Montana opens Big Sky with 1-1 draw

Thursday, September 28

Cheney, Wash.

4:30 PM (MT)

Montana

6-2-3, 0-0-1BSC

Eastern Washington

2-9-1, 1-1-1BSC

Montana

Eastern Washington

Photos: Bridget Mayfield (EWU Athletics)

9/28/2023 7:39:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana soccer team opened its Big Sky Conference schedule on Thursday afternoon with a 1-1 draw against Eastern Washington in Cheney.

The Eagles (2-9-1, 1-1-1 BSC) scored the match's opening goal in the 16th minute, the Grizzlies (6-2-3, 0-0-1 BSC) netted the equalizer in the 56th when Abby Gearhart redirected a Charley Boone pass.

It was a statistical domination by Montana. The Grizzlies outshot the Eagles 15-2 in the first half, 24-7 for the match, generated a season-high nine corner kicks and held 59 percent of the possession.

But those are just numbers, not the story. Montana put just six shots on goal, only two more than the Eagles, with dangerous opportunities emerging time and time again, then vanishing, short of fruition.

"You can say it was one of those soccer games when the ball just doesn't go in, but if you truly analyze it, the quality of their seven shots were better than a majority of our 24," said coach Chris Citowicki.

"Our ability to get crosses into the correct spots and put the ball on goal today was missing. The quality of our finishes just wasn't there."

Eastern Washington opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Riley Arribas got the ball in the box with her back to goal and touched a pass to Corina Froehle.

Montana goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak was shielded by the action in front of her. By the time she tracked the ball, a dive to her right was a step slow.

It was Eastern Washington's first goal against Montana since the spring season of 2021. The Eagles' 1-0 lead after 45 minutes was only the Grizzlies' third halftime deficit of the season.

Montana finally found the equalizer in the 56th minute, when Sydney Haustein, off a corner kick, played the ball to Boone, who fired a pass across the face of the goal.

Gearhart was there to side-foot it in near the left post, her second of the season and as a Grizzly, the 16th of her collegiate career. It was Boone's first career assist.

"At least we did it once. That's the positive piece. With so much missing, we had to grind out one opportunity when it goes in," Citowicki said.

The Eagles took five of their seven shots in the second half, putting three on goal, as they counter-attacked a Montana team pressing forward to find the go-ahead score.

Dvorak twice stopped the Big Sky's leading scorer, Maddie Morgan, from close range, once with her outstretched hands on a high shot, once with her torso.

"Eastern was so dangerous on the counter. I thought they were very good going forward. Ashlyn was spectacular when she had to be," said Citowicki.

Kayla Rendon Bushmaker took a career-high six shots, including one in the 88th minute that was saved off the crossbar. Skyleigh Thompson took five. Boone and Maddie Ditta played all 90 minutes.

Montana will face Idaho (6-2-2, 1-0-1 BSC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. (MT) at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. The Vandals opened league last week with a 1-1 home draw with Weber State, a 4-0 road win at Idaho State.