wash.): The culture of the team is very important to me. Family is No. 1, so I am excited to join the Griz soccer family. The Big Sky is a competitive conference and I want to compete at a high level. The beautiful surroundings of Montana help as well. I fell in love with the town and all the support for the school and teams that the town gives them. I love the vibe in Montana!

Josie Windauer (forward, Columbia Falls, Mont.): I chose the University of Montana because this state has always been my home and to have the opportunity to get a quality education while playing soccer and being close to all the outside activities I cherish is an amazing opportunity. The university also offers degrees in wildlife biology, which is a field of interest to me. Of equal importance to my academic goals in college, I also feel fortunate that I connected immediately with the coaches. They are really good people who are passionate about soccer. I feel they will be a positive guide to my growth in soccer and will be a wonderful extended family to me.

Camellia Xu (goalkeeper, Coquitlam, B.C.): Not only did I fall in love with the city of Missoula, I chose Montana largely in part to the fantastic coaching staff. They made me feel so welcome and at home that I knew immediately this was where I wanted to go to school. I could not be happier with my decision and can't wait to be a Griz.

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Alexa Coyle

Quinn Peacock

Elizabeth Todd

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