Montana drops 1-0 decision

Sunday, September 8

Berkeley, Calif.

2 PM (MT)

Montana

0-3-2

California

5-0-0

Montana

California

Photo credit: Ken DeCrosta

9/8/2019 5:42:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Nine days after giving up six goals in a humbling loss to one Pac-12 opponent on the road, the Montana soccer team faced another.

This time the Grizzlies walked off the field with the same result but a decidedly different takeaway.

"It's the best we've played all year against a very good team," said second-year coach Chris Citowicki, whose team lost 1-0 to unbeaten California on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley.

The Bears (5-0-0) entered the match with 12 goals scored through their first four matches, including a 5-0 victory over Weber State, and no goals allowed.

A penalty kick in the 48th minute would prove to be the match's only goal as Griz goalkeeper Claire Howard made four saves. All five of Montana's shots came in a strong second-half performance.

"That's the most organized we've looked and confident in shape and confident going forward against a Pac-12 team. It was great," said Citowicki.

"We've played Pac-12 teams previously and I looked at it like, I don't know where the goal is going to come from. In this one, we created good chances. It's frustrating we didn't score. We had some good opportunities."

Montana got outshot 6-0 in the first half but still went to the locker room in a scoreless game, despite playing without starting center back Caitlin Rogers, who had been on field for every minute of the Grizzlies' first four matches.

Avery Adams moved from outside back to center back, which put her alongside freshman Allie Larsen, with Taylor Hansen and McKenzie Kilpatrick on the outside. All four played the full 90 minutes.

Montana (0-3-2) still managed to give Cal fits.

"It was a good game for us against a team that has been scoring goals and hasn't been scored on all year," said Citowicki. "We watched them play on film and they have threats everywhere. You have to be so organized and disciplined.

"Avery was incredible. She and Allie Larsen were probably the best players on the field for us, along with Claire Howard. She was as explosive as ever."

The Bears got the only goal they would need in the 48th minute, when Abigail Kim converted a penalty kick.

"It was a sloppy tackle in the 18. As we said before the game, it's a game of moments. Whoever takes their moment is going to win it," said Citowicki.

"They took their penalty kick, we missed our breakaway and another good chance, and that was it."

Nine days ago against Washington State, Montana was overwhelmed. On Sunday the Grizzlies were not even whelmed.

That was particularly true in the second half, when they counterattacked and forced Cal goalkeeper Angelina Anderson to make more saves than Howard needed to over the final 45 minutes.

"A big thing was, let's not just defend like we did against Washington State. We have to find a way to attack without changing our formation," Citowicki said.

"We're going to sit in our shape and we're going to try to take the game to them, and that's exactly what we did. We picked off, we intercepted, and when we attacked, we attacked really well."

Montana will host Cal Poly (1-4-1) and Wyoming (2-1-2) next weekend at South Campus Stadium in Missoula.

The Grizzlies will face the Mustangs at 4 p.m. on Friday, the Cowgirls on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Wyoming is 2-0-0 against the Big Sky Conference this fall, with a 3-2 double-overtime home win over preseason favorite Northern Colorado and a 4-1 home win over Idaho State on Sunday.