Coyle scores twice, Maroon wins second scrimmage

Alexa Coyle scored two second-half goals and added two assists to spark Maroon, which trailed 2-0 at the half, to a 4-3 victory over White on Sunday afternoon in the Montana soccer team's second of three fall intra-squad scrimmages at South Campus Stadium.

Maroon stormed back after Emme Fernandez and Taylor Stoeger had given White a 2-0 lead at the break.

"One of our points before the game was about competing and not just working hard, not just going through the motions," said third-year coach Chris Citowicki.

"We don't have any games, so can you go out in this environment and try to win? When you're losing 2-0, what is your response?"

For Coyle it was to flip the scrimmage's script.

She got Maroon on the scoreboard early in the second half when she took a sweet lead pass from Sami Siems and scored 1-v-1 against goalkeeper Elizabeth Todd.

Maroon tied the score at 2-2 minutes later when Coyle played a ball across the goal. Rita Lang was there to redirect it into the net.

Not long after that, Coyle took a shot from close range that was saved by Todd, but the rebound went to Sydney Haustein. Her goal put Maroon up for good, 3-2.

Coyle made it 4-2 when she headed in a free kick off the foot of Allie Larsen.

"One thing we really cherish in this program is always competing, so we wanted to make this feel as game-like as possible," said Coyle.

"We were happy with some of the things we did in the first half but knew we could be better. We just focused on playing well and coming back.

"Both teams created amazing chances and really worked together. There was a lot of cohesion today in our play."

Kennedi Christ made the final score 4-3 when she netted a late goal. She got the ball on the right side and scored inside the far post.

For the game: seven goals from six players.

"That's pretty exciting," said Citowicki. "We can really put out two strong squads, and today was the proof. Anybody can score.

"We have a variety of people crossing and getting assists, more than we did last year. It's everyone and it's really unlocking our potential. It's fun to watch."

The scrimmages -- the third is scheduled for mid-October -- are benchmarks for a team dealing with a game-less fall.

The Big Sky Conference favorite has spent the time practicing while also keeping things fun, with outings of sand volleyball and dodgeball to both balance and lessen the work load.

"The coaches have done a really good job of understanding that if we did go really hard right now, we would just get burned out, and this wouldn't be an effective time for us," said Lang.

"We've been cutting down the hours but making sure everything we do has a purpose behind it, not just go, go, go 24/7. We're taking things slow but also building on things that we have to."

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Kennedi Christ

Alexa Coyle

Emme Fernandez

Sydney Haustein

Rita Lang

Allie Larsen

Sami Siems

Taylor Stoeger

Elizabeth Todd

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