Griz win, extend unbeaten streak to six

Sunday, October 8

Missoula, Mont.

1 PM

Montana

9-2-3, 3-0-1BSC

Idaho State

3-11-1, 1-3-1BSC

Idaho State

Montana

Photo by: UM Photo/Coral Scoles-Coburn

10/8/2023 8:00:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana soccer team improved to 3-0-1 in Big Sky Conference matches with a 1-0 home win over Idaho State on Sunday afternoon at South Campus Stadium in Missoula.

Maddie Ditta's goal in the 78th minute proved to be the game-winner as the Grizzlies (9-2-3, 3-0-1 BSC) extended their unbeaten streak to six. Montana hasn't lost since Sept. 10.

Playing as the lone wolf in the Big Sky's scheduling model this fall, the Grizzlies saw how challenging that role can be against the Bengals (3-11-1, 1-3-1 BSC) on Sunday.

Montana played to a tight 2-1 home win over Weber State on Thursday. Sunday's game in Missoula was Idaho State's lone match of the week, allowing the Bengals to go all in on slowing down the Grizzlies.

"If today was frustrating, it's because they coached them up exceptionally well," Montana coach Chris Citowicki said of Dustin Downey and his ISU coaching staff.

"A lot of credit to Idaho State on how they set up and organized. To keep missing the chances we were and not get in our head about it but grind it out and find a way to win, what else could you ask for?"

Montana outshot Idaho State 8-3 in the first half, 15-7 for the match, but midway through the second half it was still scoreless. And getting tense. Pursuing a Big Sky title, the Grizzlies needed a win at home.

"We talked at halftime that we have to stop going through the middle. Try to open it up by going around the outside," said Citowicki. "Hopefully something opens up somewhere."

It did, right up the middle through the heart of Idaho State's defense, right after Montana nearly scored when Skyleigh Thompson took the ball up the right side and played the ball into Ava Samuelson.

Samuelson's shot at close range at the near post was face-saved by Idaho State's keeper.

The ball was played out to midfield, where Mia Parkhurst kicked it forward to Sydney Haustein. In that moment, Ditta took off up the field, pacing the pass from Parkhurst to Haustein.

Haustein tapped the ball to Ditta, who had open field up the left side a step behind the defense. With the ISU keeper hugging the left post, Ditta went far post, scoring like she's a natural.

"We spent the whole week advancing midfielders, getting them beyond the midfield and into the back line to be able to score," said Citowicki. "For her to do that and then execute and score, just amazing."

It was Ditta's second goal of the season, the third of her career.

"Last season (Citowicki) had me playing as an attacking mid. Now being a defensive player, I'm able to take what I worked on last season and becoming a goal-scorer and applying it to games," she said.

Her third career goal looked like it could have been her 23rd as she skillfully left-footed it inside the far post. It was the breakthrough goal Montana had been striving to collect for nearly 80 minutes.

"There is so much going on in that moment," Ditta added. "I wanted to cross it, but I'm like, this is a time when I need to finish it. I placed it in the corner as much as I could."

Ditta's day job is playing as a dominating defensive midfielder. She's strong, she's calm with the ball, and she has great feet. She is a coach's dream. He could play her anywhere he needs on the field.

"She is one of those players who could honestly play any position," said Citowicki. "She is so versatile.

"We play her where she is strongest. That's where she belongs, but we also play in a way in the midfield, when teams man-mark us like these teams this week did, of getting the midfields forward."

Over the next 12 minutes, Montana only needed to keep Idaho State off the board. The Bengals took just one shot over the final dozen minutes.

That gave Montana goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak shutout No. 8 on the season as she made three saves, with center backs Charley Boone and Reeve Borseth playing all 90 minutes in front of her.

Montana is 3-0-1 in league as the Grizzlies reach the midpoint of their league schedule. The back half opens with one of the season's most intriguing matches, at Northern Arizona on Thursday night.

The Lumberjacks (8-3-3, 3-1-1 BSC) won both the regular-season and tournament championships last season and have outscored their last three opponents 11-2.

The two teams are tied for second in the league standings behind surprising Portland State (7-5-1, 4-0-1 BSC). Thursday's match will kick off at 8 p.m. (MT) in Flagstaff.

Montana will continue on to play at Northern Colorado next Sunday, then host Sacramento State and Portland State to close out the regular season.