Montana grinds out 2-1 win

Thursday, October 5

Missoula, Mont.

3 PM

Montana

8-2-3, 2-0-1BSC

Weber State

0-9-3, 0-3-2BSC

Weber State

Montana

Photo by: UM Photo/Coral Scoles-Coburn

10/5/2023 7:20:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

In a match with three goals, a save on a penalty kick and more late-game drama than was probably necessary, it was a substitution late in the first half of Montana's 2-1 victory over Weber State at South Campus Stadium on Thursday afternoon that drew the biggest cheer.

And provided the goosebump moment of the season.

It was more than 13 months ago, on Sept. 4, 2022, against CSU Bakersfield on the same Missoula field, that Ally Henrikson, who had started every game last fall as a standout sophomore defender, suffered a season-ending knee injury six matches in.

Her recovery was defined by setbacks that seemed to have no end.

She finally got cleared last month, a full calendar year later, then made her return to the field on a cool, overcast afternoon in October.

She entered the match as a substitute in the 39th minute, got a long hug from Ava Samuelson, the player she was replacing, and received a standing ovation from most of the crowd of 533, many of whom knew the particulars of the ordeal she had gone through just to get to that moment.

It was the day's biggest victory.

"It's been a lot of ups and downs, mostly downs," she said after the match. "It's been really hard these last 13 months. I'm just happy to be back.

"It felt really special. I felt so supported. Everybody was rooting for me. Getting put back out there made my heart skip a beat but once I was on the field, it just felt super satisfying."

It's one of those behind-the-scenes stories that are hidden from most, how a coach moves his program forward while looking after those who are burdened by injury, ensuring they don't get or be made to feel left behind.

"It was emotional for everybody," said coach Chris Citowicki. "There was the down of the ACL, but there have been so many consecutive downs beyond that. To finally see her come out of that is one of the greatest things I've seen."

By the time Henrikson entered the match, Montana led 1-0 thanks to Abby Gearhart's second goal in three matches, her third of the season, the 17th of her collegiate career.

She collected a failed clearance by a Weber State defender and scored inside the left post in the 27th minute.

Sydney Haustein made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when she took a touch pass from Skyleigh Thompson 20 yards in front of goal and fired a shot that went on a line just under the crossbar. The leaping Wildcat goalkeeper could get close with her outstretched hand but not close enough to punch it high.

It was Haustein's team-leading fourth goal of the season, the 10th of her career. It came off Thompson's fourth career assist.

"It was nice to see Abby get on the board and then Sydney," said Citowicki. "She's been working on that shot a lot before and after practice, just to follow through correctly and strike it correctly. To see her do it there was amazing."

Montana was on its way to a stress-free victory, the momentum building even more after Ashlyn Dvorak stopped a Weber State penalty kick in the 68th minute, diving to her left to knock down Grace Kirby's attempt.

Montana had penalty-kick information on a handful of Weber State players but nothing on Kirby.

"I had no idea where she was going to go," said Dvorak. "I was just doing my best to make myself as big as possible. I also try to read the way their hips are facing and maybe where they might glance right before they shoot the ball. I did my best and it worked out."

It did and Montana headed with the ball the other way before the Wildcats created a turnover at midfield and began a game-altering counter-attack.

With the Grizzlies out of position, the result of Dvorak's save and the ensuing scramble, Weber State played the ball up the left side and scored inside the far post on a cross.

After getting outshot 10-4 in the first half, Weber State took 12 shots in the second half, forcing Dvorak to make four saves, six for the match. The Wildcats had a bulk of the possession down the stretch, at least it felt that way, making that stress-free victory anything but.

"We could have done a better job closing out the match," said Dvorak. "We were all on an adrenaline rush after the save and out of (defensive) shape. That's why they got the counter they did."

Soccer in October, when it's the heart of the Big Sky schedule, is not about style but substance, getting points and qualifying for the league tournament in November.

In that regard, beyond Henrikson's return, Thursday was a success story, with the Grizzlies moving into a tie for first place atop the Big Sky standings with Portland State and Northern Arizona.

"Proud of them for grinding out the result," said Citowicki. "This is Big Sky soccer. Sometimes it can't be pretty, so you just try to win. It's three points on the board. At the end of the year, nobody cares what those points look like as long as you won."

Montana (8-2-3, 2-0-1 BSC), which hasn't lost since Sept. 10 and improved to 13-3-1 all-time against Weber State in Missoula, will host Idaho State (3-10-1, 1-2-1 BSC) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.