Schorr scores twice, Griz win in Moscow

Sunday, October 1

Moscow, Idaho

2 PM (MT)

Montana

7-2-3, 1-0-1BSC

Idaho

6-3-2, 1-1-1BSC

Montana

Idaho

Photo by: John Sieber via UM Athletics

10/1/2023 5:50:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana soccer team defeated Idaho 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow to wrap up a four-point start to its Big Sky Conference schedule.

The Grizzlies (7-2-3, 1-0-1 BSC), who haven't lost since Sept. 10, played to a 1-1 draw at Eastern Washington on Thursday afternoon, a result that earned them one point but left them with 100 regrets.

Montana created scoring chances aplenty against the Eagles but lacked the finishing touch, whether it was timing and location of crosses or position of attackers on the receiving end.

"After the Eastern game, we were not happy with the quality of crosses or where people were in the box," said sixth-year coach Chris Citowicki, who won his 50th match at Montana on Sunday.

"We sat down on Friday and looked at the film with the entire forward unit. For it to work out exactly how it was scripted two times in a row and potentially more was absolutely amazing."

With Idaho focused on shutting down Skyleigh Thompson, who was all sorts of trouble for Eastern Washington, Montana struck twice less than two minutes apart to build a lead it would never give back.

Both scores came with two of Montana's strengths being highlighted: Ava Samuelson with the ball in space on the attacking end of the field and Delaney Lou Schorr, all 5-foot-11 of her, in front of goal.

The pair connected twice, foot to head, the first a 90-degree redirect of a cross, the second a redirect from a ball played into the box from up the field.

The first goal came in the 15th minute, the second in the 17th.

"What I appreciated about this one is they tried to take Skye away. The entire first half was, how do you stop Skyleigh Thompson?" said Citowicki. "Then Ava and Delaney popped up.

"By the time you can do anything, you're already down 2-0. It was nice to see the goals coming from all sorts of threats. Didn't matter. We have other players who can get the job done."

Montana is now 6-0-0 in its last six matches at the Kibbie Dome, five of those wins coming under Citowicki.

Idaho, behind last year's Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year Kira Witte, had allowed multiple goals to a league opponent just once in its last 12 games dating back to last season.

The Vandals (6-3-2, 1-1-1 BSC) had allowed multiple goals to an opponent this season just once, in a home loss to Washington. They had held their other nine opponents to five combined goals.

"Thrilled with the performance of our outside backs and with Delaney and with our wingers," said Citowicki. "I think it was one of our more complete attacking performances in the first half."

Down 2-0 at the break, Idaho took 10 shots in the second half, putting five on goal. Behind Ashlyn Dvorak, who matched a season high with seven saves, the Grizzlies never gave in.

Dvorak, whose braveness comes before her well-being, attacked balls out of the air, had sure hands on her saves and otherwise owned the box while collecting her seventh shutout of the season.

"It's so much fun to watch her play in games," said Citowicki. "So much confidence in the way she's playing.

"When you play a team as good as Idaho when it comes to crossing the ball and having a presence in the air, it's nice to have a goalkeeper come out and claim the ball and own the box with her presence."

Idaho had the edge in possession in both the second half and for the match and outshot Montana 19-12, creating three corner kicks to the Grizzlies' one.

"They came out firing in the second half. We were a little too conservative in our defending positions, which kind of pinned us back," said Citowicki.

But after the Vandals failed to break through against Dvorak, Montana iced the game over the final minutes. "Really impressed with the way they shut out the second half," Citowicki added.

The goals were the first for Schorr since the opening match of the season, when she headed in the game-winner at North Dakota off an assist from Samuelson.

She now has 11 goals for her career. Samuelson upped her season assist count to five, her career count to 11. She is two away from breaking into the top 10 in program history.

Montana will host Weber State (0-8-3, 0-2-2 BSC) on Thursday at 3 p.m. and Idaho State (3-10-1, 1-2-1 BSC) at 1 p.m. on Sunday at South Campus Stadium.