Eagles hand Griz first loss

Friday, April 9

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

7-1-0, 6-1-0BSC

Eastern Washington

5-3-2, 4-1-2BSC

Eastern Washington

Montana

Photo by: Derek Johnson

4/9/2021 11:37:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Eastern Washington scored twice in the first half and the game-winner in the first overtime to hand the Montana soccer team a 3-2 loss on Friday night at Missoula County Stadium.

It was the first setback of the season for the Grizzlies (7-1-0, 6-1-0 BSC) after opening the spring with seven consecutive victories.

Montana allowed one goal through its first seven matches. Eastern Washington (5-3-2, 4-1-2 BSC) doubled that total before Friday's match was 26 minutes in.

Needing a result to keep their hopes of advancing to next week's Big Sky Conference tournament alive, the Eagles scored in the 23rd minute and added another in the 26th to go up 2-0.

It marked the first time this season Montana has trailed in a match.

"Even at 2-0, it was never a feeling of, they're the better team, it's all over, because the chances we were creating were phenomenal," said coach Chris Citowicki.

"We left a lot of very good opportunities on the table that could have won the game."

Taylor Stoeger had a header off a corner kick in the 19th minute that appeared destined to open the scoring, but EWU goalkeeper Kelsee Winston made the save, one of six for her on the night.

Rita Lang forced Winston to make another save after Montana had fallen behind 2-0, which was the score at the half.

"We were creating great moments. I really liked it, so our halftime conversation was, just score one. Score one and you'll get right back in it, and then use that to try to win the game," said Citowicki.

It took Montana 20 minutes into the second half to finally break through. Mimi Eiden played a ball wide to Taylor Hansen, who scored inside the far post from distance in the 63rd minute.

Montana had never lost its pulse. Now it was thumping. Everyone in the stadium could sense it.

"That just built the momentum," said Citowicki. "You knew (the second goal) was coming. If we score one, it's going to happen. They believed they were going to score the second, and we did."

It came in the 85th minute after Jaden Griggs played the ball to the end line and created a corner kick that Avery Adams took.

Adams bent her corner directly into the goal, inside the far post, for her third goal of the season.

Montana outshot Eastern Washington 8-2 in the second half and mostly controlled possession. The only thing that may have saved the Eagles was the end of regulation.

"Early on they were preventing our center backs from playing the ball to our outside backs. They were trying to force everything into the middle," said Citowicki.

"As soon as we told our midfielders to just stay in the middle and get the ball, the game opened up."

Eastern Washington won it 5:22 into the first overtime period.

Maddie Morgan played a long ball forward to Taylor Matheny who found space between two Griz defenders and got off a rocket that beat Montana goalkeeper Claire Howard.

It handed Montana its first taste of defeat on the season. It also marked just the third time in the last 27 matches that the Grizzlies have allowed more than a single goal to an opponent.

"Kudos to them for winning it on the break. It's a game of chances and they took theirs," said Citowicki.

"We said at halftime, it's a test of character. This is the one test our team has been missing. Can you find a way to dig back from a two-goal deficit and not panic, and we didn't. I was happy with the response."

Eastern Washington needs either another win or a draw on Sunday to advance to next week's tournament in Ogden. Otherwise the Northwest Division's other postseason spot will be taken by Idaho.

Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado have clinched the two tournament spots from the Southeast Division, but seeding has yet to be determined.

Montana and Eastern Washington will meet again on Sunday at noon on Senior Day.

"We'll go to sleep knowing we get another shot at it on Sunday," said Citowicki. "The team is disappointed, but I'm excited for another shot at this."