Montana drops 2-0 decision at Portland

The Montana soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision at Portland on Sunday afternoon at UP's Merlo Field.

The Pilots scored a goal late in the first half and added another midway through the second to remain unbeaten on the season at 2-0-2.

The Grizzlies (0-2-2) took a more aggressive approach to the offensive end than in previous matches this season, outshooting the Pilots 11-7 in the first half, putting eight of those attempts on goal.

But Bre Norris, who shut out Washington State on the Cougars' home field on Thursday night, saved them all and Portland extended its streak without allowing a goal to 293 minutes.

"The plan was to attack and try to win the game. We didn't want to come here simply to compete and say, hey, we gave it a good shot," said coach Chris Citowicki.

"You're either going to feel pretty happy afterwards or pretty depressed, and we all have that sense of depression because we feel we had the opportunities and some good looks."

After Portland took the first two shots of the match, one of which led to a diving save by Griz goalkeeper Camellia Xu, Montana took 10 of the next 11 over a span of 30 minutes.

While the Grizzlies didn't control play during that stretch, they created the better chances. Maddie Ditta took three shots in the first half, Kathleen Aitchison and Sydney Haustein two each.

Portland's chances were negated time and again before they could become shots by the superb play of center back Allie Larsen, whose sliding tackles separated Pilot from ball on multiple occasions.

"It should have been closer than it was and it wasn't, so it hurts, it stings," said Citowicki. "But I would rather feel that way than some other type of feeling.

"We created moments and were very close. We didn't take them, so now it hurts because you know you had it."

One of the match's key moments came in the 21st minute, when Skyleigh Thompson, near the top of the 18-yard box and with her back to the goal, was taken down from behind as a pass approached.

Haustein took the penalty kick that was saved by Norris diving short to her right. And the match remained scoreless.

"When you get moments like that against high-level teams, you need to take them. That's something we've talked about," said Citowicki. "I'm proud of Syd for taking the ball and stepping up and doing it.

"That's part of the game. If every penalty kick went in, they would just give you a goal as soon as it happened. It was a good save. We'll learn from it and get better at it."

The game-winner was scored in the 42nd minute, when Keely Dockter found space on the left side of goal and took a shot that Xu saved.

The rebound bounced and Dockter was able to score on her second touch.

Montana held Portland without a shot through the opening 20 minutes of the second half, but the Pilots made it 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Cally Togiai was outside the 18-yard box, left of goal, and took a long shot that found its way under the crossbar and over the outstretched hand of Xu.

The goal was the 10th scored by the Pilots this season through four matches, the goals, remarkably, coming from nine different players.

Both teams took just three shots in the second half. Montana finished with a 14-10 advantage for the match and put eight shots on goal to Portland's five.

"Extremely impressed how we played in that first half and even parts of the second," said Citowicki. "Credit to Portland for changing their formation and taking away certain spots from us.

"It was a good matchup. They did really well, we played really well. We just ran out of gas by the end of it."

Montana will be back at South Campus Stadium next weekend for home matches against MSU Billings (0-2-0) on Friday at 4 p.m., CSU Bakersfield (1-2-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m.

University of Montana Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Kathleen Aitchison

Maddie Ditta

Sydney Haustein

Allie Larsen

Skyleigh Thompson

Camellia Xu

Related News

Related Videos