Second-half goal gives Montana 1-0 win

Sunday, October 12

Missoula, Mont.

Noon

Montana

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

Idaho State

5-6-3, 2-2-1BSC

Idaho State

Montana

Photo by: John Sieber via UM Athletics

10/12/2025 4:52:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Freshman Maycen Slater's third goal in two games was enough to send the Montana soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Idaho State on Sunday afternoon on a cool, overcast day at South Campus Stadium in Missoula.

In a testy, foul-filled, emotional match-up between teams that began the day with eyes on a Big Sky Conference regular-season championship, Slater's goal in the 59th minute and a combined shutout by Bayliss Flynn and Ashlyn Dvorak extended the Grizzlies' unbeaten streak to five.

It was another good result in October, which has become the norm for Montana (9-3-3, 3-1-2 BSC) the last three years, when the Grizzlies are 14-0-4 in the month. Some of those results have come through better talent. Sunday's required a bit more. Call it a side of resiliency.

"It was really chaotic. I think we stuck to our identity and just wanted to play our game, because when it gets emotional like that, you have to stick together. It comes down to the team that can stay united," said senior Maddie Ditta. "We pulled that one off together."

Montana needed that togetherness after the Bengals (5-6-3, 2-2-1 BSC) out-shot the Grizzlies 12-3 in the first half, turning Montana's midfield miscues into dangerous counter-attacks.

"The best way to defend is to have the ball and attack better," said coach Chris Citowicki. "We had so many clear-cut attacking opportunities but kept forcing the ball into the middle and turning it over, which gave them opportunities. Their best chances came from our turnovers.

"The conversation at halftime was stern and direct. The space is there, just go outside. It was us not executing the game plan in the first half that was really hurting us. Once we started doing that, we were able to create. They didn't have the ball as much and we started opening gaps."

With the Bengals thinking WIDE, the game-winning goal came right up the heart of the field, Ditta getting the ball just past midfield and rolling one up to a streaking Reagan Brisendine, who was also looking for her third goal in two matches.

Her touch shot from 12 yards out eluded Idaho State's goalkeeper but hit off the right post, right back to Slater, who considers the space between the posts her home base. She scored twice from close range on Thursday in Montana's 4-0 home win over Weber State.

She easily put it away into an empty net for her fourth goal of the season.

"She knows where to be at the right time," said Citowicki. "She lives in the frame of the goal right between the posts. Anything that comes free, she's right there.

"What a performance for a freshman. She did extremely well, and I thought Reagan was phenomenal in the second half. Between Dvorak and Bayliss, I thought they were both special today, too."

It was Flynn who got the start in goal, her first since Aug. 21. It was her first appearance in goal since Sept. 7. She faced a dozen shots over her 45 minutes on the field, but the Bengals sent 11 off those shots off target, with Flynn saving the other.

The match was scoreless at the half.

As the game evened out in the second half – Montana out-shot Idaho State 6-3 over the final 45 minutes – the chippiness elevated, with 17 second-half fouls being called – one every two and a half minutes – and two yellow cards being issued.

The Grizzlies scored, then remained united to remain atop the Big Sky Conference standings with two weeks of league matches remaining.

Dvorak played the second half in goal and made a pair of saves to earn the win, improving to 23-8-6 for her career, the fifth-most victories in program history.

The win keeps Montana atop the Big Sky standings by two points over Weber State (9-6-0, 3-2-0 BSC), which answered Thursday's 4-0 loss in Missoula with a 6-0 home-field victory over Sacramento State on Sunday.

The Grizzlies will host the Hornets (6-9-1, 2-3-1 BSC) next Sunday at noon in their final home match of the regular season.