Thursday, April 15
Ogden, Utah
3 PM
Montana
vs
Northern Colorado
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Griz draw familiar opponent in postseason
4/14/2021 1:33:00 AM | Soccer
The Montana soccer team will open play at the Big Sky Conference Championship on Thursday in Ogden, Utah, with a semifinal matchup against familiar nemesis Northern Colorado.
The Grizzlies (8-1-0, 7-1-0 BSC), the No. 1 seed out of the Northwest Division, and Northern Colorado (3-2-2, 3-1-2 BSC), the No. 2 seed out of the Southeast Division, will play at 3 p.m.
The semifinal round will open with Northern Arizona (6-2-1, 5-1-1 BSC) taking on Idaho (5-5-0, 5-3-0 BSC) at noon on Thursday.
The Lumberjacks won the Southeast Division, the Vandals were runners-up in the Northwest.
The semifinal winners will play in the championship match at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The winner of the title match will advance to the 48-team NCAA tournament, which will be played entirely in North Carolina beginning later this month.
The second semifinal on Thursday pits the winners of the last two tournaments against one another.
Montana won the title in 2018 in Ogden with a 1-0 victory over Northern Colorado in the championship match.
The Bears knocked the top-seeded Grizzlies out of the 2019 tournament in Greeley, Colo., in the semifinals, 2-1 in overtime on their way to the title.
Playing in opposite divisions this spring, the two teams have not met this season.
Coverage: All three matches of the Big Sky Conference Championship will be streamed on WatchBigSky.com, with live stats also available.
At a glance (Montana): The Grizzlies saw their 19-match regular-season unbeaten streak against Big Sky opponents come to an end on Friday with a 3-2 overtime home loss to Eastern Washington.
After allowing one goal through its first seven matches this season, Montana trailed 2-0 at the half on Friday night.
Taylor Hansen made it 2-1 in the 63rd minute, Avery Adams tied it in the 85th, scoring directly off a corner kick.
The Eagles won it 5:22 into the first overtime, handing Montana its first regular-season loss against a Big Sky team since a 2-1 setback at Weber State on Oct. 7, 2018.
The Grizzlies bounced back in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon on Senior Day, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes and going on to win 3-1.
Mimi Eiden and Rita Lang both scored early in the first half. Alexa Coyle added an insurance goal on a penalty kick in the 65th minute after the Eagles had pulled to within 2-1 18 minutes into the second half.
At a glance (Northern Colorado): The Bears have played just seven matches this spring. They opened the season with a nonconference 3-0 loss at Colorado back on Feb. 13.
It would be more than a month before they would play again after a winter storm in Colorado forced the cancelation of UNC's two-game home series against Southern Utah.
Northern Colorado swept two matches at Idaho State to open league, then got a draw and a win at home against Northern Arizona two weeks ago, the Lumberjacks' only Big Sky loss.
The Bears clinched a postseason spot with a 0-0 tie at Weber State on Friday. They closed the regular season with a 2-1 loss to the Wildcats on Sunday, UNC's first loss since falling at Colorado in mid-February.
By the numbers: After debuting at No. 7 last week in the United Soccer Coaches' West Region poll, the Grizzlies dropped two spots and will enter the postseason at No. 9, one spot ahead of Northern Arizona. ... In this week's NCAA RPI, Montana ranks No. 76, the top ranking of Big Sky schools. Northern Colorado ranks No. 153. ... Northern Arizona ranks 102nd, Idaho 197th.
Series notes:
* Northern Colorado leads the all-time series against Montana 8-5-5. It's the only Big Sky school the Grizzlies have a losing record against.
* The teams' last nine matchups have been draws or a one-goal decision. Of the teams' 18 all-time matches, only two have not been a draw or a one-goal decision.
* The teams have met four times in the postseason, including the last three Big Sky tournaments.
* The Bears hold a 2-1-1 lead in postseason matches between the schools. Both of UNC's wins have been overtime heartbreakers, in 2017 and '19.
* The teams played to a 1-1 draw in 2011 in Greeley. Montana won 3-2 in a shootout, then got past Weber State in the championship match in another shootout to make the NCAA tournament.
* The teams have played two other neutral-site matches: the 2017 Big Sky tournament in Cheney, Wash., a 2-1 double-overtime win for the Bears in the semifinals, and the 2018 tournament championship match in Ogden, won 1-0 by Montana.
* All 18 of Montana's matches against Northern Colorado in program history have come against coach Tim Barrera, who took over the UNC program in 1999.
* Third-year Montana coach Chris Citowicki is 1-2-1 against Northern Colorado. Both losses have come in overtime.
* Citowicki has a 19-4-7 record against Big Sky opponents as the Montana head coach. Two of those four losses have come against Barrera and the Bears.
* Neither team has won more than two matches in a row against the other in a mostly balanced rivalry of 18 games.
* Montana goalkeeper coach J. Landham was an assistant coach at Northern Colorado for the 2016 and '17 seasons.
* Montana is making its 19th appearance in the Big Sky tournament, the most in league history, its seventh straight. The Grizzlies have not missed the postseason since 2013.
* Northern Colorado, which joined the Big Sky in 2006, is playing in its 11th tournament. The Bears have played in the championship match four of the last five seasons, with titles in 2015 in Moscow, Idaho, and at home in 2019.
Summary:
It feels right, doesn't it, that Montana and Northern Colorado are playing in this week's semifinals? The only thing better would have been a matchup in Saturday's title match.
After all, they are the Big Sky's most successful programs over the last decade and have a recent history of breaking each other's heart.
Montana, as the No. 5 seed, knocked off No. 3 Northern Colorado in the 2018 title match in Ogden, 1-0. A year later, the No. 4 Bears upset the No. 1 Grizzlies 2-1 in overtime in Greeley in the semifinals.
They have not met since that match, so they have some issues, particularly on the Montana side. Still, it's a rivalry based on respect.
"It's an exciting one," said Citowicki. "Northern Colorado, Eastern (Washington), those are some of my favorite games because they are programs that are highly successful.
"I've really grown to appreciate playing Northern Colorado. It's a good test and a fun matchup, and I really enjoy their coaching staff.
"Coming into the league, I knew about them and they are the ones I've been trying to chase down the whole time. All of a sudden, the first time we play them this season and it's do or die. Let's go."
Montana hit what appeared to be a bump on its road to a perfect regular season with its overtime loss to Eastern Washington on Friday night.
It could have been a negative. Instead, the Grizzlies got over that bump and picked up speed on the other side, coming through with a convincing 3-1 win over that same team on Sunday.
"We've got to be smart about focusing on ourselves, and I think we did that really well this past Sunday. It was about our team, with our seniors getting it done," said Citowicki.
"It's unusual that the only time you meet someone is playoffs. We'll scout Northern Colorado, but there is enough leadership and maturity on this team that if we do things our way, I think we should be okay."
After Montana lost to Northern Colorado in the semifinals as the No. 1 seed at the 2019 tournament, Citowicki said it was a painful but maybe necessary learning experience.
In 2018, in Citowicki's first season, the Grizzlies snuck up on everybody as the No. 5 seed. Last season they took the target of the No. 1 seed into the tournament.
It was a burden a team without a senior maybe wasn't quite prepared for.
Every starter from that match and all seven players who saw action off the bench are on this year's team. Citowicki hasn't had to mention 2019 at all. They know. And they remember.
"If I had to say anything about it, I would, but right now there is no reason for me to step into the middle of the squad and say anything," said Citowicki. "We're a more mature team.
"They know who we're playing and what's at stake. There is a momentum to the group that I don't want to mess with."
That momentum may not have been there in quite the same way had Montana defeated Eastern Washington on Friday, then again on Sunday to be perfect in the regular season.
They got knocked down and did not just get up. They got up and landed a knockout blow of their own. It left a powerful impression.
"It's exciting to be winning games and getting ties and going on undefeated streaks, but there is nothing better than getting hit in the face to wake you up and make you realize what you need to get better at," said Citowicki.
"Thursday will be about who shows up to play better. That's it at the end of the day. Who's lucky, who gets the bounces, who's working hard and getting it done?"
Match notes:
* In its 18 previous Big Sky tournament appearances, Montana has a record of 14-11-4. The Grizzlies' 14 tournament wins are the most in Big Sky history.
* Alexa Coyle has played in three Big Sky tournaments through her first three years and was named to the all-tournament team each season.
* Coyle has scored a goal in four of her five Big Sky tournament matches played. Over the last three tournaments, she has scored four of Montana's six goals.
* Montana won its 100th all-time regular-season Big Sky Conference match on Sunday. The Grizzlies are 100-54-28.
* The Grizzlies will be playing just their third match of the season on grass on Thursday. The other two came at Sacramento State. Montana played two matches at Idaho's Kibbie Dome, five on artificial turf at Missoula County Stadium.
* Northern Colorado had to play on the road last weekend, while Montana was at home. But the Bears got the advantage of playing twice on Weber State's home field, where the Grizzlies have not played since 2018.
* Taylor Hansen and Avery Adams scored for Montana in Friday night's loss to Eastern Washington. It was their second and third goal of the season, respectively. Both entered the season without a career goal scored.
* In Sunday's win, Mimi Eiden got goal No. 1 as a Grizzly just 2:43 in. Rita Lang scored career goal No. 7 less than four minutes later.
* In the second half on Sunday, Alexa Coyle scored career goal No. 19. She is tied for ninth in program history with Sheralyn Fowler (1995-96).
* On Tuesday, Claire Howard was named the Big Sky Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. It's just the second time a Grizzly has won that award (Kailey Norman, 2016).
* Howard was voted first-team All-Big Sky, as were Avery Adams, Alexa Coyle and Taylor Hansen. Adams and Hansen repeated as first-team selections.
* Montana had four first-team selections, two more than any other league team and the most for the Grizzlies since 2014.
* Allie Larsen was voted second team, Rita Lang and Taylor Stoeger honorable mention.
* Montana led the Big Sky during the regular season in goals scored with 19. The Grizzlies also led the Big Sky in fewest goals allowed (five), goals-against average (0.54) and shutouts (six).
* Coyle is tied for second in the Big Sky in goals scored with five.
* Claire Howard ranks 30th nationally in goals-against average at 0.54. She is tied for 16th with six shutouts.
* Montana has won three Big Sky championships in three seasons under coach Chris Citowicki: a tournament title in 2018, a regular-season championship in 2019, a Northwest Division title this spring.
* This year's regular-season championship is the eighth for Montana in program history. The Grizzlies have won two straight for the first time since the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
Upcoming: Montana hopes to be playing either Northern Arizona or Idaho on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the NCAA tournament.
The Grizzlies (8-1-0, 7-1-0 BSC), the No. 1 seed out of the Northwest Division, and Northern Colorado (3-2-2, 3-1-2 BSC), the No. 2 seed out of the Southeast Division, will play at 3 p.m.
The semifinal round will open with Northern Arizona (6-2-1, 5-1-1 BSC) taking on Idaho (5-5-0, 5-3-0 BSC) at noon on Thursday.
The Lumberjacks won the Southeast Division, the Vandals were runners-up in the Northwest.
The semifinal winners will play in the championship match at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The winner of the title match will advance to the 48-team NCAA tournament, which will be played entirely in North Carolina beginning later this month.
The second semifinal on Thursday pits the winners of the last two tournaments against one another.
Montana won the title in 2018 in Ogden with a 1-0 victory over Northern Colorado in the championship match.
The Bears knocked the top-seeded Grizzlies out of the 2019 tournament in Greeley, Colo., in the semifinals, 2-1 in overtime on their way to the title.
Playing in opposite divisions this spring, the two teams have not met this season.
Coverage: All three matches of the Big Sky Conference Championship will be streamed on WatchBigSky.com, with live stats also available.
At a glance (Montana): The Grizzlies saw their 19-match regular-season unbeaten streak against Big Sky opponents come to an end on Friday with a 3-2 overtime home loss to Eastern Washington.
After allowing one goal through its first seven matches this season, Montana trailed 2-0 at the half on Friday night.
Taylor Hansen made it 2-1 in the 63rd minute, Avery Adams tied it in the 85th, scoring directly off a corner kick.
The Eagles won it 5:22 into the first overtime, handing Montana its first regular-season loss against a Big Sky team since a 2-1 setback at Weber State on Oct. 7, 2018.
The Grizzlies bounced back in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon on Senior Day, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes and going on to win 3-1.
Mimi Eiden and Rita Lang both scored early in the first half. Alexa Coyle added an insurance goal on a penalty kick in the 65th minute after the Eagles had pulled to within 2-1 18 minutes into the second half.
At a glance (Northern Colorado): The Bears have played just seven matches this spring. They opened the season with a nonconference 3-0 loss at Colorado back on Feb. 13.
It would be more than a month before they would play again after a winter storm in Colorado forced the cancelation of UNC's two-game home series against Southern Utah.
Northern Colorado swept two matches at Idaho State to open league, then got a draw and a win at home against Northern Arizona two weeks ago, the Lumberjacks' only Big Sky loss.
The Bears clinched a postseason spot with a 0-0 tie at Weber State on Friday. They closed the regular season with a 2-1 loss to the Wildcats on Sunday, UNC's first loss since falling at Colorado in mid-February.
By the numbers: After debuting at No. 7 last week in the United Soccer Coaches' West Region poll, the Grizzlies dropped two spots and will enter the postseason at No. 9, one spot ahead of Northern Arizona. ... In this week's NCAA RPI, Montana ranks No. 76, the top ranking of Big Sky schools. Northern Colorado ranks No. 153. ... Northern Arizona ranks 102nd, Idaho 197th.
Series notes:
* Northern Colorado leads the all-time series against Montana 8-5-5. It's the only Big Sky school the Grizzlies have a losing record against.
* The teams' last nine matchups have been draws or a one-goal decision. Of the teams' 18 all-time matches, only two have not been a draw or a one-goal decision.
* The teams have met four times in the postseason, including the last three Big Sky tournaments.
* The Bears hold a 2-1-1 lead in postseason matches between the schools. Both of UNC's wins have been overtime heartbreakers, in 2017 and '19.
* The teams played to a 1-1 draw in 2011 in Greeley. Montana won 3-2 in a shootout, then got past Weber State in the championship match in another shootout to make the NCAA tournament.
* The teams have played two other neutral-site matches: the 2017 Big Sky tournament in Cheney, Wash., a 2-1 double-overtime win for the Bears in the semifinals, and the 2018 tournament championship match in Ogden, won 1-0 by Montana.
* All 18 of Montana's matches against Northern Colorado in program history have come against coach Tim Barrera, who took over the UNC program in 1999.
* Third-year Montana coach Chris Citowicki is 1-2-1 against Northern Colorado. Both losses have come in overtime.
* Citowicki has a 19-4-7 record against Big Sky opponents as the Montana head coach. Two of those four losses have come against Barrera and the Bears.
* Neither team has won more than two matches in a row against the other in a mostly balanced rivalry of 18 games.
* Montana goalkeeper coach J. Landham was an assistant coach at Northern Colorado for the 2016 and '17 seasons.
* Montana is making its 19th appearance in the Big Sky tournament, the most in league history, its seventh straight. The Grizzlies have not missed the postseason since 2013.
* Northern Colorado, which joined the Big Sky in 2006, is playing in its 11th tournament. The Bears have played in the championship match four of the last five seasons, with titles in 2015 in Moscow, Idaho, and at home in 2019.
Summary:
It feels right, doesn't it, that Montana and Northern Colorado are playing in this week's semifinals? The only thing better would have been a matchup in Saturday's title match.
After all, they are the Big Sky's most successful programs over the last decade and have a recent history of breaking each other's heart.
Montana, as the No. 5 seed, knocked off No. 3 Northern Colorado in the 2018 title match in Ogden, 1-0. A year later, the No. 4 Bears upset the No. 1 Grizzlies 2-1 in overtime in Greeley in the semifinals.
They have not met since that match, so they have some issues, particularly on the Montana side. Still, it's a rivalry based on respect.
"It's an exciting one," said Citowicki. "Northern Colorado, Eastern (Washington), those are some of my favorite games because they are programs that are highly successful.
"I've really grown to appreciate playing Northern Colorado. It's a good test and a fun matchup, and I really enjoy their coaching staff.
"Coming into the league, I knew about them and they are the ones I've been trying to chase down the whole time. All of a sudden, the first time we play them this season and it's do or die. Let's go."
Montana hit what appeared to be a bump on its road to a perfect regular season with its overtime loss to Eastern Washington on Friday night.
It could have been a negative. Instead, the Grizzlies got over that bump and picked up speed on the other side, coming through with a convincing 3-1 win over that same team on Sunday.
"We've got to be smart about focusing on ourselves, and I think we did that really well this past Sunday. It was about our team, with our seniors getting it done," said Citowicki.
"It's unusual that the only time you meet someone is playoffs. We'll scout Northern Colorado, but there is enough leadership and maturity on this team that if we do things our way, I think we should be okay."
After Montana lost to Northern Colorado in the semifinals as the No. 1 seed at the 2019 tournament, Citowicki said it was a painful but maybe necessary learning experience.
In 2018, in Citowicki's first season, the Grizzlies snuck up on everybody as the No. 5 seed. Last season they took the target of the No. 1 seed into the tournament.
It was a burden a team without a senior maybe wasn't quite prepared for.
Every starter from that match and all seven players who saw action off the bench are on this year's team. Citowicki hasn't had to mention 2019 at all. They know. And they remember.
"If I had to say anything about it, I would, but right now there is no reason for me to step into the middle of the squad and say anything," said Citowicki. "We're a more mature team.
"They know who we're playing and what's at stake. There is a momentum to the group that I don't want to mess with."
That momentum may not have been there in quite the same way had Montana defeated Eastern Washington on Friday, then again on Sunday to be perfect in the regular season.
They got knocked down and did not just get up. They got up and landed a knockout blow of their own. It left a powerful impression.
"It's exciting to be winning games and getting ties and going on undefeated streaks, but there is nothing better than getting hit in the face to wake you up and make you realize what you need to get better at," said Citowicki.
"Thursday will be about who shows up to play better. That's it at the end of the day. Who's lucky, who gets the bounces, who's working hard and getting it done?"
Match notes:
* In its 18 previous Big Sky tournament appearances, Montana has a record of 14-11-4. The Grizzlies' 14 tournament wins are the most in Big Sky history.
* Alexa Coyle has played in three Big Sky tournaments through her first three years and was named to the all-tournament team each season.
* Coyle has scored a goal in four of her five Big Sky tournament matches played. Over the last three tournaments, she has scored four of Montana's six goals.
* Montana won its 100th all-time regular-season Big Sky Conference match on Sunday. The Grizzlies are 100-54-28.
* The Grizzlies will be playing just their third match of the season on grass on Thursday. The other two came at Sacramento State. Montana played two matches at Idaho's Kibbie Dome, five on artificial turf at Missoula County Stadium.
* Northern Colorado had to play on the road last weekend, while Montana was at home. But the Bears got the advantage of playing twice on Weber State's home field, where the Grizzlies have not played since 2018.
* Taylor Hansen and Avery Adams scored for Montana in Friday night's loss to Eastern Washington. It was their second and third goal of the season, respectively. Both entered the season without a career goal scored.
* In Sunday's win, Mimi Eiden got goal No. 1 as a Grizzly just 2:43 in. Rita Lang scored career goal No. 7 less than four minutes later.
* In the second half on Sunday, Alexa Coyle scored career goal No. 19. She is tied for ninth in program history with Sheralyn Fowler (1995-96).
* On Tuesday, Claire Howard was named the Big Sky Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. It's just the second time a Grizzly has won that award (Kailey Norman, 2016).
* Howard was voted first-team All-Big Sky, as were Avery Adams, Alexa Coyle and Taylor Hansen. Adams and Hansen repeated as first-team selections.
* Montana had four first-team selections, two more than any other league team and the most for the Grizzlies since 2014.
* Allie Larsen was voted second team, Rita Lang and Taylor Stoeger honorable mention.
* Montana led the Big Sky during the regular season in goals scored with 19. The Grizzlies also led the Big Sky in fewest goals allowed (five), goals-against average (0.54) and shutouts (six).
* Coyle is tied for second in the Big Sky in goals scored with five.
* Claire Howard ranks 30th nationally in goals-against average at 0.54. She is tied for 16th with six shutouts.
* Montana has won three Big Sky championships in three seasons under coach Chris Citowicki: a tournament title in 2018, a regular-season championship in 2019, a Northwest Division title this spring.
* This year's regular-season championship is the eighth for Montana in program history. The Grizzlies have won two straight for the first time since the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
Upcoming: Montana hopes to be playing either Northern Arizona or Idaho on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the NCAA tournament.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
G
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
G
/ Soccer
F
/ SoccerGriz Basketball vs. Idaho State Highlights - 1/24/26 [N7 Game]
Tuesday, January 27
Griz Basketball vs. Weber State Highlights - 1/22/26
Tuesday, January 27
Lady Griz Basketball vs. Northern Arizona Highlights - 1/19/26
Tuesday, January 20
Griz Basketball vs. Northern Colorado Highlights - 1/3/26
Thursday, January 15
