Griz add impact transfer from Nebraska

One month after playing in its third NCAA tournament in the last four years, the Montana soccer program has added a transfer that should help keep the Grizzlies dancing in future Novembers.

Kathleen Aitchison, a 5-foot-8 holding midfielder from Delta, B.C., signed a scholarship offer this week and will join Montana in January. She'll have two fall seasons of eligibility remaining.

Aitchison played three years at Nebraska, where she was a starter from her freshman season.

"This is a massive pick-up for our program," said Griz coach Chris Citowicki. "To have somebody like that want to come here is just amazing. She is the real deal in that position.

"She is this perfect balance of a midfielder who can destroy and win the ball back but then also keep it. She is the classic holding midfielder at the highest possible level. She can do everything."

The pursuit of championships isn't the only reason Aitchison chose Montana over the other schools she was considering for the next phase of her collegiate career, but it was a big part of her decision.

Nebraska is competitive in the Big Ten, and the Cornhuskers played nine ranked opponents while Aitchison was in Lincoln, but the team never qualified to play a postseason match.

Under Citowicki, the Grizzlies have gone 6-1-0 in the pressure of the Big Sky Conference tournament the last four seasons and three times have lifted the trophy when it was over.

No team has played in more Big Sky tournaments than the Grizzlies and no team can match Montana's seven titles.

"I've never really been on a team that's been at the top of the league, so the prospect of being on a team that is known to be very successful in what they do is very exciting," Aitchison said.

"It made Montana an attractive choice and really gave it an edge over the other schools I was looking at."

But that was down the list of the reasons she chose the Grizzlies.

"First and foremost, I was looking for a team that had a family-like culture, where everyone is really close and can be honest with each other but also respect each other," Aitchison said.

"And I wanted a team that had fun. I found that in talking to both Chris and Molly (Quarry). That's all I've heard."

Quarry, whose uncle Brendan coached Aitchison at the TSS Football Club in Richmond, B.C., when she was a prep, gave Aitchison an insider's look at the Griz soccer program.

Quarry also began her career at Nebraska before transferring to Montana a year ago.

"That was one of the most important parts of my decision, making sure I had someone on the team I could talk to to get an inside look at what the actual team culture is and how the coaches behave during practice, on the road and on the sideline during games," Aitchison said.

Aitchison has never played with Quarry, only against her. Same with Camellia Xu, the 2021 Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year, another Canadian on the team.

Madi Elcombe, who joined the Grizzlies last summer as a transfer from Simon Fraser, is a former teammate of Aitchison's.

"All I heard were great things about the coaches and the environment and how much everyone loves it in Montana," said Aitchison.

"That was a big point for me, that the people I know in Montana enjoyed themselves, and they do."

Montana's style of play was a factor, as was the location of the school. Because Missoula tops Lincoln in just about every head-to-head for a girl from B.C.

"The place," said Aitchison, who has one more final this week before heading home to Delta on Friday. "It's close to home and it's absolutely beautiful. Missoula, the nature of it, is amazing, so I was super pumped about that."

She'll join a team that's long been known for its defense but is now establishing an offensive identity. The Grizzlies had more matches this past season with multiple goals than games when they were shut out.

"I really prioritized a team that tries to play possession soccer through the thirds as best they can," Aitchison said. "I've grown up playing that style of soccer and that's the type of soccer I enjoy the most and that I think I do the best in."

Aitchison is a 2019 graduate of Little Flower Academy, which must bring a smile to her new coach's face.

"She's one of the most humble, soft-spoken kids you'll ever speak to. At the same time, she'll destroy you on the field. It's pretty special," Citowicki said.

Aitchison started 22 matches the last three seasons at Nebraska, one of which was a condensed 10-match schedule last spring.

"It's amazing that we can add somebody like that to our environment, with her experience and the pace she plays the game with and the pace she plays the ball with," said Citowicki.

"She did well at Nebraska. She was a key, pivotal player there. Now she's going to be a key, pivotal player for us."

University of Montana Athletics

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