Griz add fourth goalkeeper for ‘23
2/23/2023 12:07:00 PM | Soccer
The Montana women's soccer program has filled its goalkeeper needs for the 2023 season and beyond with the addition of Devan Webb, who signed a National Letter of Intent this month.
Webb, from Magnolia, Texas, played club for Challenge SC, the team she was playing for when she caught the eye of Montana coach Chris Citowicki.
"I was at an event and sat down to watch one of our 2024 commits and she happened to be playing against Devan's team," said Citowicki. "She was doing well.
"I looked at the roster thinking she's probably not available and yet she was, so we immediately started the process. Things moved pretty quickly from that point. Excited to add her to the program."
Her addition to the roster will give Montana four goalkeepers for the upcoming season: sophomore Shelby Stordahl, redshirt freshman Ashlyn Dvorak and incoming freshmen Bayliss Flynn and Webb.
"A few years ago when we had three goalkeepers, two went out with an injury at a single practice and all of a sudden you're left with one," said Citowicki.
"Immediately the idea of having four came in. It makes for a more competitive environment and gives us that coverage in case something does happen."
Montana used just one goalkeeper last season, with Camellia Xu playing every minute in goal. Xu, the Big Sky Conference Goalkeeper of the Year two seasons ago, will play at Minnesota next year.
That leaves the Grizzlies without a goalkeeper on the 2023 roster who has played a minute of collegiate soccer.
"They are in need to experience at the collegiate level, but if you look at the amount of talent, it's pretty exciting," said Citowicki.
"They are immensely talented and the depth is scary good. It should set us up nicely for the next couple years."
The situation is similar to 2021, when Montana entered the season with questions about replacing Claire Howard, who in her final season with the Grizzlies set a new Big Sky record for career shutouts.
Howard played every match for Montana for four seasons between 2017 and '20.
In stepped Xu, who led the Grizzlies to a 13-6-1 record in 2021 and a spot in the NCAA tournament. She was voted first-team All-Big Sky, Goalkeeper of the Year and MVP of the Big Sky tournament.
Her position coach that season was J. Landham, who returned to the program last month after spending one season as the goalkeeper coach at Villanova.
"This is very familiar territory for him. He's been in this situation before, with Claire Howard, who was a leader in the program and the face of the program," said Citowicki.
"Then he starts working with Cam and let's hope she can live up to that kind of level, and he took her to that level. Now he has to do that same process for somebody else."
Webb, from Magnolia, Texas, played club for Challenge SC, the team she was playing for when she caught the eye of Montana coach Chris Citowicki.
"I was at an event and sat down to watch one of our 2024 commits and she happened to be playing against Devan's team," said Citowicki. "She was doing well.
"I looked at the roster thinking she's probably not available and yet she was, so we immediately started the process. Things moved pretty quickly from that point. Excited to add her to the program."
Her addition to the roster will give Montana four goalkeepers for the upcoming season: sophomore Shelby Stordahl, redshirt freshman Ashlyn Dvorak and incoming freshmen Bayliss Flynn and Webb.
"A few years ago when we had three goalkeepers, two went out with an injury at a single practice and all of a sudden you're left with one," said Citowicki.
"Immediately the idea of having four came in. It makes for a more competitive environment and gives us that coverage in case something does happen."
Montana used just one goalkeeper last season, with Camellia Xu playing every minute in goal. Xu, the Big Sky Conference Goalkeeper of the Year two seasons ago, will play at Minnesota next year.
That leaves the Grizzlies without a goalkeeper on the 2023 roster who has played a minute of collegiate soccer.
"They are in need to experience at the collegiate level, but if you look at the amount of talent, it's pretty exciting," said Citowicki.
"They are immensely talented and the depth is scary good. It should set us up nicely for the next couple years."
The situation is similar to 2021, when Montana entered the season with questions about replacing Claire Howard, who in her final season with the Grizzlies set a new Big Sky record for career shutouts.
Howard played every match for Montana for four seasons between 2017 and '20.
In stepped Xu, who led the Grizzlies to a 13-6-1 record in 2021 and a spot in the NCAA tournament. She was voted first-team All-Big Sky, Goalkeeper of the Year and MVP of the Big Sky tournament.
Her position coach that season was J. Landham, who returned to the program last month after spending one season as the goalkeeper coach at Villanova.
"This is very familiar territory for him. He's been in this situation before, with Claire Howard, who was a leader in the program and the face of the program," said Citowicki.
"Then he starts working with Cam and let's hope she can live up to that kind of level, and he took her to that level. Now he has to do that same process for somebody else."
Players Mentioned
UM vs USD Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, December 14
Griz football weekly press conference 12.8.25
Monday, December 08
UM vs SDSU Highlights
Monday, December 08
Griz Football Press Conference 12-1-25
Monday, December 01
